The range of styles includes everything from modern designs to classic Persian carpets. Shown, AZ1751 by Jamshidzada
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Kabul Carpet Export Center (KCEC), a program designed to create jobs in Afghanistan, returns to New York City to host a special pop-up shop featuring hundreds of handmade rugs by 10 leading Afghan producers from May 28-31.
The Afghan Artisan Rug Pop-up will feature hand-crafted rugs made from hand-spun wool with natural dye at the Metropolitan Pavilion, located at 123 W. 18 St., New York, New York, from Friday, May 28-31 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The company is also offering private Zoom meetings May 28 and May 29 for buyers unable to attend the in-person event.
An updated Oushak design by maker Yamood will be among those on display at the Afghan Artisan Rug Pop-up in New York. Shown, AZ1532
Rob Leahy, owner, Fine Rugs of Charleston, founded the Kabul Carpet Export Center (KCEC), which launched in the fall of 2018 with $9 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted a similar pop-up shop at Fine Rugs of Charleston in July 2020. KCEC was the brainchild of carpet industry veterans Leahy, Richard Ringrose, Alex Zahir and Stephen Landrigan working together as Impact Carpet Associates, LLC, headquartered in Charleston to develop the concept for KCEC.
"KCEC is a jobs creation program that stimulates employment for women and returning refugees," said Leahy. "Most rugs are woven by women in their homes and rug-making is one of the few ways women have of earning household income. They use knotting techniques that vary from one ethnic group to another, but have been handed down from mothers to daughters across generations."
The entire assortment of Afghan area rugs can be viewed online here. For more information about the event, visit afghanrugs.us/events. To schedule a virtual appointment, click here.
The pop up includes a range of styles including Super Kazaks in updated color palettes. Shown, AZ1811
Classic hand-knotted designs and color combinations will be available at the New York pop-up. Shown, AZ1517 by Pazyryk