He city of Hereke is about 55 km east of Istanbul, Türkiye. It is about halfway between Istanbul and the city of Izmit. Hereke is located at the northern edge of Izmit Bay, on the Sea of Marmara.

The name “Hereke” comes from “Herakles” (Hercules). In ancient times Hereke was well-known for its castle. The archaeological ruins of Hereke castle remain.

There are several features that distinguish Hereke carpets:

     1. Origin
Genuine Hereke carpets are only made in Türkiye.

     2. Quality:
Hereke carpets are recognized as the finest handmade carpets in the world.
There are several reasons for this:
Genuine Hereke carpets are 100% handmade.
The fineness of knotting in Hereke carpets is superior.

     3. Technique:
Hereke carpets are only constructed using the Turkish 
double knot.
The preparation of the loom in Hereke carpet production is 
different than other techniques worldwide.

     4. Materials:
Only the finest silk from Bursa is used in our Hereke silk
carpet production.

Hereke carpets issued a Certificate of Authenticity by the Hereke Carpet Weavers Association are guaranteed 100% handmade Turkish Hereke products.

 The Ottoman Empire never extended to China and there has never been a Hereke Imperial Factory in China. Chinese imitation “Hereke” rugs are not the same as genuine Turkish Hereke carpets. These imitations do not use the same production techniques, nor do they use the same quality materials as genuine Turkish Hereke carpets. Most importantly, Chinese imitations are not guaranteed and certified by the Hereke Carpet Weavers Association as 100% handmade. Authenticity can be verified at herekecarpets.com.

There are two main types of knots used in all handmade carpet production:
The Turkish Knot, also known as the Gördes knot or double knot and the Persian Knot, also known as the Senneh knot or single knot.

The Turkish knot is symmetrical. The knots that form the pile of the carpet wrap around two separate warps and come together between these two warps.

Hereke silk carpets are made with 100% pure silk from Bursa.
Hereke wool carpets are made with highest quality wool on cotton warps and wefts.

Silk used in Hereke carpet production comes from Bursa, Türkiye.

 Natural dyes and chemical dyes both perform the same function. Both types of dyes stain the fibers of the material through chemical reactions. Natural dyes are created using plants, minerals, or animal extracts to produce various colors. Natural dyes are generally not light-fast or water-fast. Over time, products made with natural dyes will fade or “mellow,” expecially when exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is impossible to create a dye which is completely impervious to radiation. Because the dyes are not completely fixed, natural dyes also tend to bleed or shift when wet, which can pose a problem, even with professional cleaning. Chemical dyes are man-made and are synthesized from chemicals. Chromium dyes are light-fast and water-fast. These dyes permit a wider range of colors and maintain uniformity from one dye batch to the next. Chromium dyes are safe to use on wool and silk and do not damage the natural fibers. The natural silk (or wool) fibers, made of proteins, retain the dye through hydrogen bonding between the polypeptide linkages and the dye. Chromium dyes have proven themselves over many decades of use and are the standard in handmade carpet production.

Depending on the size of the carpet, there are several ways to transport or ship your purchase. Hereke silk carpets may be transported in tubular containers provided by Hereke Carpet Weavers Association members. These tubes are ideal for both transport and long-term storage. If you are travelling from Türkiye, most of our carpets can also be folded to fit inside your carry-on luggage. Large silk and wool carpet orders are normally wrapped in water-proof plastic containers, which are then be placed in sealed wooden crates. Shipments can be made worldwide via international courier (e.g. DHL, UPS, Fed-Ex) or air-freight. Contact us for large order shipment details.

Whether to fold or roll a carpet depends mainly on the size of the carpet and the quality of its construction. Properly rolling a carpet is generally recognized as the best method, but may not be practical in many cases. Hereke carpets are constructed using the Turkish double knot. Hereke carpets are very sturdy and may be folded or rolled without harming the carpet.

Hereke carpets should be professionally cleaned every 10 to 15 years, depending on conditions.

 Hereke carpets should only be washed by professional cleaners. Please contact us.

There are many ways to display your Hereke silk rug. 
Of course, a carpet may be displayed on the floor. You may also hang the rug for display on a wall. We offer a simple display system for hanging Hereke silk rugs. You may also place a rug over a table, underneath the glass of a coffee table, etc.
Hereke silk carpets make a stunning display when placed in a lightbox with a flourescent or LED light source placed behind. The display options are only limited by your imagination.

This depends on the size, material, and fineness of knotting. Please see below.

The number of knots in a Hereke silk carpet is calculated according to the average number of knots in a square centimeter. Flor covering Hereke silk carpets have 8X8=64 or 10X10=100 knots/sq. cm. In smaller size wall hanging pieces the fineness of knotting may be 12×12, 14×14, 20×20 or even 40X40 knots in fine Hereke silk carpets.The total number of knots can be calculated by first determining the total area of the rug.Multiply the width or the rug by the length (in centimeters), then multiply the average number of knots per square centimeter. A Hereke silk rug one square meter in area, with 100 knots per square centimeter will have 1,000,000 (one million) knots. A skilled weaver can produce a carpet with 1 million knots in about a year.

The avarage number of knots in Hereke wool and wool&silk carpets with 300,000-400,000 knots per sqm are stil much finer than others. A regular wool handmade carpet contains 40,000-90,000 knots per sqm.