Story
The Artisans
Every flatweave rug is made by hand from start to finish. The process of spinning the wool and the dyeing it is done by men, as well as washing the final product. But the weaving of the flatweave rug is done by women in their own homes. We’re now working with 50 women on these, 30 have always been weaving kilims but 20 are newcomers. Since the country fell to the Taliban, rug weaving is one of the few livelihoods available, each one taking around three months to produce.
The Wool
Part of what makes Afghanistan’s flatweave rugs so special is the wool they are made from. Each strand of wool is individually spun by hand, giving the rugs great character. With its unusually long strands, Ghazni wool is also famously hardwearing, meaning Afghan carpets can survive for centuries.
