Karina Duebner of Tamerlane's Daughters photographed in her London studio by Max Kimbee — *Karina in her London studio, 2004*

OUR STORY SO FAR

Tamerlane’s Daughters is the studio of Karina Duebner, who is half German and half Kazakh.

In equal parts designer, collector, and textile scholar, Karina is driven by the belief that historical textiles need not be treated as untouchable items but can be brought to life by being used as they were originally intended – to be worn and utilised.

Beginnings

Bold colours, rich textures and intricate patterns consumed Karina from a young age.

With her first pay cheque she bought a small Tekke embroidery that became the foundation of her personal collection of Central Asian textiles, a trove which Christie’s Magazine featured in a 2018 special issue on ‘Collectors and Collections.’

Karina is an in-demand speaker and writer. She has lectured at London’s Royal Asiatic Society and been published in Hali, the leading revue devoted to carpet and textile art.

Karina Duebner of Tamerlane's Daughters sourcing antique textiles in Istanbul — *Karina sourcing textiles in Istanbul, late 1990s*

One-of-a-kind dress created by Tamerlane’s Daughters with museum-quality antique textiles, photographed by Max Kimbee — *Debut collection, 2004*

2004

Tamerlane’s Daughters launched with a capsule collection of cocktail dresses singled out by Hilary Alexander of The Daily Telegraph.

Each design featured a densely embroidered fragment from a 19th-century Turkmen chyrpy, or ceremonial cloak.

2005

The follow-up collection was sewn entirely of authentic silk ikats with their telltale watercolour effect.

It made an immediate impact on London’s fashion world and was photographed by Mario Testino for British Vogue. Karina was given a ‘One to Watch’ feature in British Elle.

Tamerlane's Daughters pioneering Ikat fashion collection photographed by Philip James — *Ikat collection, 2005*

Karina Duebner of Tamerlane's Daughters advising a client — *Karina advising a client, 2006*

In its first few years, Tamerlane’s Daughters was based out of a studio-showroom in Karina’s London mews house.

Here, the designer welcomed clients by private appointment.

2006

To mark the re-opening of its Islamic Arts galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum invited Karina to design a collection of one-off coats to be sold at the museum shop. She did so using antique embroideries from across the Islamic world.

The collection sold out instantly, resulting in a second commission.

One-of-a-kind coat by Tamerlane’s Daughters created from antique suzani embroidery for the V&A Museum — *Tamerlane’s Daughters x V&A, 2006*

*Tamerlane’s Daughters x CoutureLab, 2007*

2007

CoutureLab, the online retailer that pioneered the concept of Slow Luxury, became Tamerlane’s Daughters primary outlet, continuing into the next decade.

2010

Fabric for Fashion, a book on ‘how to push the boundaries of fashion through materials choice,’ championed Tamerlane’s Daughters’ innovative use of textiles.

Sustainability trailblazer Tamerlane's Daughters featured in Fabric for Fashion by Clive Hallett and Amanda Johnston — *Fabric for Fashion, 2010*

Interior design transformation — *Fez riad reimagined, 2011*

2011

Karina’s transition from fashion to interior design began with the restoration of a 17th-century riad in the historic medina of Fez, Morocco’s cultural heart.

She approached the design of her new home in much the same way she approaches fashion: with jewel colours, surprising details, and antique textiles sourced across five continents.

2013

Inspired by decorating her own house in Morocco, Karina launched a line of Couture Cushions, bringing Tamerlane’s Daughters signature fabrics into the home.

Collections are available exclusively through our
ONLINE SHOP

Shop luxurious Couture Cushions by Tamerlane's Daughters online — *Couture Cushions debut collection, 2013*

Moroccan home of Karina Duebner of Tamerlane's Daughters photographed by Julian Hargreaves for Architectural Digest Italia — *Karina’s Moroccan home in AD, 2015*

2015

The designer’s riad in Fez was featured in the Italian edition of Architectural Digest.

2017

Karina took time off from design to nurture her love of travel.

She resumed a journey she had begun in 2001, when she travelled solo by land for eighteen months retracing 14,500 kilometres (9,000 miles) of the ancient Spice and Silk Roads.

This time, she explored an additional 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) of the Silk Road across Central Asia.

Karina Duebner of Tamerlane's Daughters travelling on the ancient Silk Road — *Visiting the ancient Silk Road city of Türkistan, 2017*

Textile collage for maximalist interior design project — *Colour and textile collage for Manhattan interior design project, 2019*

2019

Tamerlane’s Daughters continued to grow its interior design business, taking on projects overseas.

The revamp of a writer’s Manhattan apartment with hand-painted Portuguese tiles, custom-made Moroccan zellij, and antique textiles from the Maghreb celebrated the client’s love affair with Al-Andalus.

2020

The pandemic-induced lockdown propelled Karina to create an all-encompassing new website.

The new site seeks to share the Tamerlane’s Daughters dream by including resources for textile connoisseurs and history lovers, as well as choices that promote sustainability.