RUGS

ADIB’S GALLERY

As with any amazing tale that begins Once Upon a Time, so does the beautiful story of Adib's Rug Gallery. 

For thousands of years, the art of making Persian rugs has been passed down through generations. This intricate and exquisite craft requires patience, passion, and unparalleled skill. Its survival depends on deeply held spiritual beliefs and the dedication of rug makers like Abolfazl Adib. 

Abolfazl was born in Natanz, a town nestled in central Iran. His village, in the heart of the Zagros Mountains, was home to the shepherds whose wool was prized and the artisans whose vibrant yarns, elaborate designs, and refined weaving have continued for centuries to enchant the world. Each handwoven rug they create is a masterpiece; a testament to the ancient history, culture, and traditions that enrich their own lives.

The process of making a rug relies on diverse talents and can often take several years to complete. The patience of every rug maker never seems to fade, as they view their craft as inspired by the divine ability to create uniquely beautiful things. This inspiration has allowed this art to evolve despite the hardships of daily life. 

As the rug comes into being, great joy and pride are felt among its creators, knowing their work will endure for generations. Additionally, there is a quiet humility in every step of the process — a reverence for tradition that invites us to pause and appreciate its significance. 

The shepherd shears the lamb's wool at its peak softness in the spring, and uses water from the spring to make it shine. The hand spinner stretches wool fibers into long, smooth cords, then spins them into yarn. The dyer harvests vibrant colors from the vegetables, fruits, minerals, and plants, infusing the yarn with their brilliance. The rug designer draws motifs of delicate florals, tree of life, animals, paisleys, and prayers. Guided by these motifs, the weavers pull their yarns together, knot by knot, creating their beautiful and intricate work of art. 

Abolfazl believed in the goodness of people, the power of community, and the betterment of lives. Although his own ancestors were part of the rug-making tradition, he founded the Adib's family rug weaving business nearly a century ago in a more systematic manner, giving the rug-making families the chance to advance their craft into a full-time profession. He understood their hardships and felt a profound responsibility to carry forward their artistry and that of his ancestors. 

Dr. Hamid Adib, the son of Abolfazl, and the seventh of eight children, was young when he lost his father. He recalls his father's constant concern: "My dad knew that if he and others didn't help their community, the art of rug-making could disappear. Growing up in Iran, our home was always filled with people from neighboring villages and towns, especially the rug weavers and their families. This was my dad's way of showing respect to them and teaching his children the nobility of continuing our millennia-old ancestral craft." 

Hamid moved to Utah to study, research, and teach engineering, making academics, research and development the center of his life ... until he realized his true passion lay in the arts and in continuing his father's legacy. 

With guidance from his older brother Ray, who also owns and operates the original gallery in Walnut Creek, Hamid opened Adib's Rug Gallery in Salt Lake City, housing it in the fully restored iconic Villa Theater, embodying all their father's beliefs. 

The customer experience at Adib's is as uniquely beautiful as each of the rugs that adorn the walls and its extensive inventory. Visitors come to understand the patience required to make each rug and the joy derived from its creation. The many steps involved in this art remind us to slow down and revel in its radiance, the devotion to community and the arts that are supported and lives that are improved globally. 

Just as Abolfazl welcomed each of these artisans and their families into his home and founded a business to better their lives, Adib's today carries forward his humanitarian efforts to help others feel proud and live better. Events are held, and on-the-ground work is done to improve the well-being of people locally and in distant lands where patience, passion, and skill create an art that must never end. 

Hamid reflects, "We feel so blessed in our lives because of the foundation that my father provided us, and vital to so many rug-making communities. Adib's has grown since my dad started his efforts, but it remains true to our roots. It is our responsibility to further my dad's dream, share his story and the stories of our artisans, and be role models for our children and future generations." 

Perhaps the legacy of the Adib's is best captured in Hamid's words: “I have always been very proud of my dad and all he has done for humanity. I believe he is looking down and seeing his philosophy continuing with a big smile. And I see my brother Ray's face glowing with pride every time we gather, knowing we are fulfilling our father's dream of serving humanity." 

