Termeh (

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

: ترمه) is a type of valuable and traditional fabric, often made from

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

, cashmere, or

wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

, and featuring intricate traditional patterns. This fabric is produced in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

and

Kashmir Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...

and is highly popular due to its delicate and complex designs. The exact origin of termeh is uncertain, and researchers are divided on whether its production first started in Iran or Kashmir. Generally, Iranian designs like paisley were introduced to

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

during the Safavid period and had a significant influence on the design of Kashmiri shawls. In Iran, termeh production initially started in

Kerman Kerman (; ) is a city in the Central District (Kerman County), Central District of Kerman County, Kerman province, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. History Kerman was founded as a def ...

and later reached its peak in

Yazd Yazd (; ) is a city in the Central District of Yazd County, Yazd province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. At the 2016 census, its population was 529,673. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is rec ...

. In the past, these fabrics were used by the Zoroastrians of Yazd for wedding garments and other traditional attire. From the early 19th century, challenges such as heavy taxes and shortages of raw materials led to a decline in termeh production. However, during the

Qajar era The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic peoples, Turkic origin,Cyrus G ...

, it remained a valuable and prestigious commodity. Old termehs were often made from hand-spun wool and dyed using natural dyes. These fabrics were relatively thick, as many threads were used in their weaving. Each piece of termeh was woven in narrow sections and then carefully sewn together by skilled artisans to appear seamless. Famous termeh patterns include paisley and Shah Abbasi flower. Each design had a specific meaning and played an important role in Iranian culture and art. During the Qajar period, termeh was used in the clothing of kings and courtiers and even gifted to foreign rulers. Additionally, this fabric was used to make hats, robes, gowns, and women's dresses. With the introduction of Jacquard looms in the 1970s, traditional termeh production gradually declined and was replaced by machine-made production. Today, machine-made termehs are mostly produced in Yazd and are used as fine fabric for various products such as curtains,

prayer rugs A prayer rug or prayer mat is a piece of fabric, sometimes a pile carpet, used by Muslims, some Christians, especially in Orthodox Christianity and some followers of the Baháʼí Faith during prayer. In Islam, a prayer mat is placed between th ...

, and scarves. Even now, this fabric holds a special place in significant events, including weddings and funerals, and is regarded as an important part of Iran's cultural heritage.

References

{{Reflist History of Asian clothing Iranian clothing Persian embroidery Persian handicrafts Persian words and phrases Textile arts of Persia

See also

References