Our Story
Our Story
Azad sharing RojKilim's handwoven collection at the Saline Jazz Festival in Michigan.
RojKilim began with a simple idea: to bring the warmth and character of handwoven rugs from Eastern Türkiye into everyday living spaces. What started as a small business idea has gradually become something much more personal—a way of preserving and sharing a culture that means a great deal to me.
I'm drawn to these rugs because of a personal connection to Van and Hakkari and a lasting appreciation for the region's weaving traditions. Handmade weaving carries the decisions, skill, and time of the person who made it. No two pieces are alike, and that individuality is exactly what I want to share.
That is why RojKilim focuses on individual pieces with visible character rather than uniform, mass-produced inventory. Each rug is selected to be seen and used—brought into real homes where its texture, color, and pattern can be lived with every day.
Where the Name Comes From
"Roj" is a Kurdish word meaning "sun." In the name RojKilim, it stands for warmth, light, and my connection to Kurdish culture.
Where Van and Hakkari Are
Van and Hakkari are neighboring provinces in eastern and southeastern Türkiye, near the borders with Iran and Iraq. The region is deeply connected to Kurdish life, language, and culture. Its history has also been shaped by Armenian and Assyrian communities whose longstanding presence and heritage have contributed to these lands over generations. Van lies beside Lake Van, while mountainous Hakkari extends farther south toward the Iraqi and Iranian borders.
RojKilim recognizes this layered cultural history with respect. We do not assign a specific ethnic, community, or regional origin to an individual textile unless reliable information supports it.
Van and Hakkari are neighboring provinces in eastern and southeastern Türkiye. Van lies beside Lake Van, while Hakkari is farther south near the borders with Iraq and Iran.
RojKilim's collection includes pieces connected to these regions as well as rugs from neighboring weaving traditions. Not every rug comes from Van or Hakkari; each product page describes what is known about that specific piece.
How We Find Our Rugs
Every rug in the collection is chosen individually. We take time with each piece and describe it as accurately as the available information allows.
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Individually selected
Each rug is chosen one at a time, not ordered from mass production. The piece shown in each listing is the exact rug you receive.
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Considered carefully
We look at craftsmanship, material, condition, color, pattern, and overall character before a rug joins the collection.
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Sourced through established channels
Rugs are selected individually through sources in Van and other established channels. Each product page describes what is known about that specific piece, and we avoid claims we cannot support.
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Conservative about provenance
We describe origin, age, and tradition only when the information can be reasonably supported, and we avoid claims we cannot stand behind.
See RojKilim in Saline
Most of our available rugs are on view at Miss Mercantile Marketplace in downtown Saline. Because available pieces may change, contact us if you would like to confirm that a particular rug is currently on display.