The Cornerstones of Culture
Over time, women realized that rug weaving could be a genuine source of income and embraced this culture in a way that benefited both themselves and the cultural heritage. To meet their own needs and to express their emotions, they wove millions of rugs over centuries. By passing down ancient traditions and techniques through generations, they laid the foundations for transforming this culture into an industry, marking significant milestones along the way.
Awareness
As this cultural practice turned into an industry, governments and people looking for business opportunities noticed it too. Governments, banks, tourism companies, countries, and even villages tried to benefit from the value of rug weaving. They worked hard to make it into an industry. The idea that this special product could become an industry led to a race to produce more rugs. Over the past hundred years, this race has resulted in millions of new rugs. With their quality, colors, and patterns, everyone wanted to say, "Ours are the best." However, no organization, government, or factory could match the work of a village woman who wove her feelings, art, experience, and love into her rugs. The awareness that rug weaving could become an industry also brought the understanding that it is an art form.
Aged, Not Worn Out
After the 1970s, the products of the rug weaving competition started to fall out of favor and were no longer used. Many of these rugs had been either forgotten or kept in poor conditions. However, the rugs made by village women, through their hard work and experience, aged beautifully. They had more vibrant wool, a silkier texture, and certainly more unique designs. These pieces, quietly saying "Ours are the best," remained in excellent condition and did not succumb to the test of time.
Restoration
Handwoven rugs have transitioned from being simply old to becoming antiques. Many of these require restoration, creating two distinct sectors: rug repair and rug washing.
Contrary to popular belief, rug repair is not as ancient a craft as weaving itself, nor does it follow the same principles. With the difficulty of matching the weaving quality of old village women, repairing these village rugs has become essential. Repairing a rug is as challenging as weaving it, as it raises the question: "Isn't a new artist needed to revive the work of an old artist?"
Rug washing is an older and more experienced craft compared to repair. However, with the increased value of antique rugs, the needs and complexities have changed. People now want their rugs to look antique even after washing, leading many businesses unable to handle this challenge to close down. As a result, proper rug washing has become increasingly rare and has evolved into a niche, almost antique profession.
