“We are the only company outside Afghanistan anywhere in the world purely selling Fairtrade handmade Afghan rugs”.
James Wilthew, an RAF veteran of 5 operational tours, established The Afghan Rug Shop in 2015 and imports their rugs direct from their weavers in Northern Afghanistan.
Whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2003 James fell in love with the country and its people, also developing a passion for their rugs – buying over 40 at the time – as he never thought he’d have another opportunity to do so, there was no stable internet or social media to stay in touch.
About 12 years later after James had left the military and moved to Hebden Bridge, he managed to track down his Afghan friend he used to buy from in 2003 after weeks of searching, rekindled their friendship online and the business was born.
James stocks rugs suitable for a modern flat through to large country houses.
“We can supply any size of rug and some of them are huge”.
It’s not just rugs though, they sell kilim-covered furniture, beautiful handmade glass from Herat and pottery from Istalif town.
www.theafghanrugshop.co.uk
Shop number: 01422 843331
Instagram / Facebook / Twitter @afghanrugshop @theafghanrugshop