Turquoise Mountain was founded in Afghanistan in 2006 by His Majesty King Charles III in order to rebuild historic communities and generate incomes through heritage and craft.
Since then, Turquoise Mountain have restored 150 historic buildings in the old city of Kabul, trained over 6,000 artisans, treated almost 136,000 patients at their clinics and curated major international exhibitions around the world, from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha to Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
However, four decades of conflict have left the country virtually inaccessible to international buyers. Afghan producers have worked in isolation, cut off from developments in production standards. Alongside Turquoise Mountain, we are working to break this isolation.
Carpet weaving is at the heart of Afghanistan's heritage. Fine, long-fibre Ghazni wool, natural vegetable and mineral dyes, skilled hands, and a variety of regional weaving techniques lend a unique character to Afghan made rugs.
The materials used in our Turquoise Mountain carpets is Ghazni wool. Our supported carpet producers use locally sourced wool from the Ghazni province. This wool is one of the best types of wool for carpet weaving as it is the purest possible shade of white, giving a blank, soft and oily canvas for natural dyes. Turquoise Mountain work with trained wool spinners to spin the yarn so that it can optimally absorb any dyes.
Knots Rugs offer hand-made carpets from Afghanistan, made by the most talented Afghan carpet producers and weavers. From wool procurement and colour matching, to washing and finishing, we ensure that our customers receive the highest quality rugs which guarantee fair wages and working conditions for all of our supported weavers.
'ZODIAC'
Inspired by an original Turkish Oushak rug, Zodiac is our modernised interpretation of the 15th Century Classic design. Woven in a soft colour palette of pinks, greens and golds, featuring a large 8-lobed central medallion with astrological symbols and characters integrated throughout the carpet.
Zodiac has been intricately hand-knotted in a 45/45 Persian knot quality, using 100% wool.
'STAR KAZAK'
Inspired by an original rug seen on a trip to Istanbul, Star Kazak is our modernised interpretation of the 16th Century Classic design.
Star Kazak has been hand-knotted in Afghanistan using fine, long-fibre Ghazni wool, natural vegetable and mineral dyes, and a variety of regional weaving techniques, all of which lend a unique character to Afghan made rugs.
'SELJUK NO.02 LIGHT BLUE'
Seljuk No.02 is our contemporary interpretation of a traditional 13th Century Konya carpet. The faded geometric design and soft dusty blue tones form its delicate look.
As with all original Seljuk carpets, this 45/55 Persian-knotted rug is produced using 100% wool and has had an antique wash.
'SELJUK NO.01 ORIGINAL'
Seljuk No.01 is our contemporary interpretation of a traditional 13th Century Konya carpet. Its bold geometric design is made up of earthy tones of yellow, blues and greens, forming the core colour palette, whilst the vibrant blue and deep dusty coral border brings the rug to life.
As with all original Seljuk carpets, this 30/40 Persian-knotted rug is produced using 100% wool.
Partnering with non-profit organisation Label STEP, Turquoise Mountain is creating jobs for thousands of weavers, most of whom are women. Ensuring a comprehensive set of fair trade standards, including good working conditions, fair wages, the prohibition of child labour and environmentally friendly production.
STEP also offer access to health services, host group meetings in order to discuss women's rights and international labour standards, ensure children are able to attend school, and they also help female weavers contribute to their community through their work.
More Journal Posts
Origins
Visionary Women shifting the Pattern
Behind every Knots rugs lies a story of artistry, tradition and collaboration. But woven even deeper into the fabric of our work is the story of women – visionary, resilient and driven by a desire to create something meaningful. This journal is a celebration of two such women: Bonnie, the founder of Knots Rugs, London and Dolma, one of our most trusted and long-standing production partners based in Nepal. Though worlds apart their lives and work are beautifully linked by a shared passion for rugs, deep respect for craftsmanship, supporting communities and a commitment to empowering women together.
Production
Natural Materials behind every Knots Rug
Each Knots rugs rug weaves a narrative rich not only in color and design but also in materials. The rugs are intricately crafted from materials sourced from the lush silk fields, the majestic Himalayan highlands, and the green hillsides covered with wild nettle. Our rugs are born from nature’s own palette, woven with materials that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful. At Knots Rugs, our work begins long before a single knot is tied. It starts in nature, where the finest, most ethical, and sustainable fibers are found. We work with all the different fibers in the world, from Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, wild silk, nettle, hemp, and cactus.
Production
How a Rug gets its Colours
When you’re thinking of a design for a rug, the first thing that might come to your mind is the intricate pattern or overall artwork. But behind the allure of each beautiful rug lies an important and complicated process which often goes unnoticed - the art of selecting colours.