KCE was a job creation program through rug weaving in Afghanistan. Alex Zahir was the Director of the Production. It was sponsored by USAID (From the people of America to the people of Afghanistan) I could say one of the best programs, as it created thousands of jobs amongst the poorest people mostly rug weaving women or allied businesses. Fortunately, the people to people connections we built between Afghan rug producers and international rug companies are thriving. Orders are being placed, funds are some how being transferred. Both sides keep me posted and Thank me:) With a small commission, AZ will guarantee the security of deliveries for both sides. So AZ is not only a dealer, but a match maker too.
Alex Zahir (then Abdul Zahar) joined HopeSudbury to collect and send aid packages to refugees. Refugees in their camps were surprised that people in America even after the horrific attack of 9/11 thought about them. AZ was a messenger this time, not a marketeer for refugee made hand crafted rugs.
Alex Zahir and Rob Leahy addressed a group of Afghan rug producers in northern city of Afghanistan. Among the topics of best practices, social responsibilities, consistencies of productions, expectations of customers, Leahy and Zahir informed the Afghan rug producers that there will be a match-making event in Dubai where international buyers and they, they Afghan rug producers will be brought together to generate orders. The program that was sponsored by USDOC and both Alex Zahir and Rob Leahy were action as SMEs will pay for the expenses.
Alex Zahir and Rob Leahy the 2 SMEs after a successful trip from a match-making trip between Afghan rug makers and international rug buyers that resulted in a $1.7 million sell enthusiastically believe that the future stability in the country could be established through the creation of jobs and economical strengths. Carpet making is one of the largest employers that touches millions of people's lives.
Alex Zahir's concerns about uncertain future for Afghan carpet makers and years of his works. Alex his customers that have placed orders. Approx. 250+ families making rugs for 10 or so dealers in the US apart from his own collections. The rug hanging in the background is conceptualized by Alex Zahir and designed by a young Turkish designer Gulbahar Gumusten for Domotex Design contest. It represents 16 different ethnic groups in Afghanistan through elements of motifs of designs in their artifacts. Overcasting the motifs are the drying tears of Afghan eyes due to 4 decades of war.
Doug Lay of Persian Carpet is a veteran rug expert, dealer an authority in antique rugs, most importantly a good friend and a supreme human being. Apart from business, which I enjoyed very much, I was treated by everyone of his team especially his sales manager Steve Williams, John Ali, his daughter Cynthia and others with utmost respect. By him and his wife Nelda, I always felt part of the family. Not only they kept me at home every time I visited them, but they assigned a room in their home which they call Alex's room.
Sharbat Gula (Pashto: شربت ګله; born c. 1972) is an Afghan woman who became internationally recognized as the 12-year-old subject in Afghan Girl, a 1984 portrait taken by American photojournalist Steve McCurry that was later published as the cover photograph for the June 1985 issue of National Geographic. The portrait was shot at Nasir Bagh, Pakistan, while Gula was residing there as an Afghan refugee fleeing the Soviet–Afghan War. Despite the photograph's high global recognition, Gula's identity remained unknown until 2002, when her whereabouts were verified and she was photographed for the second time in her life.[1] Having lived and raised a family in Pakistan for 35 years, Gula was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2016 and subsequently deported to Afghanistan in 2017 on the charge of possessing forged identity documents. However, in November 2021, Gula was granted asylum in Italy, three months after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharbat_GulaProbably mankind’s oldest surviving forms of woven artifacts are the tribal objects especially rugs from village population in Asia, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Carcasses and beyond. Nomads are the colorful presence in those areas, especially in Iran and Afghanistan until recently. Their weavings are still identifiable by their elements of design-motifs in their weaving and other artifacts such as shawls and jewelries. Because lifestyles of the nomads didn’t change so quickly, so didn’t their arts as well. Rugs/Carpets in Kurdish, Baluch and some extend among Turkmens in remote villages of Afghanistan until recently were being made in in old fashioned looms uninfluenced by commercial demands.
