Armenians have been weaving carpets from time immemorial, yet you hardly meet a young carpet weaver like Nelly Ananyan as it is believed to be an old fashioned craft. Nelly is the youngest carpet weaver in Armenia. Still in her mid-20s, she has already founded her own carpet weaving studio, where she offers unique weaving experiences as well as professional classes. She was fascinated by old Armenian carpets as a little girl; she remembers staring at carpets and playing with colourful threads. She began weaving as a hobby, joining a small club in her local community, but a few years later she understood it would be her career. She describes carpet weaving as meditative: “While weaving I think of small details and concentrate on each knot,” she says.
Nelly Ananyan
