Chris Aslan: Unravelling the Silk Road

Has the latest issue of Selvedge sparked a little wanderlust for Central Asia? If so, Chris Aslan’s Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia might just tempt you further. Through the lens of the region’s three ancient trade routes—the Silk Road, the Wool Road, and the Cotton Road—Aslan weaves a rich narrative of history, culture, and craftsmanship. But this is more than just a travel book. It’s a deeply immersive journey into the lives of those who have long depended on these textiles for survival, trade, and identity, revealing how their stories are interwoven with the fabric of Central Asia’s past and present.

Having spent over fifteen years living and working in the region, Aslan brings a firsthand understanding of Central Asia’s landscapes and communities. He takes us from the buzzing bazaars of Uzbekistan to the remote highlands of Tajikistan, peeling back the layers of history along the way. (...)

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