Ali Amini

GOLDEN RUG COMPANY

Unique Pieces of Art Transform a Space

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.

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 opened the Dunbar store. Golden Rug is considerably larger after an expansion and renovation two years ago.

Ali laughs when he shares the story behind the name Golden Rug. A well-known designer requested a tribal carpet the colour of a golden sunset. Saffron was used to achieve the desired shade, and before long he had earned the nickname “golden boy.”

An authority on rugs, he works closely with many respected interior designers and his client base comes from across North America.

Ali verbally paints a rich history of the beautiful carpets he sells.

One hundred percent of Golden Rug’s carpets are handmade. Ali enthusiastically describes the carpet’s origins and the vast difference between chemical and vegetable dyes. Vegetable dyes are rarely used these days, which is a shame as the rich colours they produce are exquisite. He likes to present chemical and vegetable dyed carpets side by side so his clients can see the difference.

Golden Rug’s website provides an overview of the vast selection, although Ali discourages buying carpets online. He believes, “You need to see and touch a carpet to truly appreciate it. A carpet is like a human, it has a soul.”

A rug woven from the best quality of wool can easily last a lifetime if cared for properly.

The carpet industry is rapidly changing. Historically, mothers would pass the tradition to their children, however, today young people aren’t interested in making carpets by hand.

Ali says, “I feel very fortunate to showcase some incredible pieces of art, as I don’t believe this industry will continue producing the same rate or quality as it has for hundreds of years. Sadly, that’s the case with many industries today that are involved in very laborious products.”

Ali is dedicated to trying to preserve the old techniques and traditions of this dying art form.

He adds, “The cost of production, materials, and scarcity of makers today is changing the landscape of the carpet industry. I am fortunate to have a lot of inventory that is so reasonably priced because it was purchased in a different business climate. I enjoy passing on the knowledge and savings to my clients.”

In addition to carpet sales, Golden Rug offers cleaning and repair services. The store has a specialized department for hand restoration repairs, which can be quite complex.

What does Ali find most rewarding about his work? He comments, “Knowing people remember us positively when they appreciate the aesthetic of their carpet. Sometimes I meet children of clients from 25 years ago; we clean their carpets, which still bring them joy and fond memories of their loved ones.”

It is not surprising that gorgeous carpets complement Ali’s homes. He and his wife gravitate to different styles but they find ways to make them work harmoniously. Their condo in the city is adorned with finer Persian carpets and modern brightly coloured Gabbeh carpets, while they have incorporated traditional vegetable dye carpets into their vacation property.

“We pick up things that we fall in love with on our travels, it’s fun to create your own style and story with particular meaning and memory of a trip,” he mentions.

“When you think of nomadic tribes making carpets using vegetable-dyed wool you think of what they must have been thinking or feeling or seeing, which always translates into a very unique piece of art. Carpets add a great deal to the energy, mood, and overall ambience of space. Colours or the texture of a carpet under your feet can make you feel differently. I feel privileged to be invited into the homes of my clients to help transform the space. It makes me happy knowing that their carpet will be enjoyed for years to come,” he concludes.

Golden Rug Company

3211 Dunbar Street Vancouver, BC V6S 2B8 Telephone 604-224-3222

www.goldenrug.com