Rafe Megerian's Carpet Manufacturing unit, Yerevan

In Yerevan, a visit to a carpet factory was scheduled. We had already seen the amazing Carpet Museum and the Heydar Ali Centre in Baku, so despite a surfeit of carpets in the brain, we arrived at Megerian Carpets in what looked like an industrial area of Yerevan.

Officially called the Megerian Carpet Cultural Complex, at 9 Madoyan Street, visitors can tour the factory..........for 

• Guided Tours: Learn about Armenian rug history, techniques, and see weavers at work.
• Masterclass Try your hand at weaving and learn the Armenian knot.
• Workshops: Participate in traditional Armenian cooking classes.
• Cultural Events: Hosts performances, exhibits, and dinners.
• Shopping: See and purchase beautiful, authentic Armenian carpets
• 

The Megerian family immigrated to the USA at the beginning of the 20th century, where they began buying, selling, cleaning and repairing handmade Armenian rugs. A family business was officially established in 1917 in New York City. In the early days, the Megerians sold only antique or modern Armenian rugs. Over time the family expanded their work, and currently they offer several different collections:

• Armenian collection;
• Tabriz collection - exquisite replicas of antique Persian rugs;
• Sultanabad collection–replicas of traditional Sultanabad designs from the 17^th – 19^th centuries;
• Mamluk collection–replicas of 15th-century Egyptian rugs;
• Oushak – 18^th – 19^thcentury Egyptian rugs;
• Bijou  - recreations of Pakistani rugs.

Other collections include Kazak, Savonnerie, modern and antique rugs. Their main Megerian carpet shop is located in New York. They have major outlets in Brooklyn and in Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. The Megerian Carpet Factory in Armenia is one of their more unique and fascinating enterprises. establishments.

The location was like a huge shed and there was a small group of men chatting away across it. Seeing us, one of them came over and introduced himself and asked where we were from. This person introduced himself as Rafe Megerian – the owner – who lives mostly in New York. Mr Megerian visits Yerevan frequently to oversee the business with the help of his well trained staff.  He told us about himself and how he built up the factory. 

Interestingly, Megerian’s began in 1917, not in Yerevan, but with carpets from Egypt and India and a few other countries. It was only after the revolution and freedom in Armenia that they opened this place in 2002.

The Megerian family owns over 20 facilities in Armenia which provide jobs to thousands of workers. The family is known for having successfully introduced natural dyeing methods to Armenia, obtaining their natural dyes from the flowers, roots and plants of the Armenian highlands, much as their ancestors did thousands of years ago.

Visitors can also watch the weaving process first hand. In the first step, a designer paints a blueprint of the carpet for the weaver. Before the weaving begins, the base of the rug must be made, usually from wool or silk. (Woollen bases are used in Armenia, while the silk bases are used in their factories in Egypt). After the base is in place, the weaving process starts with Armenian double knots. On one square meter of carpet, 160,000 Armenian double knots are present! Making a large carpet can take several months or even years.

Our guide Roza took us to the Carpet factory’s guide and we were given a tour of the facility – the works – from the wool sorting to all the processes involved in manufacture. We saw them being made and finally to the HUGE warehouse and sales section.

There are 32 ladies working here full time producing these masterpieces. Seeing them weave these carpets based on a pattern hanging in front of them is real awesome. 

The factory museum was opened in 2014 and includes carpets dating back to the 17th century. Our guide showed carpets which are 160, 200 and 400 years old.

Behind every rug in the museum is a unique and interesting story. The story of the 160 year old carpet in unreal - during the country’s political turmoil, an Armenian lady tore her precious rug in two pieces and gave a piece to each of her two daughters and told them that if they became separated from one another, perhaps they could find each other again someday with the help of their matching rug halves.   

The family did get separated and it was 52 years later in New York that the two sisters met each other and the carpet pieces were reunited !! Today this rug hangs on the walls of the factory.​

This is a small square carpet piece which was specially crafted for the Clooneys.  Its wonderful workmanship

When you are in Aladdin’s Cave, known as the Megerian Carpet Factory, its very difficult to resist buying some piece – the sales staff are so well trained that you just cant say ‘No’ to them. So, ensure you have enough time not only to enjoy the walkabout the workshop but also to shop for yourself. 

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