Najaf Rugs

More Pattern. More Texture. More Colour.

This is why tribal rugs are unlike anything else.

That edge is not wool. It is goat hair, placed there with intention. In the days when weavers lived a nomadic life in tents, rugs like this were laid at the entry. If a snake came near, the coarse goat hair would stop it in its tracks. Snakes do not like the texture, so they turn around and leave 🐍

A weaver had a need and the rug became the solution. Genius, right?

Some patterns fade. The Oushak keeps getting reinterpreted 🌸

The Oushak weaving tradition began in the small Turkish town of Uşak in the 15th century, known from the very beginning for its soft, muted palette and large-scale botanical designs.

What makes the style distinctive is its restraint. The pattern is given room to breathe across the field, nothing crowded, nothing competing. That considered use of space is exactly why the style has stayed relevant for over 500 years and why it continues to find its place in contemporary interiors today.

Afghan weavers adopted the tradition and made it their own, tightening the knot structure and deepening the palette.

Browse our collection of Oushak rugs & runners on our website najaf.com.au

Najaf opened his rug shop on High Street, Prahran, one of the most prominent streets in Melbourne. He had no money and no stock. Another rug seller told him to close the doors but he did not. In fact, he proved them wrong.

To be a successful business owner, he says, you need confidence and you need to enjoy the competition. The ones who lose are the ones who are scared.

His story was too remarkable to go untold. Co-written with Robert Hillman, his books, The Rug Maker of Mazar-e-Sharif and The Honey Thief, captured his escape from war and his determination to build a new life in Australia. The Rug Maker became a bestseller and was included on the VCE curriculum for six years, read by thousands of students across the country.

In 2007, Najaf was granted Australian citizenship, recognised by the Mayor of Stonnington at a Town Hall ceremony where his work was showcased to the city he now calls home.

But the business was never just about building a life for himself. As Najaf Rugs grew, so did his commitment to those he had left behind. He dedicated 100% of his book royalties to founding AusGhan Aid, an organisation providing healthcare and education in Northern Afghanistan. Since 2011, it has funded hospitals, supported schools, and changed countless lives.

This is the foundation everything else is built on ❤️