The Story of
Zaika Khotkovsky
We are Maria Altukhova and Dmitry Ochakov, the designers behind Zaika Khotkovsky.
Our project began with a simple idea: to bring back a remarkable handmade textile figure that had almost disappeared from history.
The story of Zaika Khotkovsky began more than one hundred years ago in the town of Khotkovo, near Moscow, Russia. In the early 1900s, women of the local Pokrovsky Monastery created handmade textile dolls and animals from fabric remnants. Over time, their collection grew to include rabbits, squirrels, bears, elephants, and other charming creatures, each carefully crafted by hand.
Following the social changes of the 1920s, the tradition continued in local craft workshops, where skilled artisans transformed leftover fabrics into distinctive textile animals. Despite limited materials, they achieved remarkable sculptural character and expressiveness. Most of these figures were sewn from felt or cotton flannel and traditionally filled with wood shavings.
Among them was a rabbit with a satin ribbon around its neck—a simple yet memorable figure that would later become the inspiration for our work.
In 2022, after studying archival materials and surviving examples, we reconstructed the original patterns and brought Zaika Khotkovsky back to life. Our intention was not to create a replica, but to reinterpret this historical craft tradition through contemporary collectible design while preserving its spirit and character.
Each Zaika Khotkovsky is individually handcrafted from carefully selected vintage velour and traditionally filled with wood shavings in homage to the original technique. Every sculpture carries its own subtle variations and unique personality—qualities that are inseparable from true artisan craftsmanship.
Today, Zaika Khotkovsky is both a collectible textile sculpture and a symbol of living craft heritage, connecting the past with the present through design, craftsmanship, and storytelling.
Thank you for becoming part of the continuing story of Zaika Khotkovsky.
Maria Altukhova & Dmitry Ochakov