Miri Creations represent some of the finest exemplars of Persian carpet production today. Each piece in the collection is knotted according to the following principles below, which make them stand above the vast number of mass-produced carpets on the market today:
- Historic designs.
Razi Miri's designs are based on decades of research into the diverse weaving areas in Iran. Some motifs in Miri pieces are found in antique carpets, some in books or drawings from museums, while others are simply passed on from one generation to the next without being formally recorded. In some instances, the research and the persistence of Miri's vision has led to long-forgotten motifs being revived again.
Each carpet is knotted according to the tradition for each weaving area, with all relevant features of their historic designs retained. At the same time, knotters are given the freedom to introduce their own interpretations to the designs, adding vibrancy, originality and authenticity.
- Top-quality wool.
The wool used in Miri carpets is obtained from the Gashgai and Khamseh tribal herders who migrate between their winter camps in the low-lands to the green pastures of the Zagros mountains in the summer.
The sheep wool from this area is known for its strength, sheen, flexibility, softness and its ability to absorb natural colours. The Miri carpets only receive the best wool: after shearing, all short and dark fibers are removed, leaving only long wool of even length, which is then spun by hand. Out of every 1000 kilograms of highland wool, only 150 kilograms are selected for the Miri carpets.
- Natural Dyes.
The natural dyes used in the Miri carpets give them their renowned brilliance, which does not fade over time. As can be evidenced in antique pieces today, the aging process of natural dyes, in combination with good quality wool, imparts carpets with a natural patina over time.
Miri carpets use many natural ingredients in the colouration of their wools: indigo, madder roots, berries, pomegranate, walnut shells are just some of the examples.
In order to maintain strict quality controls, Miri have established their own dye manufacturing facility in the city of Kooch, just north of Shiraz in southern Iran. The combination of time-honoured recipes and modern equipment allows them to create the highest-quality vegetable and mineral dyes.
- Exceptional Workmanship.
Only strict attention to detail and a quest for excellence can produce the pieces in the Miri collection. Skilled and experienced knotters, both women and men, craft their art on horizontal or vertical looms, as per their region's customs. Wool is carefully sorted as it arrives, so that only evenly dyed threads are used. Knotters are not rushed in their work, as these are not mass-produced pieces where speed is of essence.
The tension in the warp and weft strands, the selection of the wool, the weaving of the individual knots, the final clipping: each step in the creation of the carpet is perfected to produce a carpet which stands up to generations of use.
