In a conversation with a Turmush correspondent, Gulzat shared that her love for handicrafts began in childhood. "I was born in 1977 in the village of Korumdu and graduated from the Karamoldo Orozov school. From a young age, I was fascinated by embroidery and drawing. After school, I enrolled in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Drawing at the Issyk-Kul State University named after K. Tynystanov, which I graduated from in 1999. Then I started teaching at Vocational Lyceum No. 2, where I spent five years. Later, I got married, moved to Chon-Toguzbay, and got a job at the school. My husband is also a teacher, and together we are raising one daughter and four sons," she said.
Gulzat not only inspires her students by teaching them embroidery and button-making but has also mastered soap production, which allows her to earn extra income. "I have been working in education for 25 years, and at the Chon-Toguzbay school, I teach labor and technology. We live in an era of globalization, and our main task is to pass on Kyrgyz national traditions and revive forgotten crafts. Handmade products are especially valued these days. I have students interested in handicrafts, and I teach them both Kyrgyz and Chinese embroidery.
I also try to implement new techniques and seek innovative approaches. Embroidery is a complex art that requires patience and precision. Each product costs between 1,500 to 2,000 soms. For additional income, I took a course in soap making. Now I create soap using medicinal herbs and skin-beneficial components such as chamomile and olive oil. Each product is unique. Initially, I made souvenirs in the shape of flowers with added scents for holidays, and now I create soap for children in the form of fairy-tale characters and animals. Currently, I sell it for 50 soms, and my main customers are my fellow villagers. In the future, I plan to develop this craft, continue learning, and create new products," she noted.
Gallery: Gulzat Kasymova
