Considering that pile carpets have been an essential component of Persian culture ever since the Achaemenid period, the addidion of an extra dimension of piled thread to the usual warps and wefts of woven fabric has had its appeal for many centuries. Iran - and Kashan in particular - has been one of the centers of velvet weaving for approximately 800 years. Velvet was Kashan’s most famous fabric, traditionally woven on wooden looms, first adding the pile via an additional shaft and then cutting it open using a razor blade. Originally used as a cover fabric for the holy Qoran, velvet became popular amongst wealthy elites and reached its pinnacle during the Safavid Era, when it was one of the most popular gifts given to European Royalty. Kashan remained a prominent centre for the international production and trade of velvet until the mid-20th century, when the industrial revolution caused both weavers and consumers to switch from handwoven to machine-woven products.

 

With the completion of Manouchehri House in 2007 began a door-to-door search for old weaving masters who could support the setup of workshops. It was during this time that UNESCO-certified Master Khalil Yaallah set up the first velvet loom together with his son, Reza Yaallah, who inaugurated the Manouchehri workshop in 2008. Velvet weaving has been continuously practiced at Manouchehri house ever since, reintroducing handwoven Kashan velvet to both Iran and the world.

 

Khalil Yaallah, having learned traditional velvet weaving from his father, held an engineering degree in textile manufacture and spent more than 20 years in the industrial velvet factories of Kashan before returning to his roots. Our velvet workshop is currently supervised by his son, Master Reza Yaallah.