AFGHAN CARPETS

Currently, it is very hard to sort out which 'Afghan' rugs are actually made in Afghanistan, and which are made in Pakistan by Afghan refugees . At least million Afghans, including hundreds of thousands of rug weaver's, fled Afghanistan during its war with the Soviet Union and subsequent civil war, setting especially in Pakistan and Iran. Despite a war strife country for over 30 years Afghanistan continues to be a major powerhouse in carpet industry and it's carpets have become increasingly popular.

The Afghan rugs are mostly assembled in northern and western Afghanistan, by various ethnic groups but mainly by Turkmen. Very few rugs are shipped directly from Afghanistan to the United States or Europe today. Instead most Afghan carpets are transported to Pakistan, then shipped to abroad.

                                 

The two most popular styles of carpets are Khal Muhammadi and Afghan Aqche. Afghan rugs are famous for their red wine colour and fine wool . One of the most popular carpet is called Biljic carpets deriving its name from the Belgian wool used in its making. Afghan rugs are mostly pure wool.

Another staple of Afghanistan is Baluchi rugs, most notably Baluchi prayer rugs. They are made by Afghanistan's Baloch people in the south western part of the country. Afghan carpets are made by Turkmen weavers in northern Afghanistan. A hundred years ago the guls were large , often 16 inches wide in bigger rugs. Guls have become smaller over the years until today they most often are no moren than several inches across. As the guls have shrunk, so has the range of colours in the rugs. Today most Afghan contains only two colours: a rather bright red and a blue so deep that it looks .Still, Afghans have survived because they are basically so appealing. They are Still, Afghans have survived because they are basically so appealing. They are still popular with Afghan

people, including the many who have migrated to the west.