All about Afghan rugs

Did you know that Afghanistan is ranked among the world's top producers of quality carpets?
The cities of Kandahar, Kabul, and Herat are particularly known for being home to Turkmens who mainly make a living from their art.

What are Afghan rugs?

There are 2 main families of Afghan rugs: Turkmen rugs, easily recognizable by their characteristic red tones, and Baluch rugs, made by ancient nomadic tribes.

What are the most popular Afghan rugs?

There are 2 particularly popular and sought-after types of Afghan rugs:

• Khal Mohammadi:

For several decades, these rugs have been hand-woven by Turkmens in Northern Afghanistan. Their particularity is that their colors are in dark red tones, with some patterns resembling either an elephant's foot or an octagon (an 8-sided geometric figure). You will sometimes find floral patterns on these rugs with beige, ecru, or dark blue tones.

• Aqche Afghans:

Aqche Afghan rugs are not very different from those mentioned above, but they have the particularity of being hand-woven by Turkmens in the center of the country.

What materials are used to make Afghan rugs?

Afghan rugs are particularly known for being made with natural and high-quality materials, and the entire manufacturing process is done by hand by experienced artisans. Many materials are used for this:

• Pre-dyed wool:
  This material became widely exploited in the 1950s and has become an essential material for rug making in Afghanistan. Some women who produce Afghan rugs combine this material with vegetable dyes, 100% organic and natural materials to preserve the quality of the rug.
  
  
• Cotton:
  This cotton is also very widely used for making Afghan rugs, according to a unique artisanal process preserved from generation to generation.
  
  
• Silk:
  Other materials are also used, such as silk, to produce high-end Afghan rugs, mainly for export.
  

Sometimes, some Turkmen women combine several types of materials at once, to produce thick mats or flat weaves to meet demand.

In conclusion

Even though the various conflicts that have taken place in Afghanistan have forced millions of inhabitants to leave their country of origin, thousands of rug weavers can be found in neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, and India. They fled Afghanistan because of the war with the Soviet Union to find a peaceful place where they could perpetuate their art, continuing to produce quality Afghan rugs, still hand-woven to this day according to a well-preserved tradition and know-how.