LocationsA Pattern Woven in Andijan: A Mentor’s Journey in Scaling Her Craft
September 15, 2026
Madina’s story began long before she opened her own workshop – in her childhood, at her mother’s sewing machine. Surrounded by traditional fabrics, the sound of stitching, and the intricate patterns of embroidered skullcaps, she learned the foundations of her craft in the flow of everyday life: to sew, to embroider, to sell at the local market at a modest scale.
Madina’s entrepreneurship grew out of the skills rooted in her childhood and everyday life. Over time, tapping into this repertoire became the foundation of her business, and today, her entrepreneurship and role as a local mentor forms a bridge between craft and markets, offering an exploration of crafts through fabrics that connect with traditional knowledge.
As her talent attracted the attention of her community and more demand from her consumers knocked on her door, Madina was able to expand her workshop by modernizing it with support from UNDP’s Aid for Trade project, funded by the Government of Finland.
From a dance costume to a school of craftsmanship
In the first decade of her marriage, this craft continued only as a necessity mending clothes or sewing household items, rather than a source of income generation or self-realization.
In 2016, when her middle child was just one year old, a dance costume she sewed for her daughter impressed others so much that orders soon began to come in from other parents.
This moment became a starting point to re-build on her past knowledge. She began working from home, gradually turning it into a small workshop.
What began as intermittent orders gradually evolved into a home-based business, and Madina was invited to lead classes in embroidery and gold-thread craftsmanship. By the end of 2022, she had trained more than 40 apprentices. Today, many of her students not only continue the craft but have themselves become mentors.
Until recently, Madina’s workshop relied merely on three old sewing machines. The equipment slowed down the business significantly: each order required more time and more effort with a trade-off between speed and quality. The outdated equipment limited the workshop’s ability to grow. Orders took longer to complete, productivity remained low, and expanding production without modern machinery was simply not possible
In 2024, Madina learned about the mentoring programme for women entrepreneurs offered jointly by the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP’s Aid for Trade in Central Asia iniative, funded by the Government of Finland. Since its launch in 2022, the programme has trained more than 300 women entrepreneurs, while 23 participants, including Madina, were selected to receive technical assistance and modern production equipment to expand their businesses.
Her workshop was equipped with modern production equipment, including an embroidery machine, a high-speed sewing machine with automated functions, an industrial overlock machine, a cover stitch machine with direct drive, an industrial iron with a steam generator and a multifunctional heat press, transformed her workshop.
Productivity doubled and production time decreased while the quality of products increased substantially. More precise and standardized embroidery, clean seams, and professional finishing became possible in every product produced in the workshop.
The improvements quickly translated into measurable business results. Following the introduction of modern sewing equipment, sales increased by 30 per cent. The combination of machine embroidery and traditional hand beading also doubled the value of some products — for example, dresses that previously sold for UZS 50,000 now sell for around UZS 100,000. Around 50 per cent of the workshop’s products are now manufactured using the new equipment.
At the same time, her perception of her work evolved – craft became not only a tradition, but also a sustainable business. Interaction with other participants also played an important role. Mukaddas Sodikova, a winner of a previous cohort, helped Madina see her work as a brand rather than simply handmade products.
Alongside expanding production, Madina has also established online sales channels through Telegram and is preparing her brand for product certification and entry into larger marketplaces. With advisory support from the project, she is also exploring opportunities to join the Uzum marketplace and strengthen her brand presence.
Inspiration and a new direction
Today, the workshop brings together two groups: experienced craftswomen and young apprentices. Together, they produce up to 20 dresses per day or between 5 and 10 traditional chapans.
Increased productivity has translated not only into higher output, but also into new opportunities: stable income, employment, and financial independence for women. Today, the enterprise provides 2 permanent and 5 seasonal jobs, including employment opportunities for women and one person with disabilities.
Madina’s products are purchased by customers across Uzbekistan, including individual clients, performers, cultural organizations and tourists seeking authentic handcrafted products. As she expands into handicraft tourism, she also plans to welcome more domestic and international visitors through master classes and her future house-museum.
For many, this is their first experience of earning an income and participating in economic life. The workshop has become not only a workplace, but also a gateway to entrepreneurship.
Participation in the programme marked not only a technical, but also a conceptual shift for Madina.
She deliberately chose to focus on handicraft tourism. The idea that everyday life, traditions, and the warmth of home could become a valuable experience for visitors gave her new confidence.
Today, Madina is working towards creating her own distinctive direction – a recognizable Andijan style. While schools of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Margilan embroidery are widely known across Uzbekistan, Madina aims to contribute a new name to this tradition. She is developing original ornamental elements that could become a signature identity for her region.
The project also supported Madina in integrating cultural heritage with craft tourism through mentoring, branding support and master classes, helping her transform traditional craftsmanship into a tourism experience
Madina’s next goal is to establish a house-museum.
This space is envisioned as a living environment where her own works and those of her students will be displayed. Visitors will not only observe traditional garments, but also take part in master classes, experiencing the process of creation firsthand.
Thus, craft becomes not only a source of income, but also a tool for preserving cultural heritage and promoting handicraft tourism.
UNDP has recently completed the implementation of the regional initiative “Aid for Trade in Central Asia,” funded by the Government of Finland. In Uzbekistan and across Central Asia, the initiative helped advance more diversified, inclusive and future-fit economies adaptive to the green and digital shifts reshaping global markets and trade. It enhanced the capabilities of businesses and institutions for developing job-rich, sustainable value chains and strengthened enterprise productivity and competitiveness.
