Artsakh Weaver Rebuilds Life Through Traditional Craft

Milena Ordiyants, a master weaver from Artsakh, has rebuilt her life in central Armenia after being displaced twice in recent years. When residents of Berdzor were evacuated in August 2022, Ordiyants prioritized saving her wooden loom and weaving tools over household possessions. Born in Baku and later based in Shushi, she had spent years teaching tapestry weaving and carpet making before the 2023 military offensive forced a final displacement. The family eventually settled in Dzoraghbyur, Kotayk province, using a state housing certificate to purchase a home. Initially struggling with creative despair, Ordiyants found renewed purpose when former and new clients began requesting her work. Her journey reflects how traditional craftsmanship has sustained her through repeated displacement and continues to anchor her identity and livelihood.