Craftswoman
Rizida Damirovna
Orenburg Region
An honoured employee of the former down-knitting cooperative, and now of our company.
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35 years
craftswoman's age
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550
shawls knitted
About the craftswoman
Rizida Damirovna comes from the well-known village of Zheltoye and, like many of her “fellow craftswomen”, mastered down knitting in early childhood. She knitted her first complete item at 7, when she was in 1st grade — and it was an openwork gossamer shawl right away.
Her mother and grandmother taught Rizida Damirovna to knit. Not all craftswomen like painstaking spinning, but our heroine loved it from the first minutes and still enjoys spinning to this day.
Years in the cooperative
From 1983 to 1992 Rizida Damirovna worked in the down-knitting cooperative.
“There was a quota: 2 shawls, 2 stoles, and the material was provided,” she says. “The time when they gave out enough down yarn was probably the best.”
The craftswoman worked almost until the very collapse of the down-knitting cooperative and, like many knitters we interviewed, always dreamed of its revival.
“It's hard on your own,” she shares. “You never know whether you'll sell or not.”
That is why working with us brings Rizida Damirovna pleasure and peace of mind. And we, in turn, are glad to work with a master who creates masterpieces of the Orenburg craft from down yarn.
The craftswoman's items
Shawls, gossamer shawls and other items made by this craftswoman.
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Gossamer shawl
"Mother Blizzard"
$176
Part of a living tradition
The Orenburg down shawl survives thanks to craftswomen who pass on their skills through family, neighbours and personal experience. Each item is linked not only to its pattern but also to the hand of the person who made it.
Help me choose an item
If you like this craftswoman's work but don't know which shawl to choose, we will suggest suitable options.