Process

Iran’s rugged terrain and harsh natural environment produce the vibrant colors of the plants that make up the dye. The sheep that grow up in the mountains of Zagros store enough oil and resilient wool until spring shearing. This is an indispensable gift of nature for the carpets produced by the Mealy workshop.

Goats, birds, trees, and pretty flowers. Mealy’s work has a long history and is vibrant with stories and wishes woven into its designs.

The designers draw the preliminary sketches with all their hearts and minds, recalling myths and natural forms.

The wool is spun by hand in the traditional way by the nomads of Gashgai. The threads dyed under the strict control of the Mealy Studio are tied by talented weavers born and living in the region. They produce carpets with pride as bearers of culture.

The warmth of nature and handcraftsmanship is reflected in the work of the Mealy Studio.

Winters in the Zagros Mountains are long, and with the arrival of spring the nomads of Gashgai begin their migration to summer pastures hundreds of kilometers away. Nurtured by the Iranian wilderness, the wool is elastic and resilient. Of the 1,000 kg of wool cut in a year at the Mehri workshop, only 150 g to 200 g of unblemished shoulder wool becomes Mehri workshop carpets. The short wool is removed and only wools of equal length, selected from the longer wools, are spun by hand.

The wool used for smak and pearl weaving is hand spun from the hard, tightly twisted wool of sheep native to the Azerbaijan region. It is strong and resistant to friction. The wisdom of our ancestors, who were well versed in the characteristics of weaving, has been put to good use.