The market for antique rugs is limited to those affluent towns where well-traveled, wealthy, culturally artistic, and worldly classic people live. Normally population with good tastes of music, food, arts, paintings, and history living in colder regions where most focus is indoors are attracted for museum like house atmospheres. Although their choice of antique rugs is purely a unique piece and therefore it is an investment, but they do not look at their collections as such. They enjoy their collections as pieces of arts, a woven artifact, and a history woven. Every one of their collections tells them stories. These collections are never perceived floor coverings, they are truly their life long rare collections that they can talk about to their guests for hours. From the business point of views, the % of those customers is probably 1 or 2%. To sell high-end expensive antique rugs or anything requires a best boutique set-up, a best location, and knowledgeable sales staffs. All of these to sell a few rugs in a year? (Some people including myself are guilty of doing this and lucky or wise enough to switch before bankruptcy.) On the other hand, finding good antique rugs in good conditions are becoming harder. Not only the repair & restoration cost is expensive, but the old-world skills are as scars as the antique rugs themselves are. So, my sincere advice to antique rug lovers and dreamers are that stick to your rugs, care for it, keep looking around and grab if you see a nice piece of treasure. You may not find it tomorrow!
BY FAR THE BEST OPTION A GOOD NEW RUG MAKES A GOOD ANTIQUE RUG… forget about that, they are timeless beauty today and remain so. In the 1990s, there was a return to vegetable dyes and handspun wool. This was pioneered by DOBAG, which is the Turkish acronym that stands for “Natural Dye Research and Development Project.” A similar project was developed in Pakistan. AZ International, LLC is one of them. Our rugs are the best alternative to the real antiques, in fact, in some way, even better, as these new vegetable new pieces are made; dyed, executed, dusted, aligned, washed, and finished in much better and sophisticated ways than those of 100 years ago. So, they are timeless beauty today and will be the best of the best future antiques.
Ultimate customization of hand-knotted rugs made in greater numbers in managed manners, some of which are branded. The kind of rugs that are made in mass productions in repeated colors and sizes. Only samples are carried by retailers in various standard sizes and colors. Desired sizes and colors could be ordered through the local retailers. We have great business connection with well-established companies that carry popular and quality branded rugs. We can always special order the following branded rugs in great prices. 1. Ralph Lauren 2. Thomas O’Brien 3. Calvin Klein 4. Martha Stewart 5. Barclay Butera 6. William Morris 7. Safavieh
The Arabi is the third important sheep breed. It is found in nearly all Northern provinces, but also in Kabul and the provinces north of Kabul. The Arabi is a large-farmed sheep of 45-50 Kg body weight with a good mutton conformation and fattening ability. This is the meaty type breed with short coarse wool and fatty rump with no tail. The majority of Arabi sheep are black with a characteristic white stripe along the forehead but brown and white Arabi also occur. The greasy fleece weigh of this sheep is 1.2-1.7 Kg. But the wool of the Arabi breed is of poor quality. The milk yield of this breed during 130-140 days of a lactation period is 45-55 Kg. The birth rate is 65-80 % with 0-2% twinning. The sex mature rate is 6-8 months.
The Karakul had the largest population than other breeds of sheep in our country (about 30% from the total sheep population is the Karakul sheep and produced 20 million astrakhan pelts per year) before war and five years drought among the sheep breeds and is kept in the Northern provinces from Badghis to Takhar, with the highest concentration in Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab. The Karakul is a very hardy sheep which is well adapted to the dry and hot climate conditions of northern Afghanistan. They have big and long body, long legs, fallen pelvis, and long rump/fat-tail with the shape of S in the end, long and fallen hear with the color of black and gray are the main. Turkmen and Uzbek are the main Karakul breeders who often keep flocks of thousand ewes or more. The average live weigh ewes are 42-45 Kg (range 40-55 Kg) and that of rams 50-60 Kg (range 50-90 Kg). The lambing rate depends on the management and varies from 70-85 % and twinning rate is 5-8%. The milk yield during 120-130 days of lactation period ewes produce up to 40-45 Kg of milk. The karakul sheep are primarily kept for astrakhan pelt production. The wool of the adult ewes is usually dark grey and used locally for the production of the carpets.
