iranian felt rugmaking (Peace Industry)

The other day when Kurt and I were wandering around Hayes Valley looking for new shoes for him, we stumbled across a little store, Peace Industry, off a side street and selling handmade Iranian felt rugs in both modern and traditional designs--they were quite stunning...

What impressed me so much was that the husband and wife owners, Dodd and Melina Raissnia were trying almost single-handedly to save a dying art. It turns out that felted rugs are becoming a rarity in Iran, as the demand for the traditional form is waning and few people are left who know how to make them. Melina commissioned rugmakers to create new ones with her modern and geometric designs, and the combination of the "old" form with new imagery is a beautiful melding of contemporary and traditional. These "fine-art felt rugs" are each handmade by several craftspeople over the course of about a week for the large types.

I was super impressed by the Raissnia's endeavor and really hope it makes a difference in supporting the rugmakers and giving them a chance to sell their wares and survive as craftspeople. If we had the $$$ to plunk down for a new rug, we would. I can imagine that the price is justified by the hours of labor invested into each one.

Above and below are images of the "modern" versions, plus a photo of how they are made...In person the colors and textures are amazing and they are such a thing of beauty!