Discover Iran: Golestan’s 7,000-year craft heritage powers cultural renaissance and exports

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

• Golestan’s handicraft industry, led by rural women artisans, preserves ancient traditions while driving economic growth and exports worldwide.
• Turkmen carpets, embroidery, silk scarves, and jewelry represent Golestan’s rich cultural identity, attracting tourists and global market demand.
• With over 7,500 artisans and growing exports, Golestan’s crafts sustain livelihoods, foster cultural revival, and boost local development.

Iran's northeastern Golestan province, long recognized for its seven-millennia-old cultural heritage, is emerging as one of Iran’s most dynamic hubs for traditional crafts.

Powered largely by the skills of rural women artisans, the region’s carpets, textiles, jewelry, and woodwork not only sustain local livelihoods but also reach global markets, from Central Asia to Europe.

Golestan’s handicrafts stand at the intersection of history, identity, and economic opportunity.

The province, home to a mosaic of ethnic groups, particularly Turkmen communities, has transformed its ancient artistic traditions into one of Iran's most recognizable cultural brands.

The backbone of the industry

Today, tourists flock to the province to explore its natural landscapes and return home carrying richly patterned carpets, embroidered garments, felt rugs, and hand-woven textiles.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year (ending March 2024), the northern province, located southeast of the Caspian Sea, recorded more than $3.3 million in handicraft exports, according to official data.

The exported items range from wooden artworks and stone crafts to kilims, carpets, embroidery, leather goods, ceramics, and hand-woven fabrics.

The products are shipped to a remarkably diverse list of destinations, including Turkmenistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates.

This global demand reflects the province’s unique blend of authenticity, artistic precision, and cultural symbolism, which have attracted tremendous interest in recent years.

Roughly 7,500 artisans are active in Golestan’s handicraft sector, and the demographic breakdown is striking: 95% of these producers are women, with about 70% living in rural areas.

In villages scattered across Gorgan, Aqqala, Kalaleh, Gonbad-e Kavus, and beyond, craft-making is more than a tradition. It is a vital economic lifeline for the local population.

Experts say that with strengthened training programs, improved market access, and expanded export channels, Golestan could become one of the country’s leading handicraft centers.

The foundation already exists—centuries-old knowledge, skilled artisans, and a distinctive cultural identity.

Signature crafts of Golestan

Turkmen carpets: The crown jewel

The most celebrated craft in Golestan province, which borders Turkmenistan to the north, is the Turkmen carpet, a symbol of regional pride and artisanal mastery.

With a history stretching back nearly 6,000 years, these carpets feature intricate patterns such as Ersaei Gol, Ayeneh Gol, Mari Gol, and Jowal Gol.

Carpet weaving is exclusively carried out by Turkmen women, who pass down designs and techniques through generations.

Carpets made by the Tekke, Atabai, and Jafarbay tribes of the province are particularly renowned for their quality and durability and have a lot of takers in the neighboring countries. 

Kilim and Pallas weaving

Pallas, a flat-woven, pileless kilim, is another traditional textile with deep cultural roots.

Its repeating floral motifs, especially the iconic nine-petal Gol Aydee, reflect symbolic meanings cherished by Turkmen communities.

Aqqala, Gonbad, and Kalaleh serve as major production hubs.

Jajimcheh

This woolen textile, woven by women in Ziarat village near Gorgan, was historically used as a floor covering.

Today, it has evolved into a fashionable material for bags, cushions, and home décor, showcasing modern versatility grounded in tradition.

Turkmen silk scarves

One of Golestan’s most recognizable cultural souvenirs is the large silk Turkmen scarf, known for its vibrant patterns and traditional aesthetic.

Woven from high-quality silk thread, these scarves are prized both locally and internationally.

Traditional embroidery

Turkmen embroidery, crafted by women using brightly colored threads, is used to decorate children’s caps, women’s sleeves, collars, and cuffs.

Its geometric designs and bold colors reflect centuries of cultural continuity.

Felt-making

Felt-making in Golestan is a distinctive women-led craft.

Unlike many other Iranian provinces where men dominate the practice, Turkmen women create felt rugs featuring motifs such as Gooche, Yellow Scorpion, Tirana, and Camel Eye.

These symbolic patterns often carry cultural significance.

Silk weaving

With roots tracing back to the Safavid era, silk weaving remains one of the province’s most prestigious and lucrative crafts.

Local communities produce silkworm cocoons and transform the silk into towels, scarves, handkerchiefs, and traditional garments.

The fabrics typically feature colorful stripes, checks, and decorative borders.

Turkmen jewelry

Among domestic and foreign tourists, Turkmen silver jewelry, often adorned with red agate, is one of the most sought-after souvenirs.

Headpieces, necklaces, belts, earrings, rings, and bracelets are not merely decorative; they reflect social identity, marital status, and deep-rooted Turkmen traditions.

Traditional cotton textiles

Women across Golestan weave cotton fabrics used for both household needs and decorative purposes.

Made from soft cotton yarn and available in a wide color palette, these textiles reflect the everyday creativity of rural artisans.

Basketry (Hasir-Bafi)

Basketry, or Koob-Bafi, is another important craft, especially in the villages of Cheqer, Mehtarkalateh, and Salikandeh.

Although once on the brink of decline, the craft has experienced a revival thanks to local efforts and has been officially registered as part of Iran’s intangible cultural heritage.

Handicrafts, a driver of tourism and local development

For Golestan, handicrafts are not merely cultural artifacts, but a foundation for sustainable development.

Tourists visiting the region’s forests, plains, and historical sites often seek out traditional markets to purchase Turkmen carpets, embroidered garments, silk scarves, and jewelry.

These purchases provide meaningful income to rural families and encourage the preservation of endangered skills.

As the global appetite for authentic, handmade goods grows, Golestan is uniquely positioned to expand its footprint in international markets.

With stronger investment in training, branding, and export infrastructure, the province could move closer to fulfilling its long-recognized potential as one of Iran’s foremost handicraft capitals.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir