The original design of the Bokhara rug originated in Turkmenistan. They are made on portable wooden looms. They obtain their dyes naturally from local vegetables, flowers, tree bark, minerals, and insects. Graphs, or blueprints for the patterns, are used more often today but true masters create signature designs and color combinations showing their skill. Village weavers make Tribal Bokhara rugs in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan. They spend years weaving each intricate detail into these rugs. The process of making a rug includes cleaning, washing, and dyeing the local wool. Herat Oriental works with over 2,000 village weavers to create beautiful, authentic, handmade rugs. The majority of the weavers are women, who live in the villages of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Persia, and India. As we grow, we are able to create more jobs for female weavers who otherwise would not have the opportunity to do so. The community also thrives from rug weaving as the local farmers benefit from wool sales, and the local artisans create natural and vegetable dyes for the weavers to use in their designs. Due to the handmade nature of our rugs, the size may vary from the advertised by 3-4 inches. Regular vacuuming and annual professional cleaning will keep your rug looking new for years to come.
