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Teacher - Student

Among the regions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan that produce national silk fabrics, the Fergana Valley currently occupies a special place as the republic's "silk center."

The cities of Margilan, Namangan and Khudjand are centers of rich silk-weaving traditions. Each has its own types of products and its own centuries-old methods of textile ornamentation.

A deeply national local school formed here called “Ustod - Shogird” translated as “teacher - student” schools.

From ancient times, weavers from different regions of Central Asia have studied here and improved their skills. This is probably why the Margilan and Namangan styles of decorating silk and half-silk fabrics became the basis of the general national style of ornamenting handicraft fabrics that has survived to our time.

Abrband masters usually learned the craft of making fabrics within the family circle. As pupils, they long performed auxiliary work: tying the warp threads being prepared for reservation according to the master's marks, helping in dyeing and straightening the warp, and so on. Only after working in production for several years and mastering the artistic methods and technique of abrovye ornamentation did abrband pupils become artists who apply the pattern, called nishonzon.

Two or three years is the minimum period for learning the abrband technique. The most capable pupils manage in two years to master the stock of designs of their teacher, which they then copy for a long time without substantial changes, varying the coloring of the patterns somewhat.

Young cadres who have received production experience and excellent artistic traditions from the hands of the older generation's masters ensure the successful development of this interesting type of folk ornamental art, which testifies to the high mastery and rich aesthetic taste of the people.