THE MATERIAL PROCESS
Materials
As in every part of the world, we are constantly investing and cooperating with state and non-governmental organizations to keep the old art of carpet weaving alive, especially in Anatolia and Mesopotamia.
The materials used in our carpets come from the finest natural sources. By blending old methods with today's possibilities, natural materials give character to the carpet with completely handmade techniques. Our primary material, the highest quality and durable wool, is procured from the steppes and highlands of Anatolia and Asia.
Photo: Sheep farming, Anatolian highlandsMother Nature
We are working hard to continue the sheep farming activities in the region and to turn their precious wool into oriental carpets. At the same time, we continue to develop our business continuously for the survival of the weaving craft.
All wool has a use. Different breeds produce different quality wool suitable for a range of applications. We select the best quality from the highlands of Anatolia and Asia — high-altitude sheep whose fleece develops particular density and lanolin content ideal for hand-knotted rugs.
Photo: Wool shearing processShearing
All wool sheep must be shorn at least annually and as frequently as necessary to mitigate animal health, which makes shearing one of the most important processes for Ararat. We work with a competent shearer team using techniques to minimize animal stress and injury. All shearing-related injuries are documented and treated promptly.
Shearing is typically carried out in spring before the hot summer months, and again in autumn in some regions. The timing affects the quality and length of the staple, which in turn influences the final yarn character.
Photo: Wool washing, Ararat StudiosWashing
Working with raw fleece can be both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. Even under the best pasture practices and shearing conditions, fleece will contain material that needs to be kept out of the fiber preparation and spinning processes.
The washing process is critical to preparing clean, workable fiber. We use natural soap and clean water in a careful temperature-controlled wash that removes vegetable matter and lanolin while preserving the natural crimp and elasticity of the fibre.
Photo: Brushing and carding woolBrushing & Carding
Brushing and carding wool is a necessary step in the process of making wool carpets. Carding ensures all the wool fibres are untangled and aligned in one direction, making it easier to spin smoothly. With the help of carding machines, our wool rovings are ready to be distributed to the villages for spinning.
Photo: Hand spinning wool yarn, Ararat StudiosSpinning & Wool Yarn
We aim to empower women at work; we deliver wool rovings for spinning to older women only in the villages to help them economically and socially. It is a mutual benefit for Ararat and the community in the region, as older women have high skill in spinning from long years of expertise.
Hand-spun yarn has a natural irregularity — a slight variation in thickness — that gives finished rugs their characteristic texture and the abrash colour variations that develop over time. This quality cannot be replicated by machine spinning.