Carpet weaving

Azerbaijan, famous for its ancient and rich history, stands at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. The favourable climate and abundance of vegetation have enabled the country to become a major centre of semi-nomadic cattle breeding. Carpet art, reflecting national characteristics and our people’s aesthetic taste, occupies a special place in the history of national culture’s development. Azerbaijani carpets have always stood out for their plots, ornaments, compositions and high quality. The inclusion of Azerbaijani Carpet Art, which requires professionalism, refined taste and tense human labor, within the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity bespeaks its acceptance as a universal human value internationally.

The world’s first museum specialising in carpet art studies was the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, established in Baku that houses around 11,000 carpet products. The museum houses objects from the Bronze Age, the Ancient Period, and the early Middle Ages, although most of the collection focuses on the 17th-20th centuries. Museum continuously replenishes each of its collection.

The unique building’s one-of-a-kind architectural style, where rare carpets are stored, has become one of our city’s symbols. It is very popular with both residents and foreign guests, who absolutely admire this place and frequently visit it to draw inspiration from our national heritage, the carpets.

 

At the Festival of Folk Arts, Rena Suleymanova will demonstrate traditional Azerbaijani carpet-weaving techniques.

Rena Suleymanova is a professional carpet weaver at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, with more than thirty years of professional experience.

She previously worked for Azerkhalcha OJSC for thirty years. She has demonstrated traditional carpet-weaving techniques at several international events, including the 1st European Games in Baku in 2015 and the Festival of Folk Arts in Budapest in 2025. Throughout her career, she has trained numerous students, including participants from abroad.

 

Kelaghayi

Kelaghayi, the traditional Azerbaijani silk headscarves, have a history dating back nearly 1,500 years. They are thin and almost weightless, and their vibrant colours rival even those of the rainbow. Rooted in traditions that developed along the Silk Road, the art of kelaghayi-making is concentrated in two locations in Azerbaijan: the city of Sheki and the village of Basgal.

The making of kelaghayi involves several stages, including weaving, dyeing and decorating the silk fabric with wooden patterns. Weavers obtain fine silk threads from silkworm breeders and weave them on a loom. The fabric is then boiled and dried, resulting in square-shaped scarves measuring approximately 50 × 50 cm.

The craftsmen then dye the scarves in various colours using plant-based materials and decorate them with patterns applied using wooden printing blocks. These blocks are coated with a mixture made from resin, paraffin and solid oil.

The colours of the headscarves have symbolic meanings and are often associated with specific social occasions, such as weddings, mourning ceremonies, everyday activities and celebrations. The art of making kelaghayi is passed down exclusively through informal knowledge transmission and is primarily a family craft. Each family has its own distinctive style and decorative patterns. The traditional making and wearing of kelaghayi is an expression of cultural identity and religious traditions.

Kelaghayi were traditionally worn by Azerbaijani women of all ages. Young women generally chose bright colours, while older women preferred darker shades. The scarves were usually worn over a head covering or wrapped around the head in a turban-like style. A red kelaghayi formed part of a bride’s traditional attire, while the groom was adorned with a kelaghayi of a different colour. A kelaghayi could also be hung on the gate of a house to announce an upcoming wedding, or given as a gift to celebrate good news or a job well done.

In November 2014, the traditional art and symbolism of kelaghayi – the making and wearing of women’s silk headscarves – was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

 

At the Festival of Folk Arts, Valida Mammadova will demonstrate the traditional techniques of kelaghayi making.

Valida Mammadova has been actively involved in preserving and promoting Azerbaijan’s traditional crafts for many years. Since 2016, she has worked with the national brands Kelagayi and Butali, which promote kelaghayi, Azerbaijan’s traditional silk headscarf.

Valida Mammadova has represented Azerbaijan at numerous national and international exhibitions and cultural events, including events in Turkmenistan and the United States. Through her work, she plays an important role in promoting Azerbaijan’s traditional crafts and cultural heritage internationally.