The family-run Heritage Carpet is helping to keep alive age-old Persian craftsmanship

Persian carpets are known around the globe for their beauty and quality. One family is aiming to keep it that way with a collection of rugs and a client base that puts it among the top five Persian carpet dealers in the world.

Dubai-based Heritage Carpet is part of a traditional carpet-trading business which was founded by the Ghanbarinia family in Shiraz, Iran, in 1840.

Since expanding out of Iran around 40 years ago, the company now exports to 46 countries and has showrooms in 28, from Russia and Kazakhstan to Spain and the US, while still operating as Lord Rug Gallery in Shiraz and in the main bazaar in Tehran.

Ghanbarinia: Expansion plans

Controlling the whole process from design to delivery, Heritage actually makes its own carpets in the Iranian cities of Shiraz, Tabriz, Qum, Nain and Isfahan, employing more than 200 craftsmen whose trade has been passed down through generations.

Amir Ghanbarinia, managing director, said: “I was born into a carpet-dealing family, it is in our blood. I was taught the business by my father, Mahmood Ghanbarinia, our chairman.

“He taught me about tradition, honesty and service and it is now my pleasure to produce and collect some of the best carpets in the world for customers from royalty to industrialists and other VIPs.

“Now finally after all these years of learning, I can consider myself a Persian carpet expert.”

AN ENDANGERED ART

Heritage produces both silk on silk and mixed material carpets, to designs from some of Iran’s best-known designers, which are all handwoven.

The carpets can be either silk pile on a silk base, which normally comes from Qum, or silk and wool or cotton mix, which can be produced at the various other sites. It is also possible to commission special pieces, for example to commemorate a birth or wedding, with the designers working with the customer to achieve the desired result.

However, Ghanbarinia says the Persian carpet industry is facing difficulties both with inferior quality items from other countries being passed off as the genuine article and also from a shortage of skilled carpet makers.

Preserving tradition: Weavers at work

He said: “There is a big difference between Persian handmade carpets and other carpets coming from different parts of the world such as Afghanistan, India, China and Turkey.

“The quality of the Persian carpet is number one in the world and this is down to the knots used and the unique weaving process.

“However the Persian handmade carpet industry is facing problems. Lack of workers is one of the main issues, the people have moved from this industry to clerical and managerial jobs as there have been developments in education. Hence the carpet industry has to pay more to get workers.

“In fact this scarcity of workers means the value of handmade Persian carpets is increasing, so purchasing one becomes a really worthwhile investment.”

He added that preservation of the carpet-making tradition is very important to the Ghanbarinia family saying: “As a Persian handmade carper producer and trader, we are supporting and encouraging the preservation on the tradition and heritage of the industry.

“We believe it is important to have development programmes for the people involved in the industry, welfare funds for the workers and awards and encouragement for the designers.”

Unique designs: Each carpet is handmade

And this seems to be an attitude which is paying off. In recent years the company has received a best exporter award in Iran, has taken the championship at Carpet Oasis Dubai and, for seven years running, has been named one of the best performers by the government of Dubai for participation in the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Ghanbarinia concluded: “Every client is a privileged guest of God, that is what our founder said in 1841 and I follow the same rule.

“As the owner of the company I am responsible for production, collection and quality control – if I don’t like the pieces, I will not offer them for sale in our showrooms. But I believe when you love your business you will be a success at it. I personally put in the time with my clients to get a feel for what they want and make sure they have the best carpet for their purpose whether it be in a home, office or palace.

“Our company has grown massively since we moved out of Iran and I plan to continue this expansion because I truly believe we are offering the best carpet product in the world.”