From Traditional Craft to Creative Business: How Saltanat Chikeeva is Developing Felt Production in Naryn

The Naryn region is rightfully considered one of the main centers of traditional felt craftsmanship in Kyrgyzstan. It is here that, for many generations, craftswomen have carefully preserved unique wool processing technologies and passed down the ornamental patterns of Kyrgyz shyrdaks (felt carpets). Each pattern holds its own symbolic meaning, reflecting the history, worldview, and cultural traditions of the Kyrgyz people.

July 28, 2026

Older woman in traditional blue dress and white headscarf sits on a patterned rug, holding a small dog. — Saltanat Chikeeva

UNDP Kyrgyzstan

For Saltanat from the village of Acha-Kayyndy, working with felt has become her life's work. From early childhood, she observed all the stages of wool processing, and by the age of 15, she was independently creating complex patterns for Kyrgyz shyrdaks. Today, Saltanat is developing her own craft production, uniting local artisans and creating eco-friendly products from natural felt that combine centuries-old traditions with modern design. Her products are in demand both in Kyrgyzstan and beyond. The workshop produces wall panels, traditional Kyrgyz headdresses (kalpaks and elecheks), cases for laptops and mobile phones, interior design items, souvenirs, and much more.

Currently, Saltanat makes 1-2 shyrdaks per month and also produces a wide range of felt items that are sold through partners and sent to customers in Bishkek. For now, the production remains a small family enterprise, generating an additional income of 10-15 thousand soms per month. However, for Saltanat, this is already a significant achievement: a craft that for many years was primarily a beloved hobby has started to bring a stable income and is gradually turning into a sustainable family business. The workshop already provides employment for one hired employee.

Despite her many years of experience as a craftswoman, Saltanat understood that professional skill alone was not enough to turn her hobby into a sustainable source of income. It required entrepreneurial knowledge—how to develop a brand, promote products, find customers, and plan for future growth. Striving to take her business to a new level, Saltanat was selected to participate in the seven-month educational program of the Women's Creative Labs, implemented by UNDP in 2024–2025.

The program helped Saltanat to see her craft not only as a way of preserving cultural heritage but also as a business with growth potential. The knowledge she gained in branding, marketing, product packaging, and organizing masterclasses became the foundation for the gradual development of her own business and the search for new markets.

One of the first results of her participation in the program was the expansion of her business model. In addition to producing items, Saltanat opened a small creative club in her home village, where she conducts masterclasses for schoolchildren, youth, and tourists. In this way, her craft began to bring not only income from product sales but also new opportunities for education, cultural exchange, and the development of rural tourism.

The practical sessions allow participants to learn about the traditions of Kyrgyz felt craftsmanship and create their first item with their own hands. This format combines the preservation of cultural heritage, youth development, and the promotion of cultural tourism, while simultaneously opening new opportunities for the development of the region's creative economy.

Zero-waste production remains an equally important focus of her work. Felt scraps are used to create decorative items using a mosaic technique, which allows for the most efficient use of natural raw materials. One of her recent large orders was for the production of 400 souvenir snow leopards, reflecting the national symbolism of Kyrgyzstan.

The craftswoman's immediate plans include registering her own brand, "Murmuring Spring," expanding her sales markets, and continuing to develop the creative club so that as many young people and visitors to the country as possible can become acquainted with the rich heritage of Kyrgyz felt craftsmanship.

The story of Saltanat Chikeeva shows how small initiatives can become a starting point for the development of women's entrepreneurship. The goal of the Women's Creative Labs is to help rural women turn their crafts, creative skills, and hobbies into a source of income, acquire entrepreneurial competencies, and lay the foundation for future growth. It is these first steps that help create new economic opportunities for women, their families, and local communities.

In the Naryn region, with the support of UNDP, three Women's Creative Labs have been opened in the villages of Ak-Jar, Kyzart, and Kochkor. During the initiative, 313 women became residents, another 1,589 girls and women joined the Women Creative Labs community, and participants gained access to over 83 educational events on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing, and the development of the creative economy.

For more than three decades, UNDP has remained a strategic partner of the Kyrgyz Republic in advancing national development priorities, working closely with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and local authorities to promote inclusive growth, human capital development, and economic opportunities for youth and women.