Persian Carpets Making a Comeback

Tehran, Iran, November 19--A quarter century after the Islamic revolution almost killed Iran's famed Persian carpet industry, Iranian makers are slowly beginning to come alive, according to the Indo-Asian News Service. There was a time when the global carpet industry was synonymous with Iran. It all ended when Islamic revolutionaries seized power in 1979, forcing influential entrepreneurs to flee the country, Mehr news agency said. The US sanctions against Iran only worsened the situation. Very soon, the Iranian industry collapsed before the onslaught of competition from China, India, Turkey, Pakistan and Nepal. And with carpets in some of the countries being produced cheaply, partly because of rampant child labour, the Persian carpet, once the last word in luxury, virtually disappeared. Now, both the private and public sectors in Iran are taking renewed interest in expanding carpet exports. But it is not an easy task. One reason is that carpet makers from other countries have in the past two decades or so managed to reorient buyers' tastes. Greater access to global information has permitted them to produce items that reflect the seasonal dictates of fashion. Around the world, there has been a noticeable change in aesthetics and a corresponding preference for colours and designs originating from China and the Indian subcontinent. Naturally, the Persian carpet, once seen as an invaluable artefact by domestic and international buyers, no longer rules over its cheaper rivals. To regain a measure of their former dominance, Iranian weavers are being told to take cognisance of the altered tastes of international buyers. Iran's isolation has prevented its weavers from incorporating current styles into their products. Experts say they have also failed to comprehend that their traditional decorative art, once unique, is now regarded as passé. Exporters feel they have not succeeded in conveying to domestic manufacturers what the international buyer considers novel and exciting. But Iranian carpet makers are confident. They hope to again propel the Persian carpet into the international arena after a two-decade absence. Officials admit the industry's re-emergence can only come from concerted efforts on the part of the government and the industry. This time, producers are beginning to pay attention to the working conditions of the workers. Producers understand the need for fresh designs and colours favoured by the international market as well as modernising of manufacturing technology.