The Bijar Rug: Iran's "Iron Carpet"
Why the Bijar is known as Iran's "iron carpet" — the wet-weaving technique, extraordinary density and Kurdish weaving tradition behind it.
Magazine
Arsin Magazine
Stories from the world of handmade rugs — from the secrets of vegetal dyes to a design's journey from studio to loom.
What Is a Jajim? Jajim vs. Kilim vs. Knotted Carpet
What a jajim actually is, how it differs from a kilim and a knotted carpet, and where this light tribal textile fits in a modern home.
Vegetal Dyeing: The Colors That Grow More Alive With Time
How vegetal rug dyeing works with madder, indigo, weld and walnut husk — and why these colors grow more beautiful with age instead of fading.
What Actually Determines the Price of a Handmade Rug?
Size, raj, material, dye type and weaving region — a clear breakdown of what actually shapes the price of a handmade rug.
From Design to Loom: The Journey of an Arsin Rug
The making of every Arsin rug, from the design studio in Tehran to the village weaving workshops of Iran — step by step.
What Is Raj? Understanding Persian Rug Knot Density
What raj actually means, how to count it from the back of a rug, and why a higher number is not always the better choice.
The Complete Guide to Buying a Handmade Persian Rug
The complete guide to buying a handmade rug — from wool and dye type to reading the back of the rug, everything to check before you buy.
Hand-Spun Wool and Natural Dyes: Why Handmade Rugs Last
Why Arsin rugs are woven with hand-spun wool and vegetal dyes — and what difference that choice makes to a rug's life and beauty.
Reflections on the Current Marketing of Iranian Rugs in Europe and Its Future Prospects
Reviewing a century of the Iranian rug trade in Europe, Fritz Langauer criticizes excessive cheapening and false discounts, and sees a return to quality, serious pricing, and support for small workshops as the way forward.
Classifying the Kurdish Rugs of Iran
William Eagleton examines the difficulties of classifying the Kurdish rugs of Iran, from Senneh and Bijar to Kermanshah and Savojbolagh, and considers the future of Kurdish weaving.
Oriental Rug Marketing in the United States and the Role of the Media
Leslie Slocum surveys the Oriental rug market across five regions of the United States, describing best-selling tastes, sizes and prices, and the role of trade magazines and television in marketing Iranian rugs.
Improving the Markets for Iranian Rugs
Dr. Mirza Shahid Irshad proposes ways to expand global markets for Iranian rugs: permanent exhibitions in buyer countries, tackling imitations sold under Iranian labels, controlling prices, and diversifying designs.
On Natural Dyes: A Turkish Project
A look at Turkey’s DOBAG project, which revived natural dyeing and handspun wool to restore the quality of Anatolian village rugs and give their weavers a steady source of income.