Persian cloak weaving is one of the main handicrafts which has been recorded as being high-quality and elegance. The site of making this craft has been in the cloak weaving studios of Mohammadieh which had been dug in the earth. There were more than five hundred looms active and running in these underground studios, in time of the industry’s flourishment.
Until one hundred years ago, cloak used to be a popular clothing specially among the old and middle-aged Iranian men. Therefore, there has been some effort to produce different types of this clothing to meet different needs and tastes of people. In this way, the weaver paid a lot of attention to the color, fabric quality and weaving method. For example, they wove a certain kind of cloak for each social stratum. The elegant and light cloaks for merchants, woolen cloaks for farmers and thick ones for shepherds and camel drivers. The whole manufacturing process and raw materials of this craft were carried out by hand and the woven fabric was only used as the winter cloak. Different phases of weaving cloak are preparing wools, beating, dying, spinning, weaving, cleaning, ironing and sewing.
The life span of each product is between 30 to 40 years depending on the conditions and if they could prevent it from being moth-eaten.
This craft had been popular for many years in the Mohammadieh district in Naeen city and became flourished during Safavid empire. It was under the reign of Safavids when the cloak weaving products were exported to other cities of Iran and even to Iraq and Syria. The weaving of cloak in Naeen was proceeded in time of Qajar when, in 1350 HJ, the export rate of this products reached 300 to 9000 rolls per year. However, due to the inclination to the western culture during Pahlavi era, the cloak weaving craft was declined. This special kind of cloak, in terms of raw material, weaving method and quality is restricted to Naeen and it has no counterpart in the country.
The Collection of Cloak Weaving in Naeen was registered in the list of Iran National Heritage in 1384/11/9. (No. 14161)
Address: Mohammadieh District, Meydan Bala District, next to the Seyed Mohammad Ali Cistern.