The Thread of Creation: The Wool That Starts It All
Pull the thread and unravel the whole story behind the Orley Shabahang signature collection and the artisan craftsmanship that honors the rich heritage of Persian carpetmaking. That story doesn’t begin in the luxury high-rises or expansive homes where you may find a piece from our collection. Instead, look to the rustic hills of the Ghashghai region of Iran. And it’s not an artisan contributing to one of the most important aspects of our organic and sustainable carpet-making process. In fact, it’s not a person at all. Read on to learn more.
Real Wool for Persian Carpets
Like the grapes for fine wine, the highest-quality raw materials play a vital role in the extraordinary level of every carpet that Orley Shabahang creates. Persian fat-tailed sheep provide the super-soft and durable wool that makes the unparalleled difference. This lineage of sheep, bred under conditions perfected over centuries, grow the finest wool in the world for carpets. The environment and terrain provide an ideal setting for the raising of these sheep, while the shepherds know exactly the correct diet and exercise routine to ensure the quality of the wool. With proper breeding and tending, the herds will provide wool literally dripping with the secret ingredient: lanolin.
Lanolin: The Secret Weapon
Lanolin,a natural oil found in the sheep’s coat, acts as a natural barrier in the same way as our skin. That means those long, strong strands used in our yarn will also possess naturally anti-microbial and stain-resistant properties. To produce such a strong, lanolin-rich wool, the sheep run up and down hills because their sweat will create more lanolin. Meanwhile, great pains are taken to ensure the sheep’s happiness throughout their lives. Studies have shown that a sheep’s happiness makes its shorn wool stronger. In this way, the herds provide us with durable and dirt-repellent wool. As the process continues, those strands will form the foundation of the functional pieces of art to come.
Once we possess these unique and treasured fibers, the stage is set for our artisans to embark upon the remaining steps of our traditional Persian weaving process. At every stage (the spinning, dyeing, and handknotting), the quality of this wool will play an important part. Don’t just take it from our weavers though, see and touch a finished Orley Shabahang carpet. You will notice the difference as well in these luxury handmade rugs. Follow the thread to learn more, as we will return with a post diving into the next step in our signature production: the handspinning of this amazing raw material.