Tajikistan
A small country in Central Asia abundant in natural resources, Tajikistan has a rich background in the folk craft of artistic embroidery.
EFI currently works in Khujand, one of Central Asia’s oldest cities, in supporting artisan communities and creating employment opportunities.
Alongside social enterprise partners Ozara, EFI strives to cultivate the craft of embroidery that has been passed down from generation to generation.
EFI’s projects in Tajikistan are proudly supported by the European Union’s Identity Building and Business Sharing Initiative.

1 Social Enterprise Partners
Ozara

100% Women
Ozara is a women-led cooperative empowering marginalised communities

Supported by the European Union
Identity Building and Business Sharing Initiative
Quotation from Impact Assessment with name, age , community group

Meet The Suzani Embroidery Experts
Embroidery is loaded with meaning in Tajikistan, where it plays a central role in wedding ceremonies across the country. In the months and sometimes years before a marriage, the brides family begin to embroider a large piece of cloth with silk and cotton threads that will be wrapped around the newlywed couple on their wedding day.
Pomegranates for fertility, flowers for beauty and bright colours for joy, every stitch is a symbol, another language in Tajik culture. This embroidery work plays an important role; it empowers women in difficult family situations, and preserves this traditional skill and the rich culture of Tajikistan

Pattern Making

Natural Dyes

Suzani Embroidery
