FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No, as we have a Label STEP fair trade license we need to be sure that every rug and kilim we sell is sourced correctly and we have no way of knowing where a second hand rug may have been acquired.

Yes, but not often. We only have a few older rugs and kilims, some 100+ years old. Over 95% of our rugs are new, often freshly cut and all cleaned thoroughly before being sent to us. We can get older rugs in any size if you require them and don’t mind waiting for them to be found and sent from Afghanistan.

The Northern Provinces of Afghanistan.  Our rugs are sent from our supplier in Mazar-e-Sharif and he buys them locally and from the weavers markets mainly in Andkhoy, Aqcha, Shebergan, Maymana and Kunduz.  Most of these places are within a few hours’ drive of Mazar-e-Sharif and act as centres for trade for surrounding villages and towns looking to sell their weavings.

The biggest rug we have been offered to date is a 6.5m x 4.5m rug.  Rugs around the 6x4m size are generally only ever purchased by provincial governors as they require a large property to accommodate them.  Rugs of this size of a good quality are around £8-12,000.

Yes we send rugs worldwide, however additional postage costs will apply.  Please also be aware that if you require an international delivery then there may be additional import taxes and duties to be paid.  The customer is responsible for any additional import costs and if you are unsure, we advise you contact the relevant countries customs office for further details.

Yes, to a degree.  Please see our Cleaning and Repair page for further tips for basic care.

Our hand-knotted rugs and kilims, if taken care of, will last several generations and are very hard-wearing.  In Afghanistan its common to see the roads near the rug shops littered with rugs and the cars and trucks driving over them, and the rugs occasionally moved and repositioned every few hours. This helps the wool fibres of the newly made rugs open up and gives the rug a brighter sheen.  After a day or so the rugs are sent for cleaning and the traffic has had the same effect as a year or so of regular foot traffic.  They will outlive you and your children as long as they are kept clean and away from moths.

Like most products they vary in price depending on quality.  However, as a very general guide a lot of our rugs average £300 per square metre.  We have some at cheaper prices, often the more plain rugs with larger knots and less dyes. We also have rugs at higher prices per sq metre due to the intricacy of the designs, knots and dyes.

Kilims are less expensive than our rugs, as a general rule they are roughly £150 per sq metre. Kilims are lighter embroideries/tapestries and there is less work involved in their production.  Some more plain and basic designs and some rougher wools will result in a £125 per sq metre, whereas the more intricate designs that take longer naturally cost more, some of ours are a much as £250 (maliki kilim) and £300 (mashwani kilim) per sq metre so can sometimes be as expensive as the rugs.

A rug is knotted weave, with a pile, where the wool fibres stand upright.  A kilim is a flatweave/slitweave or tapestry/embroidery depending on the method used to make it and the pile therefore lays flat.

Nomadic tribes in Afghanistan generally use kilims as they spend half the year in the mountains and half the year ini the plains, so a kilim is easier to carry.  A knotted rug is much heavier and used mainly by permanent dwellers.