You could be forgiven for assuming Aliman Esenalieva is overheated. The 60-year-old textile artisan is sitting cross-legged on the floor of a felted yurt on a sweltering 90-degree June day just outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital. It is high noon. There is no A/C. Not a fan in sight. And she is putting the finishing touches on an intricate felted seat cover—meaning she’s not only sitting in a yurt covered in felt, she also has a substantial piece of wool draped across her lap.

Yet despite all signs pointing to the contrary, Esenalieva actually feels quite cool and comfortable. Peaceful, even. This is no accident, nor is it a surprise (at least to her). As a longtime employee of Tumar Art Group , a traditional felting collective founded by Kyrgyz entrepreneur Chinara Makashova and her

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