For thousands of years, the art of making Persian rugs has been passed down through generations. This intricate and exquisite craft requires patience, passion, and unparalleled skill. Its survival depends on deeply held spiritual beliefs, respect for tradition, and the dedication of rug makers such as the late Abolfazl Adib. 

Abolfazl Adib was born in Natanz, a town nestled in the mountainous region of central Iran. He believed in the goodness of people, the power of community, and the betterment of lives. Although his ancestors were part of the rug-making tradition, Abolfazl founded Adib's family rug weaving business nearly a century ago in a more systematic manner, giving rug-making families the chance to advance their craft into a full-time profession. He understood their hardships and felt a profound responsibility to carry forward their artistry and that of his ancestors. 

His village, in the heart of the Zagros Mountains, was home to shepherds whose wool was prized and artisans whose vibrant yarns, elaborate designs, and refined weaving have enchanted the world. Each hand-woven rug they created was a masterpiece, a testament to the ancient history, culture, and traditions that enriched their lives. 

Dr. Hamid Adib, son of Abolfazl and owner of Adib's Rug Gallery, recalls his father's constant concern: "My dad knew that if he and others didn't help their community, the art of rug-making could disappear. Growing up in Iran, our home was always filled with people from neighboring villages and towns, especially the rug weavers and their families. This was my dad's way of showing respect to them and teaching his own children the nobility of continuing our millennia-old ancestral craft." 

Hamid, the seventh of eight children, was relatively young when he lost his father. He moved to Utah to study, research, and teach engineering, making academics, research and development the center of his life, until he realized his true passion lay in the arts and in continuing his father's legacy. 

With guidance from his older brother Ray, who also owns the original gallery in Walnut Creek, California, Hamid opened Adib's gallery in Salt Lake City. The iconic Villa Theatre, restored to its original glory, now serves as the home of Adib's Rug Gallery, embodying all their father's beliefs. The customer experience at Adib's is as uniquely beautiful as each rug that adorns its walls. Artisans are represented with dignity and celebrated. 

Visitors come to understand the patience required to make each rug and the joy derived from its creation. The many steps involved in this art remind us to slow down and revel in its radiance and the devotion to community as the arts are supported and lives are improved globally. 

The process of making a rug relies on diverse talents and can take several years to complete. The patience of every rug maker never seems to fade, as they view their craft as inspired by the divine ability to create uniquely beautiful things. This inspiration has allowed the art to evolve despite the hardships of daily life. As the rug comes into being, great joy and pride are felt among its creators, knowing their work will endure for generations. 

There is also a quiet humility in every step of the rug-making process — a reverence for tradition that invites us to pause and appreciate its significance. 

The shepherd shears the lamb's wool at its peak softness in the spring and uses water from the spring to make it shine. The hand spinner stretches wool fibers into long, smooth cords, then spins them into yarn. The dyer harvests vibrant colors from vegetables, fruits, minerals and plants, infusing the yarn with their brilliance. The rug designer draws motifs of delicate florals: trees of life, animals, paisleys, and many symbolic patterns. Guided by these motifs, the weavers pull their yarns together, knot by knot, creating their beautiful and intricate work of art.. 

Just as Abolfazl welcomed each of these artisans and their families into his home and founded a business to better their lives, Adib's today carries forward his efforts to help others feel proud and live better. Events are held, and on-the-ground work is done to improve the well-being of people locally and in distant lands where patience, passion and skill create an art that must never end. 

“We feel so blessed in our lives because of the foundation that my father has provided us, and vital to so many rug-making communities,” Hamid says. “Adib's has grown since my dad started his efforts, but it remains true to our roots. It is our responsibility to further my dad's dream, share his story and the stories of our artisans, and be role models for our children." 

Perhaps the legacy of Adib's is best captured in Hamid's words: “I have always been very proud of my dad and all he has done for the hand-woven rug industry and humanity. I believe he is looking down and seeing his philosophy continuing with a big smile. And I see my brother Ray's face glowing with pride every time we gather, knowing we are fulfilling our father's dream of keeping this rich tradition alive and serving humanity.”