The Mongolian Quilting Centre
One of the organisations we are proud to work with in Ulaanbaatar is the Mongolian Quilting Centre, also known as Mongolia Quilts.
Established in 2004 by Selenge Tserendash, the centre operates through the Shine Zamnal (New Way Life) NGO, providing training and income-generating opportunities for women who may otherwise struggle to find regular employment. These include single mothers, women with disabilities and those from low-income households.
Using quilting, patchwork, embroidery and other textile skills, the women create everything from practical tote bags and tablecloths to intricate wall hangings and quilts, often incorporating recycled or upcycled fabrics.
Since opening, the centre has provided training to more than 4,000 women. Some have gone on to establish their own businesses or teach others, while the centre continues to provide work for local artisans.
For us at Eternal Landscapes, this is exactly the kind of organisation we value supporting. It is a Mongolian initiative, established and led locally, providing opportunities for women while celebrating creativity and traditional craft skills.
As part of our partnership, we purchase handmade tote bags from the centre for our guests. They provide a practical alternative to disposable plastic bags while ensuring that part of our guests’ trip costs directly supports the women’s work.
We also offer opportunities for guests to spend time at the centre, meet the artisans and take part in quilting workshops.
The Mongolian Quilting Centre – At a Glance
The Mongolian Quilting Centre is a women-focused social enterprise in Ulaanbaatar, founded in 2004 by Selenge Tserendash through the Shine Zamnal NGO. It provides training and income opportunities through quilting, embroidery and textile production, often using recycled fabrics. More than 4,000 women have benefited from its training programmes. Visitors can purchase handmade products at the centre on Seoul Street or arrange a practical quilting workshop to learn more about the organisation and its work.
Table of Contents
An Interview With Selenge Tserendash
During one of my visits to the Mongolian Quilting Centre, I had the opportunity to talk with Selenge about what inspired her to establish Mongolia Quilts, the challenges she has faced and what the organisation means to her.
What Motivated You to Establish Mongolia Quilts?
“I am a single mother, but I was fortunate to work as a lawyer and use my education and language skills as a tour guide. I realized that many other single mothers in Mongolia didn’t have the same security that education provided me. Many of them were unable to work because they needed to stay home. As a Buddhist, I felt a deep desire to help and began thinking of ways to create an income generation project.”
Why Quilting?
“Old clothing and fabric remnants are relatively easy to come by and inexpensive here in Mongolia. These materials can be transformed into products like cushions or tablecloths, and with the addition of embroidery, they become beautiful and unique. Quilting is something that can be done at home, with the only necessary equipment being a sewing machine. It’s also an ecological practice since it involves reusing materials. Additionally, embroidery is a significant part of Mongolia’s traditional culture.”
What Have Been Your Biggest Challenges?
“Being based in Ulaanbaatar presents its challenges. It’s a demanding city. My dream is to live in the Mongolian countryside, surrounded by nature. Another challenge is securing a regular personal salary, which can be difficult. However, I find myself rich in friendships with genuine people. My role as Director of Mongolian Quilts provides a sense of balance in my life and contributes significantly to my happiness.”
I particularly appreciate Selenge’s openness about the challenges of running the organisation. Like many small, independently led initiatives, the Mongolian Quilting Centre has had to balance its social purpose with the practical realities of generating income and sustaining its work.
Celebrating 20 Years of Mongolia Quilts
In 2024, the Mongolian Quilting Centre celebrated its twentieth anniversary with an extraordinary collaborative textile project.
The women created an enormous ölzii (ulzii), a traditional Mongolian auspicious symbol associated with good fortune and longevity.
Measuring 5.72 metres high and 4.45 metres wide, the artwork comprises 55 square sections and 3,550 individual elements. Contributions came from across Mongolia’s nine districts, all 21 provinces and 20 countries.
The centre also announced plans to submit the artwork for recognition by Guinness World Records.
For me, it is a wonderful example of how a project that began with the aim of creating employment opportunities has developed into a much wider network of skills, friendships and shared creativity.
You can see more of the anniversary project here.
Selenge also discusses the organisation’s work in this MNB World interview.
Visiting the Mongolian Quilting Centre With Eternal Landscapes
One of the ways we support the Mongolian Quilting Centre is by introducing our guests to its work through our Ulaanbaatar one-day experiences.
Rather than simply visiting the centre to purchase a souvenir, guests can take part in a practical quilting workshop alongside the women who work there.
During the workshop, you learn about the techniques, fabrics and designs used by the artisans while creating your own Mongolian-inspired wall hanging to take home.
You don’t need previous quilting experience, just a willingness to give it a try.
But the experience is about more than the finished piece. It is an opportunity to spend time with the women, learn about the organisation and see how craft skills can create opportunities for income and independence.
As Emma, one of our guests, described her visit:
“It was amazing to meet Selenge and all of the women at the quilting centre. It was a really inspiring experience to get to see the wonderful work they are doing and learn all about the projects they are doing! They were incredibly welcoming and it was really great to spend some time there with them.”
You can also visit the Mongolian Quilting Centre on Seoul Street in central Ulaanbaatar.
Its shop is a lovely place to find handmade gifts, from smaller practical items to detailed textile artworks featuring Mongolian patterns and designs. Purchasing directly from the centre helps support the women who make them.
For us, the Mongolian Quilting Centre is a reminder that getting to know Mongolia isn’t only about travelling into its countryside. There are inspiring people and community initiatives within Ulaanbaatar, too, and we believe they deserve just as much attention.
Discover a Different Side of Ulaanbaatar
Our Ulaanbaatar experiences introduce visitors to the people, businesses and community initiatives that are part of everyday life in Mongolia’s capital. From creative workshops to locally led projects, they offer an opportunity to explore beyond the city’s best-known landmarks.
Jess @ Eternal Landscapes Mongolia
