ACraftIndependent states
Atlas and adras — Margilan silk
Colourful silks whose threads are pattern-dyed before weaving; Margilan's tradition is on UNESCO's Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
Atlas is woven of pure silk and adras of silk and cotton. Their secret is the abr (cloud) technique: the threads are tied and dyed several times before weaving, giving the patterns soft, cloud-like edges.
Margilan in the Fergana Valley is one of the oldest silk-weaving centres of the Silk Road, where everything from raising silkworms to finished cloth is done by hand.
In 2017 UNESCO added the Margilan Crafts Development Centre's safeguarding of atlas and adras making to its Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. Atlas dresses are the festive wear of Uzbek women.
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Updated: October 3, 2026