Zhanar Ursarova from Almaty creates custom-made dolls that
resemble real people, sewing them based on individual orders. Her clients come
from not only neighboring countries but also from as far as Germany, Austria,
Israel, Italy, Bolivia, and Pakistan. She works with photographs sent by
customers to capture the features and expressions of the people for whom the
dolls are made, ensuring that each one is a detailed and lifelike replica.
«It takes two weeks to make one model. I make exclusive
dolls based on the customer’s photo, that is, I do everything exactly the same
– facial expression, skin color. This is a secret technique that I learned,» Ursarova said.
Doll making began as a simple hobby for the craftswoman but
has since become her passion. She started pursuing it seriously eight years
ago. Her grandmother taught her how to hold a needle and thread when she was
just five years old. Four years later, despite hearing and speech problems, she
sewed a real Kazakh costume for a Barbie doll.
«I taught her to sew. When I made ornaments from newspaper,
my granddaughter, still very little, watched and learned. Looking at her work,
we wonder where she got such talent and how she comes up with things,» said her
grandmother, Zakhan Kydyrmanova.
To date, Ursarova has crafted nearly 400 different doll
models. Looking ahead, she has ambitious plans to conduct master classes and
create her own brand.
Web-editor: Гайни Жумабек
Related Articles
