Need a great gift?Buy some ‘jorab’ socks
While weaving and knitting are widespread across Azerbaijan, one place where these closely linked age-old crafts are especially prevalent are the mountain villages of the Gusar region. The inhabitants of these villages – largely formed of Lezgis, an ancient people of the Caucasus Mountains – have been keeping sheep since time immemorial, meaning there’s always been an abundance of wool for local women to make carpets and clothes to keep everyone cosy and warm in winter. Skills and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation and still today young girls learn to weave and knit from an early age.
One of the Lezgis’ most symbolic products are thick and vibrantly patterned slipper socks called “jorab”, which are worn indoors to keep feet warm in winter and traditionally included in a bride’s dowry. What’s more, these hand-knitted winter warmers make an ideal gift or souvenir which you can buy at the local bazaar in Gusar or even online from outside the country.
