In a world where mechanization often overshadows tradition, Çınar Halı remains a guardian of Turkish carpet weaving, an art form with centuries of heritage. Founded in 1935 by Hayrullah Çınar, the family-run enterprise is now led by third-generation board member Ahmet Çınar. From recreating the world’s oldest Turkish carpet to crafting the largest double-knotted silk masterpiece, Çınar Halı’s work graces palaces, homes, and museums worldwide. In this exclusive interview, Ahmet Çınar shares the company’s tale and its mission to preserve Turkish carpet culture. Çınar Halı continues to redesign handwoven artistry and drawing inspiration from Anatolian, Seljuk, and Ottoman patterns, as well as global motifs,
Can you share the origins of Çınar Halı and your role as a third-generation leader in this family business?
Ahmet Çınar: Çınar Halı began in 1935 in Kayseri, founded by my grandfather, Hayrullah Çınar, from the Ekincioğlu family, whose lineage traces back to the Seljuks. Passion for carpet weaving runs deep in our blood, passed from father to son. Today, my father, Mehmet, my sister, Funda, and I manage the company, carrying forward our grandfather’s vision. We are Turkey’s leading organization in handwoven wool and silk carpets, a rare company surviving the challenges of this craft since its founding. As you are now visiting us and this museum, that’s because we believed in this industry.
What sources inspire Çınar Halı’s designs, and how do you incorporate such a wide range of historical patterns?
Ahmet Çınar: Our designs are inspired by our rich history—Anatolian, Seljuk, and Ottoman patterns form our core. We also look to motifs from Asia, Egypt, the Mamluks, and even the world’s oldest carpet, the Pazyryk, which we replicated exactly. Ottoman palace patterns, especially those on sultans’ caftans, guide our work, but we modernize them slightly for today’s tastes. Fabrics, tiles, legends, religions, famous paintings, and stunning landscapes all find expression in our carpets. Our stylists create classical, modern, and postmodern patterns. We want every piece to tell a unique story, appealing to diverse aesthetic preferences. A carpet without a story is, in my opinion, a somewhat incomplete carpet.
Many assume modern carpet production relies on machines. Can you walk us through Çınar Halı’s handweaving process and the role of your workshops?
Ahmet Çınar: Handweaving is our centennial heritage, despite misconceptions about factory automation. Our 14,000-square-meter facility in Kayseri houses integrated workshops, not mechanized lines. Silk twisting happens in dedicated spaces, followed by dyeing with natural colors. Designers prepare patterns tailored to each carpet’s size, which we send to looms across Turkey—nearly 150 workshops with 5,000 artisans. Every knot is tied by hand, using 100% human labor. Once woven, carpets return to the factory for final touches. We check quality before reaching our Dubai, Antalya, Istanbul, and Cappadocia stores. When I talk about carpets here, I always talk about human life. Maybe you have noticed it too. In this museum, you see a life equal to hundreds of thousands of human labor hours.
Çınar Halı has produced extraordinary carpets, like the world’s largest double-knotted silk carpet. Can you tell us about these milestones?
Ahmet Çınar: We are very proud of that—our largest double-knotted silk carpet measures 12 by 8.5 meters, displayed at Dolmabahçe Palace’s entrance. 18 artisans wove 64 million knots over four years, using one ton of silk to create a 350-kilogram masterpiece. We also crafted the world’s thinnest double-knotted carpet, with 36 by 36 knots per square centimeter—1,296 knots in a single centimeter—showing the finest carpet craftsmanship possible. Additionally, we produced the first golden carpet. It earned admiration from collectors worldwide.
You mentioned replicating the Pazyryk, the world’s oldest known carpet. Why is it significant, and how does it connect to Turkish culture?
Ahmet Çınar: The Pazırık carpet, discovered in a frozen burial chamber in the Altay Mountains, is a pure example of Turkish heritage. Its double Turkish knot technique confirms its Turkic origin, a fact confirmed globally. Replicating it allowed us to honor this legacy, connecting modern weavers to ancestors who knotted similar designs centuries ago. It’s a pure bridge between past and present, and we are proud to show the strength of Turkish carpet artistry. These patterns, designed 2500 years ago, still inspire me.
You emphasize that every carpet has a story and a certificate. How do these certificates enhance the value of Çınar Halı’s carpets?
Ahmet Çınar: Every Çınar carpet has a handmade certificate detailing its size, knot count, and unique story. They are keepsakes, meant to be passed down like heirlooms. We encourage customers to treat carpets as cultural treasures, not mere furnishings. In Turkish culture, carpets are inherited across generations for 50 years or more. Our lifetime guarantee is a promise of this belief—each piece a legacy for families to cherish, connecting them to the artisans who knotted them. Carpets are actually very valuable works of art, even if they are underfoot. I call them works of art that can be stepped on.
How do you maintain such high standards across your operations?
Ahmet Çınar: Quality at Çınar is unchanged since 1935. For us, quality is a way of life, and we aim for it in every knot, dye, and design. Our 5,000 Turkish artisans, from weavers to dyers, keep this standard. Integrated facilities in Kayseri guarantee consistency, from silk twisting to final touches. Creativity and care from every employee and Kimono silk elevate our carpets to art. Therefore, it made Çınar a trusted name, exporting 90% of our production to global markets.
Çınar Halı has earned prestigious awards. Can you tell us about those awards?
Ahmet Çınar: Our global recognition makes us truly happy. Çınar Halı won awards at America’s Magnificent Carpet Awards—known as the carpet Oscars—in Atlanta for three consecutive years: 2007, 2008, and 2009. We also secured the Best Design Award for two straight years at the Dubai International Design Exhibition. From intricate knotwork to innovative designs, we are truly proud to elevate Turkish carpet culture worldwide. They inspire us a lot.
What is your mission to preserve Turkish carpet culture?
Ahmet Çınar: We want to safeguard Turkish carpet culture for future generations. We preserve ancestral techniques—like the double Turkish knot—while introducing modern patterns. Our mission drives us to grow as the preferred brand in handweaving. We invest in technology and training, yet manual labor remains central. Every carpet weaves spiritual values, history, and traditions, and should enrich homes worldwide.
Some call you ”the Carper Whisperer. Why do you think they have given you this nickname?
Ahmet Çınar: Visitors coined this nickname during our carpet museum tours at the Sensperience Center, where presentations engage both senses and emotions. When I describe patterns, I find myself in the moment and convey the feelings behind each design as if living them. Our tours are in a darkened atmosphere, lit only by beams glowing behind the carpets. My soft and evocative storytelling feels like whispering fairy tales to listeners. That must be the reason. But to be honest, I like it too much.