A carpet, an inseparable part of Tajiks'
life tenor, was one of the mostly widely spread, traditional
and deeply national kinds of applied art during centuries.
National notion of beauty combined harmoniously with functional
assignment. A carpet occupied an important place in ornamentation
of dwelling, in rituals. Presenting new carpets to marrying
couples on a wedding-day they used to say: - Let your children
be growing up playing on this carpet. A traditional Tajik
family usually cares to have floor carpets, runners, door
curtains, small threshold strips, small carpets for praying
woven from sheep yarn dyed with natural stuffs. The distinguished
feature of classical Tajik carpets is an encircled composition
with a wide smart fringe along a perimeter and a central
field with one or several symmetrically arranged rosettes
inside. Alongside with the decorative motives common for
the entire Moslem Orient carpet patterns included depictions
whose proto-images can be found in local flora: willow,
cypress, blossoming rose, tulip, pomegranate fruit. Ornamentation
of colors was based on contrasting hues. After the annexation
of Central Asia to Russia the extended market promoted the
intensified development of carpet-weaving, traditional decoration
was enriched with new tracery, sometimes eclectically borrowed
from Russian wares.
With the establishment of the Soviet power in Tajikistan
the carpet production was curtailed in volume as the structure
of population employment changed greatly and the number
of carpet-makers in rural areas diminished. However, when
in 1960 Kairakkoom carpet production association had been
launched the situation changed - carpet manufacturing was
put on an industrial basis. Today "Kairakkoom Carpets"
opened joint stock company is a manifold enterprise, it
produces semi-woolen and woolen yearn, carpets and carpet
wares, cotton threads out of filaments and cotton fabrics,
woolen blankets, polypropylene film threads and consumers
goods including bags for dry substances and nets for fruits
- vegetables; there is also a shop on washing dirty rough
wool. The enterprise is equipped with technology appliances
from Germany, Italy, Holland, Japan, Poland, Russia, Uzbekistan
and China. "Kairakkoom Carpets" JSC includes a
spinning factory with dyeing production; a weaving factory
on woolen carpets manufacturing with a new weaving loom
of model STM-640/1 having electronic steering, "Schenherr"
firm production (Germany); a carpet factory putting floor
coverages.
The enterprise has a great deal of technical elaborations,
it is a possessor of a number of patents for invention.
Here for the first time there was elaborated the structure
of water-and-air-proof tarpaulin of 3 meters in width and
a woolen carpet made out of a weft pure woolen thread and
technically processed yarn. Now the enterprise is conducting
a test for obtaining a woolen carpet in seven-colors-gamut.
Professional painters collaborate with highly-qualified
masters of carpet-making; the results being of superb productivity.
Having preserved the traditions of Tajik carpet-making formed
in the course of centuries, its technological and ornamental
peculiarities they started to enrich the experience of skilled
folk makers with the principles of Russian and European
carpet-weaving. Using widely modern patterns and colorful
combinations they observed strictly a harmonious unity of
colors and forms. It is that same unity which imparts Oriental
daintiness and specificity to Kairakkoom wares which are
always distinguished among the produce of other CIS carpet
combines.
International recognition of Tajik carpets, prestigious
prizes won at exhibitions and competitions testify to it.
in 1996 "Kairakkoom Carpets" JSC was awarded "Gold
Globe" prize for the development of home economy and
integration into world economics. In 1999 the enterprise
was conferred "Europe Arc -99" prize for the distinction
in corporative image and quality. In 2000 "Platina
Star" was granted in Geneva (Switzerland) for superior
quality. In May 2001 at BID international convention "Diamond
Business Prestige Award" - Summit Quality prize - was
gained for business prestige.
Quoting Dodokhon Gaibov, director of Sughd viloyat Center
for standardization, metrology and certification, carpet
wares are manufactured pursuant to State Standard 284 1580
"Coverages and Carpet Wares Woven by Machines".
Here all standardized norms are observed, and especially,
the requirements of article 1 of the Law "On Standardization"
being to the following effect: "Standardization is
carried into effect in order to ensure eco-friendliness
of produce for life, health and property, environmental
protection, and its quality in compliance with functional
assignment, development level of science, technique and
technology, competitive capacities in the world market".
All "KC" JSC produce has a certificate of origin
validated by RT Chamber of Commerce and industry, a hygienic
certificate of RT Ministry of health service, a certificate
of conformity with "Tajikstatestandard".
By the way, over the latest time our compatriots started
to acquire light and cheap foreign carpets imported to the
country. They are bought as presents for friends, the newly-wed,
jubileers. But our national tradition urges to buy carpets
for one's own family and children which can be handed over
from one generation to another, they should bear implied
patterns and be stout. "At the present time all markets
of Tajikistan are saturated with the carpets of Turkish
and Iranian production", - Dodokhon Gaibov goes on.
