Altyn Kol, the producers of the felt rugs is a NGO of craftswomen with over 200 members in remote areas of Naryn region in Kyrgyzstan on the border to China. After the breakdown of the Soviet Union, they took the initiative to escape widespread poverty to nourish their families. On the roots of century old traditions and on their own creativity they developed unique artist products, the Shyrdak and the Ala-Kiyiz.

The Unique and Creative Designs of Our Shyrdaks and Ala Kiyiz at Our Store in Kochkor;

Our Handicrafts Production Seminars;
Our Ancient Handicrafts Techniques Tours;
Our New Line of Handmade Yurts;
Our Bi-Annual Exhibition in Bishkek at the Historical Museum, May 24th to 27th;
Our Annual Sheep to Shyrdak Festival (Felt Festival) in Partnership with CBT Kochkor in Kochkor region, July 7th;
Our New Summer Shop at Son-Kol Lake in partnership with Shepherd's Life;
Our Annual Kyrgyz Heritage Festival in Chui Oblast near Bishkek,  June 30th. 

A Brief History of Altyn Kol

For many years in Kyrgyzstan, shyrdak production was traditionally for household use. A large, ornate shyrdak was the pride of a household, but in modern times, the tradition began to be forgotten.

That was until the winter of 1996, when a group of women in the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan realized that making traditional carpets was a resource for assisting them in difficult economic times. These women had the needed skills and they had the will to work hard, but they lacked business and marketing experience. So that spring, the group began receiving assistance from the Helvetas Agro-project, the predecessor of the Rural Advisory Services in Naryn. 

Soon they had their first sales exhibition and they had a terrific response from clients in Bishkek. Their feedback encouraged the group to introduce new colors and patterns into their repertoire, as well as emphasizing the need for quality management in production. These adjustments led to increased sales in the bi-annual exhibitions, and in the summer of 1997, the group produced 100 small shyrdaks for export, confirming that a market for their goods existed outside of Kyrgyzstan.

Encouraged by their success, the women set about improving their skills. In the autumn of 1997, more than 100 of them attended sewing training in Kochkor. As the group grew, and the members increased their skill, it became clear that a formal organization was necessary. In the spring of 1998, more than 200 women formed Altyn Kol, an NGO with the aim of generating income by producing and selling felt carpets and defending the interests of private felt carpet producers. Soon, other producers became interested. The women of At-Bashy, Ak-Talaa and other Naryn regions participated in Altyn Kol's seventh exhibition.

Despite the success, each shyrdak produced by Altyn Kol remains a unique thing. It is designed and prepared individually, using the indigenous knowledge Kyrgyz of patterns, symbols, coloring and sewing techniques. When making a shyrdak, the women act together, keeping carpet production as a social and economic role in their lives.

The women Altyn Kol invite you to visit their places of production throughout the Naryn Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. Each summer they provide many opportunities to those traveling in our country to learn how they might also create their own unique memory of Kyrgyzstan in the form of a shyrdak.

Also, please visit our

Shyrdak Symbols Page

to learn more about our designs.

This Summer, Come Visit Kyrgyzstan & Experience:www.altyn-kol.com

Our Sale Exhibition in Switzerland in Andeer village, Graubuenden, August 10th to 21st.

For further information on dates and times, please feel free to contact us by email.

Shyrdak (carpet) 

Shyrdak, 2,2 x 1,2 m Code: AKS 20 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,6 m Code: AKS 22 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,6 x 1,3 m Code: AKS 23 Price:
Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,0 m Code: AKS 24 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,4 x 1,5 m Code: AKS 25 Price:	Shyrdak, 3,0 x 1,5 m Code: AKS 26 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,75 x 0,82 m Code: AKS 27 Price:	Shyrdak, 0,35 x 0,35 m Code: AKS 29 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,9 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 30 Price:
Shyrdak, 3,0 x 1,6 m Code: AKS 31 Price:	Shyrdak, 3,5 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 32 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,5 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 33 Price:
Shyrdak, 0,35 x 0,35 m Code: AKS 34 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,4 x 1,4 m Code: AKS 39 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,2 x 0,5 m Code: AKS 40 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,2 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 41 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,2 x 1,3 m Code: AKS 42 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,5 x 1,5 m Code: AKS-44 negative Price:
Shyrdak, 2,7 x 1,6 m Code: AKS 45 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,5 x 1,5 m Code: AKS 50 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,2 m Code: AKS 51 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,45 x 0,85 m Code: AKS 60 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,5 x 1,75 m Code: AKS 65 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 2,0 m Code: AKS 67 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,0 x 0,6 m Code: AKS 69 Price:	Shyrdak, 0,9 x 2,4 m Code: AKS 70 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,4 x 2,0 m Code: AKS 94 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,25 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 95 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,4 x 2,5 m Code: AKS 100 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,2 x 1,15 m Code: AKS 101 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,7 m Code: AKS 102 Price:	Pano, 1,2 x 0,9 m Code: AKSp 102 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 108-negative Price:
Shyrdak, 0,9 x 1,75 m Code: AKS 113 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,65 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 115 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,5 x 1,8 m Code: AKS 132 negative Price:
Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,2 m Code: AKS 133 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,5 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 138 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,55 x 0,95 m Code: AKS 164 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,2 x 2,0 m Code: AKS 170 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,1 x 1,4 m Code: AKS 173 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,0 m Code: AKS 175 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,15 x 0,7 m Code: AKS 177 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,2 m Code: AKS 188 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,2 x 1,0 m Code: AKS 189 Price:
Shyrdak, 2,65 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 208 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,6 m Code: AKS 210 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,55 x 0,8 m Code: AKS 211 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,45 x 1,25 m Code: AKS 218 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,4 x 0,7 m Code: AKS 221 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,45 x 1,15 m Code: AKS 223 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,9 x 1,4 m Code: AKS 224 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,55 x 0,85 m Code: AKS 227 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 226 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,25 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 235 Price:	Shyrdak, 1,1 x 0,7 m Code: AKS 239 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,2 m Code: AKS 245 Price:
Shyrdak, 1,3 x 0,75 m Code: AKS 249 Price:	Shyrdak, 3,25 x 2,1 m Code: AKS 260 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,5 x 1,6 m Code: AKS 262 Price:
Shyrdak, 3,85 x 1,5 m Code: AKS 264 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,45 x 1,3 m Code: AKS 269 Price:

Ala Kiyiz

Ala Kiyiz, 1,9 x 0,9 m Code: AKA 10 Price:	Ala Kiyiz, 2,5 x 1,0 m Code: AKA 11 Price:	Shyrdak, 2,0 x 1,0 m Code: AKA 21 Price:
Ala Kiyiz, 2,0 x 1,0 m Code: AKA 28 Price:	Pano, 1,2 x 0,9 m Code: AKAp 101 Price:

Pillows
 

Slippers

Ottoman, 0,7 x 0,7 x 0,35 m Code: AK 02 Price:

Ottoman,  0,50 x 0,2 m Code: FP-2 Price:

Hats

Bags