Company History
Yahya and Meir Mehraban
This fine tradition at Mehraban started with a twelve year old young man named Meir Mehraban who worked as a retail textile salesman selling fine quality fabrics and textiles in Iran. By the time he was eighteen years old, he was already a very prominent and well known fabric merchant who gained his reputation importing fabrics from international locations as England and Japan. He would then distribute the fabrics to retailers in Isfahan and the neighboring towns and villages.
But it was through Meir Mehraban's travels to many cities, villages and rural areas of Iran that his passion for one of the most amazing and well known woven arts of the country, indeed of the world, florished. The love and appreciation that he felt immediately, all those years ago, for "Hand Made Rugs" is seen in the beauty, workmanship and care that the clients of Mehraban continue to benefit from all of these years later. That is why the story of Mehraban rugs is so special.
By the time he was 30 years old, Meir was fully involved with fine Persian rugs. Because of his extraordinary taste for rugs, he had begun to design and produce rugs that were of the quality of the finest high end Persian rugs then known, with specific designs and color combinations that he would have the top weavers produce to his specifications and taste.
Due to the high demand in the marketplace for his rugs, merchants from all over Iran, especially its capital Tehran, would travel to Isfahan to purchase his carpets. This interest encouraged him to expand his production locations not only in Isfahan, but to other rug weaving regions of Iran as well. By the time he was 36 years old, his rugs were made in forty-eight of the best rug factories, and by the most well known master wearvers, in Iran. His rugs were so popular that even merchants from other countries would go to him.
By now, Meir was recognized internationally as one of the most respected fine rug manufacturers in the world by both his customers and the rug merchants in the industry. When he was 38, he decided to move with his family to Tehran, which was the center of trade for Iran. One year after he moved there, in February 1945, Meir established Mehraban Oriental Rugs (Farshe Mehraban).
By now his company was so successful and so popular that his clientele grew to include collectors and royal families for whom he would custom make rugs according to their specific taste, size, decoration and color combinations. Soon, many palaces and mansions were covered by Mehraban rugs.
In 1952 Meir decided to bring his older son Yahya, who was then 16 years old, into the business. The talented and eager son received a private education from Meir into all the details of rug manufacturing. Meir took Yahya on his world journies to rug weaving regions and factories. Soon his own passion for the exquisite art of rugs was created in Yahya who said, "Rugs are more than just an ordinary piece of art; it's your connection between you and the heart, soul, life and imagination of the weaver."
It is no wonder that by the time he was 20 years old, Yahya was in charge of the international business, from manufacturing to export. He designed and manufactured rugs with designs and color combinations that captured and fullfilled the demand of the European and American markets. And of course, by the late 1950's Mehraban Oriental Rugs (Farshe Mehraban) was recognized as one of the leading rug manufacturers and exporters in both domestic and international marketplaces.
As it is today, rugs were always more than a business to the Mehraban family. It was always quality that mattered over quantity. As each rug that was manufactured, its progress was monitored by professionals and master weavers through each step, from selecting the best wool quality and dyes all the way to the finishing process. Because Meir believed that every household should be able to afford to have his timeless works of art in their house, he not only manufactured fine masterpieces, but quality durable rugs with affordable prices as well. Mehraban's relations with their clients was always more than a business, which is why most of their customers have come from word of mouth from their extremely satisfied clients who value the highest quality work and their reputation for honesty and excellent service.
Continuing with this wonderful family tradition, by the mid 1950's Yahya brings his own son, Samuel Mehraban, into the world of the family business. But Samuel wants to move to the United States to attend college and then to expand the company. Meir and Yahya taught Samuel about the art of rugs and the business of rugs. In November 1978, at the age of 19, Samuel flew to Los Angeles to go to college and study all aspects of the American business system. His studies were so successful that by 1983 he established a branch of the Mehraban Oriental Rugs on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood, California, right in the heart of of the design industry of Los Angeles.
As soon as Samuel introduced the Mehraban masterpieces to the finest designers and collectors in the United States, the rugs were more in demand than ever. He expanded his line of antique rugs, as he always loved antiques and primitive pieces. At the same time as he collected some of the finest antique rugs, Yahya was sending him some of the finest Persian rugs from back home. Business in the United States was so successful that by January in 1987, Yahya and the rest of the family joined Samuel in Los Angeles. With the whole family together, and father and son working with each other, the Mehraban company established the same grand reputation in the U.S. as they had established back home for both the wholesale and retail trade.
In the early 1990's, yet another generation came into the business. Soheil, the youngest son of the family, learned the rug business so well that he had the insight to connect the old world of hand made rugs with today's world of design. And, as with the generations of family in the business before him, his passion for rugs was so strong that he wanted to know and feel every detail about the production and business of rugs, so he traveled to the rug weaving regions of the world. Then, with the help and experience of his father and brother, he started designing new rugs in the fashion of antique rugs using the same concepts, design and structure of the antique rugs while updating the colors to suit today's tastes.
Today, Mehraban is one of the most reputable rug dealers in the world. They have factories in many countries including in Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China, where rugs are woven exclusively for Mehraban. Most of Mehraban's rugs use hand spun wool and natural dyes to give the same affect as an antique rug. Clients trust that they can go to Mehraban to satisfy all of their rug needs from design, to manufacture, restorations, expert cleaning and, as a member of the International Society of Appraisers, they provide expert appraisels.
Mehraban welcomes working with their loyal discerning clients of many years, and the many new customers that they meet. They cherish educating clients so that they understand the difference between a good rug and a bad rug, and the difference between a floor covering and a beautiful piece of art. They know that the difference is in the details, and since 1945 they have mastered every detail of this precious art form. And now, it is the rug created for you by Mehraban that will be a treasured work of art for you, and for the generations to come.
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