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Afghan rug

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AnAfghan rug(orAfghan carpet[1]) is a type of handwoven floor-covering textile traditionally made in the northern and western areas ofAfghanistan,[2][3]mainly byAfghan TurkmensandUzbeks.[1][4]The industry is being expanded to all 34provinces of Afghanistan.[5]

Afghan rugs have won a number of international awards.[6][7]The most notable Afghan rugs market in Afghanistan is in the affluentShahr-e Nawarea ofKabul.[8]The cities ofPeshawar,IslamabadandQuettainPakistanas well asDubaiin theUnited Arab Emiratesare also notable for Afghan rugs markets.

History

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Afghan women showing theirAdraskanrugs in westernAfghanistan.

Weaving rugs in Afghanistan is an ancient tradition and business, which probably existed for thousands of years.

In 2008, 2013, and 2014 Afghan rugs won international awards at an international exhibition held every year inHamburg,Germany.[6][7]

Around 1.2 million people are involved in the rug business in Afghanistan.[5]Others have put the number at around 2 million people.[9]

Afghanistan exported over 800,000 square meters of Afghan rug in 2021, which generated about $30 million dollars.[10][11]Over $7 million worth of Afghan rugs have been exported in 2022 to Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Uzbekistan.[12]

Some Afghan rugs are woven by theAfghan diasporainIranandPakistan.[13][4][14][15]And some Afghan rugs have been sent to Pakistan, where they are given the label "Made in Pakistan" and then exported to other countries.[16][17]

Types and varieties

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The famousBukharapattern.
A different Afghan pattern
Further information:War rugs

One of the most exotic and distinctive of alloriental rugsis theShindandorAdraskan(named after local Afghan towns), woven in theHerat Province,in western Afghanistan. Strangely elongated human and animal figures are their signature look. The carpet can be sold across Afghanistan with the most based inMazar-e Sharif.

Another staple of Afghanistan isBaluchi rugs,most notably Baluchiprayer rugs.They are made by Afghanistan's ethnicBaloch peoplein the south-western part of the country.[18]

Various vegetable and othernatural dyesare used to produce the rich colors. The rugs are mostly of medium sizes. Many patterns and colors are used, but the traditional and most typical is that of theoctagonalelephant's foot (Bukhara) print, often with a red background. The weavers also produce other trappings of the nomadic lifestyle, including tent bags and ceremonial pieces.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Afghan carpet".Encyclopædia Britannica.
  2. ^"In Pictures: Risking death in search for antique Afghan carpets".Al Jazeera.3 March 2021.Retrieved2022-01-03.
  3. ^"Afghans sell $1.7m carpets at Dubai conference".Pajhwok Afghan News.12 October 2012.Retrieved2014-01-16.
  4. ^abBaloch, Babar (30 January 2003)."Feature: Eager weavers put a positive spin on refugee life in Pakistan".United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.Retrieved2022-01-03.
  5. ^ab"1.2 million people in Afghanistan employed in carpet industry: Union".Ariana News.May 20, 2022.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  6. ^ab"Afghanistan grabs carpet Oscar award".Pajhwok Afghan News.16 January 2014.Retrieved2014-01-16.
  7. ^ab"Afghan carpets awarded 1st position in carpet international exhibition".Ariana News.September 16, 2014.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  8. ^"For Kabul's carpet, antique dealers, a long wait for buyers".Al Jazeera.28 September 2021.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  9. ^"Afghan families go back to making carpets as economy unravels".The Express Tribune.12 December 2021.Retrieved2022-01-03.
  10. ^Hakimi, Amina (3 January 2022)."Afghan Carpet Exports Increase Amid Economic Crisis".TOLOnews.Retrieved2022-01-03.
  11. ^"Almost 1 million square meters of Afghan carpets exported in past year".Ariana News.July 2, 2023.Retrieved2022-01-03.
  12. ^"Afghan Carpet Exports Surge by 30%, Ministry Reports".TOLOnews.13 August 2023.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  13. ^Traditional Persian carpets likely to be woven by Afghan migrantsonYouTube(Dec. 30, 2018)
  14. ^Qayyum, Mahwish (30 June 2021)."After fleeing violence in Afghanistan, carpet weaving provides refugee women with a meagre but vital lifeline in Pakistan".equaltimes.org.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  15. ^"With Afghan refugees leaving, is Pakistan waving goodbye to carpet-weaving?".The Express Tribune.January 24, 2017.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  16. ^"Afghan Carpets Export to World Markets Under Pakistan's Name".Ariana News.June 29, 2017.Retrieved2023-08-13.
  17. ^Peterson, Scott (27 March 2021)."In Afghanistan, weaving ancient industry back into global market".Christian Science Monitor – via Khorasan Rugs.
  18. ^Sadrabadi, Kayvon (2019).The Art of Oriental Rugs - A Weaver's Perspective.p. 1600.
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