The story of Zollanvari began in 1947, when at a tender age Gholamreza Zollanvari joined his fatherâs carpet business, a legacy that had been handed down from his great grandfather. Initially he focused on the traditional products of the nomads of South Persia. Those colourful carpets with high pile, Gabbehs, were knotted only for use in homes as bedspreads and bedcovers. They were and are a vivid expression of the art and soul of the traditional weaving and aesthetic sensibility of southern Persian nomads. Appreciation and demand for Gabbehs grew over the years. Gholamreza Zollanvari began working with the Ghashghaâi and Luri nomads to start weaving new Gabbehs with more contemporary designs.
Zollanvari carpets embody the spirit of Persian carpet design and weaving â an extraordinary art form that has been treasured across the world for more than 2,000 years. This profound understanding of the splendour and profusion of the Persian weaving aesthetic informs our carpet production, making it unique and timeless â qualities that have established the Zollanvari name as a global trail-blazer in creating carpet art.
History
In 1985 Gholamrezaâs son Reza established the company in Zurich to directly access the European market. The company expanded in 1989 when the weaving began of large and room-size Gabbehs, using naturally dyed, hand-spun wool â a step now recognised as a milestone in the history of Persian weaving. The ânewâ Gabbehs exploded onto the world market, with fresh colours, sizes and patterns, woven to satisfy the demands of Western markets. Soon Gabbehs became synonymous with the Zollanvari name and the companyâs innovative spirit. Gholamrezaâs second son Hamid took over in Iran where a second centre was built close to Shiraz to house under one roof design, dyeing and warehousing. Washing, finishing, customer services and shipping were then located in Tehran. The sixth generation of Zollanvari continues to be active in the family venture in Hamburg, Cape Town, Wuhan (Hubei) and Secaucus, NJ, USA.
The finest Persian wool & Indian organic silks
The highest grade highland wool from the Zagros Mountains is used to weave Zollanvari carpets and flatweaves. The wool is very supple and ideal for rug making and it is traditionally hand-spun. Our Kundan Pure Silk carpets are woven using the most exquisite natural materials such as organic Indian silk, while the Diffusion Koti Silk line is viscose made from the cellulose pulp of bamboo, banana or other natural materials. Zollanvari have selected a blend of the finest of these fibres.
Hand-carded & hand-spun wool
All Zollanvari products carry our Label and Warranty, which guarantee that all our carpets and flatweaves are made from hand-carded and hand-spun wool, dyed using the highest quality environmentally friendly vegetable dyes at our central headquarters in Shiraz to maintain consistent colour-quality, that they are woven by nomadic women and not children, and that each carpet is unique as each weaver has developed their own style, which can even differ from carpet to carpet.
Vibrant natural dyes
We exclusively use natural dyes made from plants collected from the immediate vicinity of the nomadic weavers. Our dyeing facility in Shiraz is second to none and is run by our Master Dyer whose knowledge and experience have been passed down to him through many generations in a family dedicated to the art of dyeing. In India, we have developed our own dyeing system using an optimum temperature that is not only highly environmentally friendly but also retains the integrity of the silk fibre, imparting a natural, healthy sheen to the surface of our carpets.
OEKO-TEXÂŽ Certificate
Zollanvari are the only Iranian handmade carpet manufacturer to be awarded the OEKO-TEXÂŽ Standard 100 Certificate for âhandwoven carpets (rugs, gabbehs, kilims, and jajims) made from hand-spun sheep wool and traditionally dyed with herbal natural dyesâ. On inspection, the stated Zollanvari products were granted a Class ll certificate, affirming that they meet the human-ecological requirements of the standard established for products with direct contact to skin. This is a huge accolade for Zollanvari as decoration/furnishing items are normally granted a Class IV certificate, since the tests for harmful substances are based on the respective purpose of the materials.
Authenticity & creative spirit
Our passion has always been for the artistic weavings of the nomadic people of southern Persia, where almost all our collections are woven. The art of carpet making has always exemplified the expression of a culture and a way of life, and as a result Zollanvariâs use of pattern, colour and symbolism has been constantly evolving. What sets us apart is the active encouragement our weavers are given to allow their own aesthetic sense to shine through the designs. Individual, expressive and unique carpets are the result.
Finishing
Our washing and finishing facilities in Tehran and Jaipur are state-of-the-art. We are constantly seeking to reduce the consumption of water in the process, to decrease effluents in water from dyestuffs and thus permit easier water recycling.
Sustainability
The concept of a resource-efficient and sustainable production is deep rooted in our company and production tradition. We have endeavoured to revive old weaving techniques (some almost extinct) to encourage the diversity of weaving techniques and to develop new ones.
Social ideology
Zollanvari cultivates and nurtures extensive personal relationships with various nomadic tribes in Iran. Our carpet production distinguishes itself by a sensitive regard for the traditional way of life of the nomads and their natural environment. The company participates in the construction of hospitals and maternity units for the nomadic women, financially supports the construction of water pipes and winter quarters, donates heaters, sponsors the football team of a Ghashghaâi tribe, helps widows with small pensions and small loans, supports mobile teaching units for the education of nomadic children and employs older nomads, who can no longer weave, as spinners. The best weavers are also given the opportunity to attend the fairs and events in which the company participates to display their weaving skills. The weavers are paid for the carpets according to the knot counts and quality of the weave. There are additional bonuses for especially beautiful carpets or very large ones. Wages are relatively high and allow a large degree of autonomy for the weavers. Widowed and single women can remain independent by becoming weavers and having an independent income. This empowerment goes some way toward strengthening the position of women in society.
Innovative designs
With its exquisite patterns and the finesse of its quality a Zollanvari carpet captivates and enhances the beauty of its surroundings. The vibrant colours and timeless designs we create combine perfectly with contemporary as well traditional interiors. When thoughtfully placed, our carpets impart a sense of space, vision and form to any setting. Zollanvariâs commitment to the creation of superior quality carpets and exclusive designs, while at the same time preserving the great Persian heritage of carpet art, has not only established the brand as a leader in the global marketplace, but has also inspired us to push the boundaries of carpet design and weaving techniques â from the minimalist development of our tribal Gabbehs to the innovative re-invention of classical patterns seen in our Isfahan Collection. As a result, we have won numerous worldwide accolades for the quality and individuality of our carpets. The spirit of innovation is thus writ large in the carpets and flatweaves created by Zollanvari.
Customer care
Every member of the Zollanvari team is dedicated to providing the very best customer care. Over and above our extensive collections, we offer a bespoke service for interior designers and architects from our brand ZOYA Rugs.
