The Need to Tell the Story of Persian Carpets with Modern Technologies
At a one-day seminar on “The Application of Modern Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in the Export and E-commerce of Handwoven Persian Carpets”, Engineer Hossein Bidabadi, researcher and digital trade consultant, emphasized the necessity of adopting modern technologies and producing targeted content to preserve the global position of Persian carpets.
He pointed out that global markets today make decisions based on data:
“Without smart tools, even the highest product quality cannot guarantee success in competition,” he stated.
According to Bidabadi, one of the missing links in Persian carpet exports is the lack of professional and multimedia digital content. He stressed:
“Quality alone is not enough; global markets are looking for the story of authenticity, identity, and artistry hidden in Persian carpets. Unfortunately, our competitors have long used storytelling and digital marketing to brand carpets under their country’s name, while many of these products originally come from Iran.”
He introduced History Marketing (storytelling based on history and cultural heritage) as a key strategy for presenting Persian carpets and suggested creating an identity card for each carpet, including its place of weaving, weaver’s name, technique, design story, and cultural background.
Bidabadi added that producing professional content is a responsibility of the government and the National Carpet Center in order to ensure coherent and strategic storytelling.
He also described the global shift towards coarser weaves, simpler designs, and smaller sizes as a new opportunity for Iran:
“This trend is not a threat; it is a chance to redefine Persian carpets as artistic, cultural, and luxury products, provided we preserve authenticity while applying modern technologies and creative storytelling.”
Finally, he warned:
“If we do not act now, rival countries will continue to sell Persian carpet brands under their own names. The future of this national art-industry depends on the intelligent use of technology and data.”