The Ghaljai is the second most important sheep breed and is raised in the southern provinces of Ghazni, Paktia, Zabul and Kandahar. It is meaty and wooly type sheep with fat-tail. The Ghaljai has a medium body size and a body weight of ewes is 35- 45 kg and that of rams is 35-50 Kg. The fleece of the Ghaljai sheep is usually white but colored animals also occur. The wool is heterogeneous and fine. Crossing of this breed with Merinos rams have shown a good result. The Baluchi type of sheep is the result of breeding of Merinos with the Ghiljai sheep. The annual greasy fleece weigh of ewes is 1.5-2 Kg and that of rams is 2.5-3 Kg. The milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 35-45 Kg. The wool of this breed is of a mixed coarse-wool type. The lambing rate is 70-75 % and twinning rate is 0-2%.
The Ghaljai is the second most important sheep breed and is raised in the southern provinces of Ghazni, Paktia, Zabul and Kandahar. It is meaty and wooly type sheep with fat-tail. The Ghaljai has a medium body size and a body weight of ewes is 35- 45 kg and that of rams is 35-50 Kg. The fleece of the Ghaljai sheep is usually white but colored animals also occur. The wool is heterogeneous and fine. Crossing of this breed with Merinos rams have shown a good result. The Baluchi type of sheep is the result of breeding of Merinos with the Ghaljai sheep. The annual greasy fleece weigh of ewes is 1.5-2 Kg and that of rams is 2.5-3 Kg. The milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 35-45 Kg. The wool of this breed is of a mixed coarse-wool type. The lambing rate is 70-75 % and twinning rate is 0-2%.
The Baluchi breed is kept in the Nimroz province and southern parts of Helmand and Kandahar and also exists in the neighbouring regions of Pakistan and Iran. Like the Kandahari it is well adapted to the arid range and desert areas and produces good quality carpet wool. The annual greasy fleece weight is 1.3-2 Kg. The Baluchi is a medium-sized sheep with average body weight of 34-36 Kg. This is the meaty and wooly type breed The birth rate of this breed is 60-75 % with 0-I % twinning. The milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 35-40 Kg.
The Hazaragie breed is kept in the mountainous region of central Afghanistan. The region is characterized by good summer pastures but a scarcity of feed during winter when sheep have to be kept inside. The Hazaragie sheep is of small to medium size and the body weights of ewes is reported to be 28-35 Kg. The color of the wool is reddish-brown which reduces its value for carpet manufacture. The smallest breed, both by size and population is the Gadik which is being kept in Badakhshan and parts of the eastern ( Noristan and Kunar) mountains. Ewes of the Gadik breed have a body weight of 25-28 Kg, but are said to produce two lambing per year ( Bouy and Dasniere,1994). The Gadik produces the finest among the Afghan wools. The annual greasy fleece weight is 1-1.8 Kg. The milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 30-35 Kg. The birth rate of this breed is 65-75 % with 0-1% twinning. In the 1950,s different type of Merino breeds were imported and crossbreeding with local sheep initiated on some state farms ( Yalcin, 1979), but apparently no efforts were made to test those breeds under field conditions.
