When an international buyer looks for machine-made rugs from Iran, the name Kashan comes up often. This article briefly explains where production is concentrated, and what a region's name does and does not tell you about a rug.

Where is production concentrated?

An industry report published in Kohan Textile Journal identifies the city of Kashan in Isfahan province as the main place of production for Iran's machine-made rugs, and says that 75 percent of production units are located in this region 1. General sources also count Aran va Bidgol, near Kashan, among the main centres of this industry 2.

The size of the industry

The same report gives annual production as more than 95 million square metres, and exports for 2018 to 2019 as about 55,500 tonnes, worth 306.5 million dollars 1. These figures belong to that period and do not show the situation today.

What does a region's name indicate?

For handwoven rugs, the name of a city or region often refers to a particular style and design 3. For machine-made rugs the situation is different. The name of the region mostly shows the place of production and is not in itself a mark of quality.

Two rugs produced in the same region can have completely different reed counts, yarn materials and densities. So when comparing, look at the technical specifications of each design, not just the name of the city.

For international buyers

  1. Ask for the place of production to be stated in the purchase documents, if your country's customs requires it.
  2. Get the technical specifications of each code separately.
  3. Confirm the stock and terms of each order separately. The name of a region says nothing about whether goods are available.

Summary

Kashan and the area around it hold an important place in the production of Iran's machine-made rugs. But the buying decision should be based on the specifications of each design. To see designs, visit the FARSHINEH catalogue section.

Frequently asked questions

Where are most of Iran's machine-made rugs produced?

The Kohan industry report places the main concentration in Kashan, in Isfahan province 1.

Is a Kashan rug always better?

No. The name of a region does not by itself determine quality. Look at the technical specifications of each design.

Sources

  1. Kohan Textile Journal. Iran Machine Made Carpet Report 2018-2022. 2020. https://kohantextilejournal.com/iran-machine-made-carpet-report/
  2. Wikipedia. Persian carpet (Town carpets section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_carpet
  3. Ellis, Peter. Floor covering. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/technology/floor-covering