We established Kyrgyz Wool in the south of Kyrgyzstan. Although our region has an oversupply of sheep and wool, it lacks a local value chain to utilise these resources. Conversely, although there are many skilled and talented people in rural areas, there are few opportunities to earn a living from this. Our journey began with this simple desire: to work with the wool and the community to create something meaningful.

Initially (from 2015 to 2018), we created and exported traditional felt rugs from the Alay Mountains to Austria. Later, we attempted to establish a complete local supply chain (washing, carding, and felting) independently, from 2022 to 2024. During this time, we worked in abandoned factories and converted an old bathtub (in Kyrgyz, we say “Moncho”) into a place to wash and dry wool. In the end, we had felt and carded wool, which was then processed into small animal souvenirs for children or typical products for the bazaar. During this time, we also produced hand-felted shoes and slippers for tourists. However, we realised that doing everything alone was too much for our small team, and we also did not have a unique differentiation in this highly competitive market.

That’s why we pivoted again towards a completely new concept: stress-reducing acoustic panels that combine art with a multifunctional purpose. But how did we end up with this concept? To make it short: We live now in the crowded city of Bishkek, in one of those big buildings and a small flat. There is not a lot of nature, but a lot of noise, and also, to be honest, a lot of stress. Triggered by our very own need, that was the beginning of a new chapter. We think reducing stress and creating nature-like interiors (also called “biophilic” design) will become increasingly important, as so many people live indoors and do not have regular access to nature. But nature was the one and only thing humans adopted from the very beginning, and it has a scientifically proven impact on stress reduction and well-being.

So, let’s start this new journey. We are very much looking forward to it!