British-Pakistani designer Omar Mansoor received the Best Collection Award for Incorporating Cultural Preservation at the Atlas Bayrami Festival in Margilan.
At the grand closing ceremony, attended by hundreds, Omar was honored by Fergana Governor Khayrullo Bozorov, Head of UNESCO Uzbekistan Sara Noshadi, and State Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov for his collection, “Meluhas.”
The Meluhas Collection honors the dignity and artistry of Pakistan’s rural women entrepreneurs.Named after the ancient Indus Valley civilization, known for its craftsmanship in seals, pottery, and gold jewelry, the collection reflects the artistry of that era. Designed in earthy tones, it evokes the simplicity and elegance of pottery miniatures from the Middle Bronze Age. Each piece, hand-embroidered by rural artisans in collaboration with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, draws inspiration from the intricate ornaments of this ancient civilization.
UNESCO Uzbekistan’s representative, an anthropologist, expressed special admiration for the collection’s connection to the ancient Bronze Age heritage.
Empowered by the DWEE programme and FCDO’s UK Aid Match, women from Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and the British Asian Trust shine.