New handwoven carpets inspired by Ottoman-era rumi motifs have been produced in Demirci, a district of Manisa Province in western Türkiye, for the Tokyo Mosque, originally built in 1938. The project marks a renewed cultural and artistic connection between Turkish craftsmanship and one of Japan’s most significant Islamic landmarks.
800-Square-Meter Handwoven Carpet Delivered Ahead of Ramadan
A local carpet manufacturer in Demirci completed the project following a request from the mosque to replace carpets that had been installed 26 years ago. The production process took approximately 18 months, culminating in the delivery of an 800-square-meter fully handwoven carpet to Tokyo. Installation at the mosque has already begun, ensuring the new carpets are in place before the start of Ramadan.
According to company owner Ali Rıza Özkul, the newly woven carpets were designed to closely replicate the originals while preserving the traditional Ottoman rumi pattern. He explained that teal green was selected as the dominant color, while burgundy tones were used in areas exposed to higher foot traffic. Reactive dyeing techniques were applied to color the wool, enhancing durability and colorfastness.
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Özkul emphasized that carpets produced in Demirci are widely recognized for their quality and craftsmanship. “Our products are made from 100% wool and entirely natural materials,” he said, noting that 4.5 kilograms of wool per square meter were used for the Tokyo Mosque carpet. The wool blend, which includes New Zealand wool, has long been favored for its optimal weight, resilience, and longevity.
He also highlighted that Demirci carpets have been installed in several historic religious landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque.
Beyond aesthetics, the carpets are engineered for performance. Özkul noted that thanks to the special wool composition and traditional weaving system, the carpets are flame-resistant and nonflammable. Additionally, their structure and wool blending methods make them resistant to moth damage, allowing them to maintain their appearance and function in mosques and hotels for many years.
The completion of the Tokyo Mosque project once again underscores Demirci’s role as a center of traditional Turkish carpet weaving, blending heritage craftsmanship with technical durability for prominent international spaces.
