Jennings Rugs support Afghan weaving.

A statement about recent news stories around the Afghan weaving industry

Rugs are a source of pride for the Afghan people

Afghanistan is a tribal land with a deep-rooted cultural heritage, where carpet weaving is more than work. It’s in the blood and spirit of the Afghan people. For centuries, Afghan weaving has been passed down from generation to generation—not as a burden, but as a source of pride, identity, and artistic expression.

Jennings Rugs financially support female rug weavers

At Jennings Rugs, we are proud of our longstanding commitment to the Afghan weavers and their traditional craft of Oriental rug making, and we continue to send money directly to those women who have no support. We receive donations from the public, and we match each one. Please contact clare@jenningsrugs.co.uk if you would like to help.

Ensuring an ethical and sustainable future in the rug weaving industry

We recognise that many Afghans face challenges retaining their traditional working practices and lifestyles. We aim to support a long-term future for a family-based cottage-style industry embracing Artisan weaving, which is both ethical and sustainable. 

Empowering craftsmanship and economic independence for all

We ensure that our Afghan partners pay every weaver (men and women) above the agreed normal weaving rate. Thus, we enable those Artisan weavers to continue working from home in a flexible way that meets the needs of a domestic family, working at a speed and time that suits them. This higher-than-average rate ensures that the Artisans’ skills are properly recompensed within the context of the economy in which they live. 

Weaving is an essential part of an Afghan rug’s journey.

Weaving is a foundation skill and only a part of the final rugs we see. They leave the weaver raw, unfinished, without selvedge and secure fringes. These hold the knotting onto the warp threads. The rugs and carpets are unwashed and have a rough, ragged surface that needs to be clipped. We finally see the rugs bear little resemblance to the product the weaver produced. We value the hard work and time put into every stage of the Oriental rug-making journey. We continue to do everything we can to ensure that our oriental rugs are ethical and sustainable in their creation.

Jennings Rugs is a trusted and valued partner, and we are proud to support this ancient, highly skilled labour force in a challenging and changing world.

Clare Jennings