The city of Nain is located 90 miles east of Isfahan- the former capital of Iran. The city once had a thriving cloth weaving industry but since a decline in demand in the early 20th century, the region has been better known for its production of fine Persian carpets.

Characteristics of Nain Rugs

The close proximity of Nain to the city of Isfahan has resulted in many similarities of designs, as weavers in Nain have taken inspiration from the popular curvilinear floral style of Isfahan. Key to identification therefore is the colour palette of the carpet. Nains usually follow a common colour scheme- a cream or ivory background with highlights of blue and red. Nains with a navy, red or green background whilst possible to find are less common.

Nain rugs usually have cotton warp strings (the foundation strings running along the entire length of the rug) with knots of wool, or a combination of wool and silk making up the pile. Very rarely are rugs knotted with 100% silk.

As a final note, beware lower quality imitation rugs from Tabas, which are identical in design and colour but thicker in structure and lower in knot-count.

Nain's Master Weavers

The Habibians are Nain's most masterful weavers. The Habibian signature (حبیبیان) is regarded with prestige, quality and trust.

Pictured below: A typical Nain carpet