Nobody can say for sure whether these importeed carpets
have respective certificates. Still, pursuant to article
13 of the Law "On Produce Certification" within
the frames of contracts (treaties) on delivery of produce
to the Republic of Tajikistan liable to compulsory certification
it is stipulated that a certificate and a sign of conformity
with established requirements should be available. These
certificates should be given out and acknowledged by authorized
organs of Tajikistan. Certificates or documents validating
their acknowledgement are submitted to custom's bodies together
with shipment customs declaration, those papers should serve
as a rationale for having a permit to import commodities
into RT territory. If there is no document certifying eco-friendliness
of the produce imported import must be forbidden until the
question on certification is settled; foreign certificate
is to be recognized by Tajikstatestandard.
Moreover, according to article 14 of the Law "On State
Sanitary Surveillance of RT" the produce purchased
abroad ought to respond to sanitary rules and international
norms of eco-friendliness for humans. Enterprises, organizations
and citizens effectuating conclusion of treaties for delivery
and realization of such produce in RT are obliged to ensure
the requirements of the articles to be followed.
"I am amazed at the fact that when our goods are exported
hygienic standard is required by all means, but when goods
are imported customs officers often don't demand such documents",
- tells Abdujalol Jabborov, chief sanitary doctor of Sughd
viloyat. All the commodities coming from outside, carpets
and carpet wares inclusive, should be obligatorily subjected
to microbiologic, chemical and radiological examination
in order to ascertain presence or absence of recidives,
i.e.: 1) microbes; 2) poisonous chemicals; 3) radiology
pollution. Dye-substances are liable to especially thorough
analysis, a hygienic certificate may be given out only provided
there are no negative and harmful components. There is an
inventory of dye-substances permitted for usage. And, at
last, we must protect consumers' rights. We understand that
due to penury and low educational level our people acquire
cheaper goods being unaware of their harm for health. Very
often synthetic coverages and carpets being non eco-friendly
are imported.
These words are upheld by the deputy chairman of the customs'
managerial office over Sughd viloyat Sattor Gadoyev: "No
few low quality commodities being not in conformity with
state standards enter our territory. Firstly, these commodities
are brought in an unofficial way, through smuggling. Secondly,
among the goods having a quality certificate there may be
bad produce. Out of one container only 3 or 4 articles of
people's welfare and informativity qualitative local production
will supersede non-qualitative imported one".
As competent experts confirmed, Kairakkkoom carpets and
carpet wares undergo all requisite laboratory examinations,
they are in conformity with standard and eco-friendliness
for people's health.
The collective of one of the most powerful enterprises of
Tajikistan is sure of tomorrow. The leadership of "Kairakkoom
Carpets" acts with a design for vistas. For today they
have already settled the questions on joint ventures with
the Chinese People's Republic - on furniture assemblage
and subsequent production of soft furniture on the base
of the combine - and with Uzbekistan - on production of
woolen and semi-woolen yarn, carpet and carpet wares. Provided
the outfits are launched 500 people more will be placed
in jobs. There functions a joint venture on washing natural
wool with "Sharif" Assoc. Ltd. in Sarband, Khatlon
viloyat. the enterprise got down to the production of carpets
out of silk threads unpracticed before. These carpets are
distinguished with durability, originality; being eco-friendly
they enjoy great demands in the world market. They concluded
a treaty on carpets delivery with enterprising circles of
the USA. In the offing there is a development of hand-made
carpets. The produce is realized in Russia, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkey, Uzbekistan, China, USA and other countries.
Carpet-makers are also sure of tomorrow. For today about
3000 people representing 17 nationalities work here. There
are 1600 women. All of them perceive care displayed by administration.
Quoting the chief of the department on human resources and
social issues Saodat Pulotova, the leadership does a lot
for organization of labor and rest of the staff. - "All
workers are provided with a working uniform. There is a
departmental polyclinic. Special buses bring people to the
combine and back home. Average salary is 80 somoni; average
schedule of work being 15 days a month. Annually 350-400
workers spend their leaves in "Shifo" dispensary.
320 children annually have their rest in "Zuhal"
recovery complex. All labor veterans, 800 pensioners are
rendered free of charge medical service in "Zuhal"
dispensary. 350 workers whose service record exceeds 25
years enjoy medical service at home. On holidays tables
are laid for pensioners. In the course of years we train
our human resources. Annually over 20 carpet-makers' children
enter viloyat higher schools".
Due to joint labor of workers, engineers, technicians "Kairakkoom
Carpets" JSC on having entered the XXI-st century enjoys
good name and traditions which were forming in the course
of years, high technical and professional potential promising
a successful vista for the enterprise in future.
Quoting general director Bahodur Azimov, only the things
done with love turn into the goods of high quality bringing
joy to people. Our motto is: Coloring. Quality. Beauty".
Let Tajik carpets always bring joy, mirth, health to their
customers, let them embellish people's homes all over the
world.