The Turki sheep is meaty and fat-tail of sheep. It is tall size with thin and long legs, long and deep head, the nose bone is bulgy, the hear are long and in some of them are short, thick skin, thick and short wool with brown color and high percentage of fat. This breed is very resistance and can live in dessert areas with poor quality feed. This breed is mainly raised in the northeastern provinces of Parwan, Kapisa, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan. The Turki has a brown coat which resembles that of wild sheep and the small amount of poor quality wool has no commercial value. The annual greasy fleece weight is o.8-1.0 Kg. It has a large body size and body weight of 50-55 Kg. The Turki is a meat type sheep with good mutton conformation. Large numbers of the breed have been taken by refugees to Pakistan where it is known under the name of Afghani. The total production of milk yield in one lactation period (130-140 days) is 55-65 Kg. The lambing rate is 75-80% with 8-10% twinning. There is a white colored breed of medium-size in the western provinces which is called Kandahari, Farahi or Herati according to the provinces of origin. The annual greasy fleece weight is 1.2-1.6 Kg. The total milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 35-40 Kg. The lambing rate of this breed is 65-75 % with 0-2 % twinning. This breed is said to be a good forager and makes efficient use of poor rangelands and desert-like areas. The body weight of ewes is in the range of 40-60 Kg and the wool is among the best qualities for carpet production in Afghanistan. It seems that this breed identical with the Gadic breed reported by McArthur (1980). McArthur surveyed sixteen flocks in different areas of Herat province and found weaning rates of about 75 percent, a growth rate until eight months of age of 136 gram for male lambs and a wool production of 1.7 Kg/ewe.
The Karakul had the largest population than other breeds of sheep in our country (about 30% from the total sheep population is the Karakul sheep and produced 20 million astrakhan pelts per year) before war and five years drought among the sheep breeds and is kept in the Northern provinces from Badghis to Takhar, with the highest concentration in Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab. The Karakul is a very hardy sheep which is well adapted to the dry and hot climate conditions of northern Afghanistan. They have big and long body, long legs, fallen pelvis, and long rump/fat-tail with the shape of S in the end, long and fallen hear with the color of black and gray are the main. Turkmen and Uzbek are the main Karakul breeders who often keep flocks of thousand ewes or more. The average live weigh ewes are 42-45 Kg (range 40-55 Kg) and that of rams 50-60 Kg (range 50-90 Kg). The lambing rate depends on the management and varies from 70-85 % and twinning rate is 5-8%. The milk yield during 120-130 days of lactation period ewes produce up to 40-45 Kg of milk. The karakul sheep are primarily kept for astrakhan pelt production. The wool of the adult ewes is usually dark grey and used locally for the production of the carpets.
The Turki sheep is meaty and fat-tail of sheep. It is tall size with thin and long legs, long and deep head, the nose bone is bulgy, the hear are long and in some of them are short, thick skin, thick and short wool with brown color and high percentage of fat. This breed is very resistance and can live in dessert areas with poor quality feed. This breed is mainly raised in the northeastern provinces of Parwan, Kapisa, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan. The Turki has a brown coat which resembles that of wild sheep and the small amount of poor quality wool has no commercial value. The annual greasy fleece weight is o.8-1.0 Kg. It has a large body size and body weight of 50-55 Kg. The Turki is a meat type sheep with good mutton conformation. Large numbers of the breed have been taken by refugees to Pakistan where it is known under the name of Afghani. The total production of milk yield in one lactation period (130-140 days) is 55-65 Kg. The lambing rate is 75-80% with 8-10% twinning. There is a white colored breed of medium-size in the western provinces which is called Kandahari, Farahi or Herati according to the provinces of origin. The annual greasy fleece weight is 1.2-1.6 Kg. The total milk yield during 120-130 days of a lactation period is 35-40 Kg. The lambing rate of this breed is 65-75 % with 0-2 % twinning. This breed is said to be a good forager and makes efficient use of poor rangelands and desert-like areas. The body weight of ewes is in the range of 40-60 Kg and the wool is among the best qualities for carpet production in Afghanistan. It seems that this breed identical with the Gadic breed reported by McArthur (1980). McArthur surveyed sixteen flocks in different areas of Herat province and found weaning rates of about 75 percent, a growth rate until eight months of age of 136 gram for male lambs and a wool production of 1.7 Kg/ewe.
Drawing the motifs is one thing, but the coloring is quite another. Very often, our customers ask, use certain color for the field and certain color for main border color. You chose other appropriate colors.. It's the other colors that make the details and the devil is in details.
