Zilu: buying the cotton flatweaves of Meybod

Traits

Zilu are woven on vertical looms with a weft-faced plain weave and simple geometric designs. They are often made for mosques and homes.

Handloom vs machine

• Handloom pieces have slight irregularities along edges
• Warp ends finish as hand-knotted fringe
• Designs are geometric and identical on both sides

Care

Cotton zilu can be washed more readily than wool rugs, but test colours first and dry flat.

A note on this guide

This is a general introduction written by the CraftPersia editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a specialist. Workshop practice varies between towns and families; treat dates and figures as approximate and confirm details with makers, museums or published scholarship before relying on them.