Afghanistan

The rugs and textiles of Afghanistan often have mixed techniques of pile and flat-weave. Designs often follow the intricately woven soumak technique, a weft wrapping technique resulting in a heavy flat woven rug. Because of the high, mountainous terrain, cotton isn’t grown there. The material most available for foundation is wool from the fat-tailed sheep, which is considered the best in the world.

Ersari Turkmen rugs woven by Afghan refugees are handspun with natural dye and woven on a wool-foundation. Weavers use a limited traditional color palette with designs of traditional motifs. Rugs woven by Hazarra reguees are hand-spun with vegetable dye with a foundation of wool on cotton. Originating in Turkmenistan, carpets are finely woven in a geometric tradition. Wholesale profits from the Hazarra and Ersari rugs benefit the Barakat non-profit organization.

Balouch rugs and textiles--prayer rugs, pillows, saddle bags, animal trappings and tent furnishings—are woven on ground looms with traditional pallets of indigo and madder. The Balouch are a family of tribes living in Afghanistan and bordering countries. Favoring the traditional tones of indigo and madder, they are simple but sturdily made, entirely of wool, often with ends and edges reinforced by the use of goat hair. Taimani and Timuri rugs are similar to the Balouch. These tribal refugees are originally from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Their nomadic way of life is expressed in the tent decorations, tassels, and ceremonial embroidery pieces.