The Kustar program in the Caucasus began in the late 1800s in Imperial Russia and continued later under Soviet rule. Its goal was to support and improve traditional handmade crafts in the Caucasus region, especially carpet weaving.
The word “kustar” means a craftsperson who works from home, often with help from family. They made things by hand to sell, which was an important way for peasants to earn money.
By the end of the 1800s, the quality of these handmade crafts had become worse. This happened because:
- Cheap synthetic dyes were used
- Traditional local patterns were replaced with popular Western styles
- The market wanted mass-produced items instead of unique village designs
To fix this, the government started several helpful programs:
- Material support – They provided better tools and materials to the craftspeople
- Training – They opened schools and workshops to teach better skills
- Design preservation – They collected old patterns and taught craftspeople how to use them again
In 1899, the government created the Caucasian Kustar Committee to lead this work. By 1901, they focused on saving old carpet designs from before 1880. They wanted each village to keep its own style and stop copying patterns from other places or from Europe.
They also built a central center where they saved these designs and trained new craftspeople.
Some people think that the Kustar program made local styles too similar. But Richard E. Wright says the opposite is true. He believes the program tried to protect local village styles and restore traditional patterns that were being lost because of market demand.
Sources:
Kustar program in Caucasia by Richard E. Wright May 2009
Caucasian Carpets and Covers: The Weaving Culture by John T. Wertime and Richard E. Wright 1995