Field Work x John Ahmad Rugs

John Ahmad is a third generation Afghani-American rug curator, collector, and seller based in Los Angeles whose family has been in the business for 100 years. His showroom is on Robertson Blvd, right in the heart of some of the most prominent home-furnishing stores in California, and therefore, the United States. But what you will find with John, his collection, and his approach to how he curates product is what separates him from the rest - this is a long, long way away from a Direct to Consumer Instagram brand experience.

One of my favorite parts of being part of the creative community in home design and renovation in Southern California are the people I get to meet and collaborate with. From designers, to fellow business owners passionate about their craft, to contractors with only the highest standard of execution. This is the case with John Ahmad.

I met John a 2 or 3 years ago while walking the aisles of the Long Beach “Flea” Market (Long Beach Antique Market) looking for no thing in particular. I was working on a family home renovation, and knew rugs would be in my future, and the unique items in his booth caught my eye and caused me to stop. After only a few minutes of talking to John, I could tell he was not your average rug vendor. I took his card and stored that interaction away in the back of my mind, knowing that I would be in touch with him again down the road, and a few years later, I was.

My next experience with John when I called him up to finally get the rug I knew I would need was no different than that first day we met outdoors in Long Beach. He was enthusiastic (not pushy), knowledgeable, and wanted to find me exactly what I needed - which we did.

As is always the case when experimenting with new materials or methods of building product here at Field Work Design & Craft, I rarely implement or recommend something from the Field Work platform without putting it in my own home. John shares many of my personal business philosophies around quality, craftsmanship, and dedication, so my recommendation comes well-founded.

As quite a few of our custom window treatment clients are in the decorating phase of renovations and remodels, rugs tend to go hand in had with our work for them. If you are looking for something special, let us know as Field Work clients get special pricing on John’s products. Or simply reach out to him directly - he is responsive and professional and you will be in good hands.

Enjoy learning a bit more about John Ahmad Rugs in the interview below. His connection and dedication to a rug industry that is truly an historic one runs deep.

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How long has your family been in the custom rug business?

My Great grandfather started the business in Afghanistan in the 1920s . So 100 years now. 

What is special about the rugs you sell vs. what someone might come across from a big brand?

Each rug is curated and custom selected by my family. We go through inventories around the world to compile our collection carefully.

A lot of our rugs are hard to find and in mint condition, even being over 100 years old .  

Where do your rugs come from, and who is making them?

Our rugs are made from all around the world. Our new rugs are manufactured in Afghanistan and Pakistan using only the best quality Afghani wool . Also our artisans practice 4 generations of weaving techniques , Dying techniques , and wool spinning techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.  

What is the most interesting, or are the 3 most interesting rugs you have right now?

I have a beautiful mint condition Chinese Nichols Art Deco Yellow rug that is absolutely stunning and rare. I have an 18th Century Souf Persian Kashan rug that is literally made from gold thread using 3-D embossed weaving techniques. And I have a stunning mint condition Emerald green oversized Agra rug from india that is quite the piece to look at.  

What is your business philosophy any how do you curate your products to reflect that?

My business philosophy is that I have a duty to the people of the world to give them the best information on rugs and provide them with the best type of rugs and artwork for their homes that they will not only appreciate, but also appreciate the artist who wove the rug. It's my job to put good rugs in good homes. But some rugs are unavailable to the mass public because of their prices, so I’m always working to get clients rugs in that upper echelon at reasonable prices. That is a big part of what I do.

What is special about the rug business in LA and the types of products you can find here?

The rug business in LA is huge. Within a 3 mile radius of me I have the 10 biggest rug dealers in the world. Numerous ones with multiple locations here, New York, and London. So I definitely have a lot to complete with. But what that does is just lift up my game. That means I have to get some of the best rugs on the market and at the same time be able to offer amazing prices, given that we are a small business in comparison to the bigger guys up the street. I know one day that we'll get there, but I still love being small, having our intimate one-on-ones with our customers and finding each one of them a gem in our store.

What is your favorite part about what you do, the products you sell, and who you work with?

My favorite part about what I do is I get to work on my father. I get to see him and bond with him daily. He teaches me so much. I get to know more and more about him everyday. I wasn't around him everyday I was in the corporate world stuck for 17 years. Unfortunately, with the loss of my brother last year, It forced me to permanently leave my career in a car business and give my family 100%. I also get to hang out with my two dogs everyday, Louie and Buddy. They are the stars of the store. Best rug models ever. Kind of high maintenance, too lol.

My favorite part also is just learning about rugs. The more and more I find out the more fascinating it becomes. I have such a passion for it now where when I see a rug it literally gives me the same feeling as seeing a nice Porsche on the street or a beautiful sunset. Is it the feeling that you get when you see a piece of artwork that's lasted for generations. And something that people in your family did before you and were great at.