The Ersari

Weaving Project

The Ersari, a tribe of the Turkmen people of Central Asia, have been known as carpet weavers for centuries. The Ersari carpets that I carry are made by refugees who have escaped the lengthly conflicts in northern Afghanistan and who currently reside in the settlements of Haripur and Attock in northern Pakistan. These carpets are only woven in traditional Ersari designs. The wool used for their pile is entirely vegetable-dyed; the field color in most cases is the traditional madder red. Ersari carpets are available in a wide variety of sizes, from jalars (bag faces which serve as small runners) to room size.

The Ersari carpets that I carry are all woven as part of a project sponsored by the non-profit human rights organization, Cultural Survival. All monies paid for these rugs at the wholesale level have been returned to the Ersari. As a consequence of the revenue generated, the Ersari have been able to establish two excellent elementary schools while in exile in Pakistan. Over 600 children are currently enrolled in these schools. Additional information can be found in a series of newsletters that have been appended to this website.