Discover rugs and jewellery from Afghanistan, Pakistani homeware, leather accessories from Cairo, Grade A organic saffron from Iran, and Chinese traditional crafts; learn learn about traditional craftsmanship; and directly support artisans from the Middle East, Central and South Asia and China.
As part of its economic development work, the Aga Khan Foundation supports numerous artisans in counties along the Silk Road to develop their businesses to sustain livelihoods, create new jobs and preserve cultural heritage.
The Silk Road Bazaar in London has been created to support artisans and also to bring attention to the plurality of artisanal heritage found in counties along the Silk Road.
The Bazaar will return during the summer of 2024. We hope to see you there!
The Bazaar
2023 Silk Road Bazaar
AKF’s third Silk Road Bazaar took place between 23-25 June and included new vendors and musical performances from Chinese Folk musician, Yijia Tu, and Chand Ali Khan qawwal.
The Aga Khan Foundation’s second Silk Road Bazaar took place between 22-24 July and added new vendors and a performance from Akademi, a South Asian dance group.
Founded by a tea enthusiast in 2020, Kiani Tea is dedicated to sourcing authentic, loose leaf teas directly from tea farms and their highly skilled tea makers.
“My Iranian great-grandfather was a tea merchant in the 1920s and exported Iranian tea to Russia by horses, sadly he died young and no one shared his passion or vision enough to carry on trading and exporting his tea. When serving Iranian tea to my friends, they always fall in love with its unique flavour. I want to introduce Iranian Tea to everyone in the world and share the history of the Iranian Tea Trade which dates back to the Silk Route times.”
Starting out, we wanted to ensure hard to find unique Islamic merchandise, was easily accessible to everyone. We source beautifully handcrafted products from all over the world, designed and made with the utmost love, respect, and care.
In a (pistachio) nutshell, Saffron & Honey is a third culture bakery, looking at British baking with a Middle Eastern twist. Reflecting our founder’s identity, having been born in London of Palestinian heritage, our focus is on bringing a small piece of the West Bank to West London. Our menus speak of the ingredients and the land they came from, and its beauty.
ISHKAR is helping craft thrive in challenging contexts. The objects we sell have been handcrafted in places that are, or have been, affected by conflict or political turbulence. Cut off from international markets and unable to sustain their businesses, many artisans have downed their tools. We’re aiming to bring vitality to our shared global heritage.
YICRAFTS is an east asian handcrafts studio based in north western London in Camden founded in 2019. Its focus is on the beautiful but vanishing traditional handcrafts and cuisine of China’s minority ethnicities.
Ottoman Silks reproduces fabrics from the illustrious Ottoman Empire. The collection comprises of six elegant designs that were originally commissioned and worn by the Ottoman Sultans and their royal court. Our exclusive range of kaftans, waistcoats and accessories is unique in its combination of heritage and contemporary designs and has been made to the highest standards.
Pink Tea Café brings joy, inspiration and a moment of magic through the finest speciality teas, artisan chai blends and exquisite handcrafted baklava. We offer some of the rarest teas in the world meticulously selected by our tea master from estates farming sustainably, each one complemented with a poem so that every sip is a conscious and mindful one.
ART OF THE PEN is Soraya Syed’s London-based calligraphy studio. Soraya was an apprentice to a master calligrapher in Istanbul and received her license in 2005. Her practice shows disciplined freedom; she enjoys the tension between her classical training and pushing the boundaries of traditional calligraphy. Soraya will be demonstrating her craft and selling some of her work, alongside specially-selected tools from Istanbul.
Nimuri sells homeware and clothing made in Pakistan, supporting heritage craft skills and creating beautiful and unique products that tell a story about the country’s rich artisanal history. It sources from small family-run or female-led businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations.
The Doppi Project by BENI is a story and journey by diaspora to discover and reclaim their heritage thread by thread. The project tells the story of both Uyghur and Uzbek culture via traditional and historical hats called ‘Doppi’, and what they symbolise for a new generation today.
At Ishq, we are passionate about keeping small industries and indigenous crafts alive from all over the subcontinent. That’s why we work with NGOs and Sustainable Designers.
Sabbara was founded by and working with Syrian refugee women. We make stunning embroidered cushions and clutches which provide those who are most in need with a living wage, a creative outlet for trauma, and a supportive community.
S jo creates original, one of a kind accessories drawing inspiration from traditional textile techniques and handcrafted by artisans mainly women from villages in Pakistan. It was born out of a design PhD project looking to improve power and privilege specifically within the act of craft practice between traditional women’s craft communities and NGOs/designers in development. It consistently searches for new vocabulary for traditional craft skills. The signature jewellery collections value each individual craft woman’s creativity, provide opportunities for fair income and a creative space for artisans to develop their craft practice. Each piece is a testament of fine craft and collaboration.
Attar Apothecary sells single origin, fair trade and organically grown saffron and rose petals from Iran. (We work with individual farmers to provide you with quality products, conveying flavours and aromas that transport you to a land rich in history and culture. Iran is the global leader in saffron production and) Attar works with farmers in the main saffron growing region of Khorasan, an ancient province. Iranian cuisine is steeped in unique ingredients & flavour combinations and has heavily influenced numerous food cultures beyond its present-day borders. Alongside spices and foods of Iran we will be showcasing hand made artisanal crafts bringing traditional motifs and methods to contemporary pieces.
MISHKĀ is synonymous with beautiful objects handcrafted by women living among Cairo’s historic Mamluk monuments in the ‘City of the Dead’ using traditional techniques and the finest natural materials. Training and design support by designers, including Bill Amberg, provides the women with the skills to produce these products, which are sold for the benefit of their families and themselves.
Based in London UK for over 25 years now, Eastern Rug Centre supplies hand-made Afghan rugs made by our own weavers in the Northern and North-Western regions of Afghanistan to many Oriental rug shops and individual customers across the UK
Çaplait Shoes exists to bridge heritage and modernity, to fuse ethical manufacturing with directional style and to broaden the horizons of artisanal handcrafting.
Authentic Indian Chutney made from scratch in Nana’s kitchen. Sustainably sourced packaging and ingredients, we strive to provide only the best for our Chutney lovers.
Individually sourcing, selecting and supporting independent producers, Canopy Market brings together fresh produce, artisan food, designer-makers and artists alongside street food, craft drinks and music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
