GOLDEN RUG COMPANY:
Unique Pieces of Art Transform a Space Story by Sarah Gordon
Photos by Carolynne Palla
If you are craving a trip to an exotic destination, travel no further than Golden Rug Company at the corner of West 16th Avenue and Dunbar Street. Here you will find stacks of colourful handmade carpets that open a portal into the Middle Eastern countries from which they originate. The smell of wool and the feel of the assorted woven textures add to the experience. Traditional Persian carpets are well represented, along with flat-woven rugs including kilims that come from Afghanistan, India, Iran, and Pakistan, in addition to some antique pieces from Russia and Turkey. Ali Amini is Golden Rug’s owner. He was born in Tehran into a family with a history in carpet making. His father is a collector, and it seems this business was Ali’s destiny.
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As a teenager, Ali travelled with his father to nomadic villages in western Iran where he learned about colours, patterns, and the history of carpets. He is deeply appreciative of those journeys as he felt a connection to the rich culture and language. In 1980, Ali started his career as a fashion designer in Iran. After running a successful clothing company, which sold his designer fashions, he was drawn back to handmade rugs. As a hobby, he began to make, repair, and design hand-knotted and hand-woven rugs for his customers. He and his family relocated to Canada in 1992. Ali continued to repair carpets and worked as a wholesaler. In 1996, he opened his first business on Robson Street. Eleven years later he closed the Robson location and in 2007
April 15 - June 15, 2021
DunbarLife.com
