Preserving Azerbaijan's culture through enterprise

Humay Mammadova wanted to learn more about the history behind the interwoven circles, triangles and intricate patterns on Azeri rugs and also provide economic opportunities through rug making. She had been working with woven rugs for years, but her appreciation of their long history and her desire to preserve Azeri rug-making traditions developed only when she began to manage the Gadim Guba carpet-making company in Azerbaijan in 2000.

Mammadova's first goal was to improve the quality of the rugs the company produced, including the quality of wool and dyes used in their manufacture. This led to Mammadova purchasing wool from Turkey and Iran and hiring a natural dye specialist. But, over time, wool from abroad became more expensive as the quality decreased. And the dye specialist was having difficulty creating quality colors using local resources, which led to the colors bleeding.

Mammadova agreed to collaborate with a program sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development that works to promote entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan. The program hired a local expert in natural dyes who has years of experience in transforming local plants and insects into dyes. He agreed to share his trade secrets and explain exactly how to create natural dyes. He also spent five weeks teaching Mammadova and her daughter how to mass produce large quantities of dyes and to identify local sources of quality wool. In 2007, Mammadova expects to purchase six tons of high quality local wool, two tons more than in the previous year.

The wool and dyed yarns will be spun by 160 women using new looms in Mammadova's production facility.

Mammadova has started to reach her goal of improving rug quality. By making rugs with traditional Azeri methods of dyeing and weaving, she hopes to help preserve Azeri culture while also creating economic opportunities in her community. She is confident her investment will pay off as the demand for high-quality, natural and traditionally made rugs is strong. USINFO