TEHRAN—Mahdishahr’s self-colored carpets are a manifestation of the wonders of nature and the unparalleled art of human hands, which have imprinted the authenticity and identity of a region in their texture and weave.

reserving these hand-woven carpets belonging to the Sangsari tribe of Mahdishahr county in Semnan province is a heritage that needs attention to be incorporated into daily life and home interior design, IRNA wrote.
It is one of the most authentic handmade carpets in the world, the weaving of which is a process full of elegance and emotion, and stems from the ancient arts of the Sangsar tribes.
In this pure art of carpet weaving, there is no color in the warp and weft. Every color that comes to mind is the natural color of the warp and weft, as if nature has brought its color to the heart of the carpet under your feet.
In this type of Sangsari tribal carpet, the color of the warp and weft is extracted directly from the natural spectrum of more than 13 colors of the wool of the native Sangsari sheep.
The weavers are patient and skilled women who, with their capable hands, depict mental weaving without a formal plan in the form of successive and harmonious knots, so that each knot represents hours of patience, skill, and love for the art.
These knots ultimately become a unique and living carpet. This art is still alive among the women of the Sangsar tribe, but the lack of attention to this original industry is an obstacle to its dynamism and prosperity, and it is expected that the authorities will help preserve this ancient heritage with various strategies, including registration in the National Heritage List.

Using natural dyes of wool without chemicals causes less pollution and maintains environmental health. In addition, the absence of chemical dyes and artificial additives makes this carpet safe for use in the home, especially for children and sensitive people.

The self-dyed carpet of the Sangsar tribe is actually a reflection of the cultural identity of the region and a living legacy of the past. Today, with the introduction of machine-made carpets and chemical dyes, the original art of self-dyed carpets is at risk of being forgotten and lost. 

Revival and attention to this art means preserving an important part of cultural identity, promoting the local economy and protecting the environment. 

Also, with rising global attention to sustainable and environmentally friendly products, self-dyed carpets can find a special place in domestic and international markets.

Training in the field of recognizing natural colors and transferring self-dyed carpet weaving skills by creating workshops and training courses for young people and enthusiasts, allocating financial facilities, insuring artists and creating exclusive sales markets for this hand-woven product with historical and cultural identity, introducing and commercializing the Mahdishahr self-dyed carpet as an authentic, sustainable and cultural product, along with attractive packaging, can be considered solutions to preserve and revive the self-dyed carpets. 

Supporting the local livestock breeders for preserving the indigenous breeds of sheep with a diverse range of wool colors, encouraging public to use self-dyed carpet in modern decoration in form of cooperating with interior designers for incorporating this handwoven carpet into the architectural designs and showcasing this are in museums and festivals for raising public awareness are the other alternatives for reviving the self-dyed carpet. 

The self-dyed carpet represents the culture, history and the connection between mankind and nature. 

Preserving and reviving this art is an effective step for cultural, economic and environmental sustainability. It can create a brighter future for this long-standing art, and national registration of this work can be the first step in supporting this art. 

Mahdishahr county is located in Semnan province in the neighborhood of Sari (in Mazandaran province) and Firouzkuh (in Tehran province). Mahdishahr county has been known as the district of Sangsar until recently.

Since the city is placed in the north of Semnan, along the Alborz mountain, its climatic conditions are different from most of other regions in Semnan province. Being located in a totally mountainous region, there are several peaks of more than 3,000 meters height in this city. 

The handwoven carpets, Jajim and Pelas are the main handicrafts of Mahdishahr people. The nomads of Sangsar produce different dairy products from the sheep milk like yogurt, butter, and cheese. Agricultural products such as walnut, plum, Armenian plum and pomegranate can also be bought as the souvenirs of Mahdishahr county.  

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