Kamronbek Kamolov

Uzbekistan | Hand-knotted wool carpets

Kamronbek Kamolov is a carpet weaver from Bukhara, Uzbekistan - a city that once buzzed with traders on the Silk Road - working within a family tradition that spans generations. He comes from both Turkmen and Uzbek heritage, and this mixed lineage shapes the visual language of his rugs, though his rugs lean towards Turkmen nomadic traditions. Kamronbek began learning to weave at the age of ten, taught by his father, who had learned the craft from his own father. He says about his style, “I love and use the old Turkmen ways of carpet weaving, but I also add my own ideas.”

Today, carpet making is a shared family practice. Kamronbek works alongside his mother and four sisters, with his father assisting when possible. In total, seven family members are involved in the weaving process. Each rug is made entirely by hand on a traditional loom, following classic pile weaving techniques in which knots are tied row by row, packed tightly with weft, and finished with reinforced edges and fringed warp ends.

His rugs often feature repeating geometric motifs such as guls, medallions, and tree-of-life patterns. While the structure follows established forms, Kamronbek describes incorporating personal references drawn from his surroundings, including the trees and ponds of the Bukhara region.

Kamronbek works exclusively with natural materials. Wool from sheep and camels is sourced from regions in Uzbekistan known for animal husbandry, including Navoi and Qarshi. Yarn is dyed using plant-based methods passed down through his family, including madder and indigo, as well as additional colors derived from minerals and local plants.

For Kamronbek, weaving is both a livelihood and a responsibility. The income supports his household, and he also makes an effort to teach weaving skills to younger children in his community so the knowledge continues beyond his own family.