TEHRAN, IRAN -- The 14th Tehran Persian Rug Grand Exhibition will be held Aug. 22 to 28 at the Tehran International Fairgrounds in Iran.

The focus will be on the export and foreign sales aspects of Iranian Persian rugs, according to Ali Fatemi, sales manager for Iran Rug Co., one of the event's sponsors.

"The experience gained from the past 13 exhibitions has helped Iranian rug producers and exporters gain better understanding of the world Persian rug market," according to the organizers.

The Iran Rug Co., one of the sponsors of the Tehran Rug Fair,  was founded over 60 years ago by Afzalzadeh Naini. The company is still operated by family members, according to Ali Fatemi.

"Our production lines and workshops originated in Nain, Esfahan. Currently we are operating the business in the city of Mashhad , Khorasan Province , in Northeast  Iran.

Iran Rug is also involved with rug production in the Kavir region, known primarily for its bleak but beautiful salt desert in northeastern Iran.

Because of the desert geography, there are few major cities in this region. The rugs from this area are primarily tribal carpets and the city of Birjand is well known for its designs.

Life in Kavir and Nain

Fatemi told rugnews.com about the cultural and social aspects of the rug weaving business of Kavir and Nain Iran.  The people of the region lead an extremely humble life, he emphasized.

"The people of Kavir are happy when a girl is born," said Fatemi. " All around the world, people love to have sons, but here daughters are more welcome."

Men have nothing to do in Kavir, Fatemi explained. "There is not enough water for agriculture, no industry, and there are just three mines in the region. Men can't afford a life without their wives and daughters.

 In Nain, the ancient carpet weaving  town in the desert between Isfahan and Yazd,  weavers are not employed in rug factories.  They generally weave for themselves and then sell the rug.

Fatemi emphasized that the weavers of Iran depend on the export market for rugs. "Each exported rug makes 40 jobs here in Iran, from the spinning to
packing the rug. If international rug importers come to Kavir, a big change can be made in their lives,"  Fatemi said.

For information on the Tehran exhibition, click here: http://iranrugco.ir/english/iranianrugs-exhibition.htm