Rough hands, wool fibers and traditional art of felt beating

Namad-mali (literally meaning felt beating), is a traditional craft being practiced in Iran to make namad, a traditional rug, out of woolen fabrics by rolling and pressing them.

Namad-mali has been one of the main professions of Iranians in the time of yore; and it is still practiced in different cities across the country.

The traditional skill of Namad-mali actually means matting, condensing and pressing fibers together.

Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic or acrylonitrile or wood pulp-based rayon.

The main products of this industry, today, are: carpets, mats, clothes, Chuqa and the like.

The artists, thanks to skilled hands in fixing drawings and images, give the worked felt a fresh soul.

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