Weaving a decorative history
Xinjiang artisans use traditional patterns to tell stories and attempt to ignite the next generation's interest to keep the ancient craft alive, Xing Wen in Hotan and Mao Weihua in Urumqi report.
Even with partial damage, the life span of the carpet as a whole remains unaffected. This technique also gives rise to crisp patterns on both sides, adding to its enduring beauty.
A stunning piece of handmade wool carpet requires several months of arduous labor by skilled weavers. Even today, this ancient time-consuming, carpet-weaving technique continues to be passed down from generation to generation in Hotan.
Culture and industry
At Nakixwan Carpets, a handmade carpet company in Hotan, 63-year-old designer Ilham Jumar first sketches the patterns on paper with a pencil.
Different areas are marked with numbers representing specific colors. These drawings are hung on the loom and weavers follow them to create the carpet. The size and density of a carpet determine the production time. A higher density, with more knots per square meter, requires more time.
Growing up in Hotan, Ilham loved drawing from a young age. Many of his neighbors ran home-based carpet workshops. Immersed in this environment, he studied carpet design for a year at Xinjiang Arts University in Urumqi at age 19. He then began his career as a carpet designer and is now a well-known designer in the area.
He has been working for Nakixwan Carpets for years.
