A message from the president about ARARAT's mission and vision;
The Oriental rug market was mainly based in Europe and the US, and most of the oriental rug production was to meet the demands of the Western market. But what about Eastern markets?

Since we started the oriental rug business in Japan, my viewpoint on rug production has changed. Unlike other modern countries where mechanization has wiped out artisans, Japan, through ups and downs, has managed to pass down the centuries-old unique handicraft culture from generation to generation; preserving traditional techniques continues today while incorporating materials and designs in line with modern times.

Kimono is quite a good example; some workshops in Kyoto, such as Kawashima Orimono, were established more than 200 years ago and still thrive today.

When my father went to Germany for his Ph.D. work at Bochum University, he realized that the rugs and kilims he surrounded in his childhood were an art for Westerners. But it was just daily use materials for him.

Like my father in Germany, having spent nearly half of my life in Japan and learning its culture, I have realized that there is a greater meaning in what we do. We are keeping the art of handcrafted rug-making alive in an ever-growing mass production and consumption era.

With about 80%-90% of the world’s oriental carpet production moving to countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the demand for niche hand-woven carpets in Anatolia has increased.

With the decrease in carpet weaving ateliers and weavers in Anatolia, Ararat Rugs has become one of the rare manufacturers in the region.

As we mainly produce oversized and custom-made carpets, we could produce more classical ones than we planned, even in the market that shrank during the Covid period. This stock enabled us to survive and continue producing new orders.

Unfortunately, after the big earthquake in southeastern Anatolia in 2023, weaving ateliers and weavers decreased over time. From 2024 onwards, our new Mission is to establish new workshops and encourage and train young people to become weavers.

February 2024
President and CEO
Hakan KARAR