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.