YAZD – Yazd’s 70-year-old landmark, Janub Spinning and Textile Factory, is undergoing a remarkable transformation.
Once an important industrial hub in central Iran, the abandoned factory has been restored and repurposed as a museum showcasing traditional textiles, carpets, and weaving techniques.
The factory was built in the early 1950s by Reza Sarafzadeh, an Iranian parliamentarian and prominent merchant, and was one of the most important textile producers in the region. At its peak, it employed 700 workers and produced 900 bundles of fabric a year. The factory’s unique shape, inspired by Yazd’s local architecture, remains a testament to the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Restoration of the factory’s main building, which spans 6,000 square meters, began in the summer of 2023. The Culture and Museums Department of the Mostazafan Foundation took on the project, which is currently 90 percent complete. The first phase of the museum, named Tar-o-Pud (meaning “warp and weft”), is expected to open by the end of the year.
The museum will display a comprehensive collection of carpets and textiles dating back centuries. Highlights include carpets from the post-Qajar period. A rare textile from the Buyid dynasty to the late Qajar dynasty. Traditional handloom crafts from the desert, central and southern regions of Iran, to name a few. Additionally, the restored Qajar royal tent will be prominently displayed.
Change of ownership
After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the ownership of the factory was transferred to the Mostazafan Foundation, the Islamic Revolution Foundation, based on a court order. However, the facility continued to operate for the next 20 years before being abandoned. In 2015, the city of Yazd purchased the land from the foundation with plans to preserve and reuse the historic site.
interactive experience
The museum recreates a traditional weaving workshop and provides an immersive experience with a fully functioning carpet loom. Visitors can also interact with the artisans and participate in the weaving process. Some looms will be restored using 180-year-old designs, bringing back forgotten weaving techniques, including some that were used to make rare textiles.
Researchers overseeing the effort told Tehran Times that 13 looms and workshops have been rebuilt to their original specifications. “Some techniques that don’t exist anymore, such as labafi-buffy, will be revived here.”
Evidence of industrial and cultural heritage
The museum also displays equipment and machinery from the time the factory was in operation. Some machines were sold after the factory closed, but some are preserved for display.
Additionally, the factory’s oral history, an important record of the factory’s role in Iran’s textile industry, will be documented and shared as part of the museum’s narrative.
architectural significance
Located along Ayatollah Kashani Street in Yazd, opposite Seventh of Tir Park and near the Museum of Light and Illumination (Qasr-e-Ayene), the Janub factory boasts impressive architectural features.
The factory’s oddly shaped vaulted ceilings, intricate window frames, and solid brickwork reflect the timeless craftsmanship of the Pahlavi era.
new chapter
This textile factory, which has been abandoned for decades, aims to become a cultural beacon that celebrates Iran’s rich tradition in textiles and textiles. As the project nears completion, Yazd is poised to welcome visitors from across Iran and abroad, offering them the opportunity to explore the artistry, history and innovation that defined its industrial past.
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