The one should agree that it is nice to see when a piece of your country's culture finds fans among residents of neighboring countries and even continents. 

This is what happened to the Turkmen national carpet – the pride of the Turkmen and a symbol of the thousand-year history of the people. The art of handmade carpet weaving is preserved to this day. Craftswomen from Turkmenistan continue to weave carpets that are distinguished by their unique beauty and durability. 

In addition, in December 2019, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage included traditional carpet weaving in Turkmenistan in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind.

Turkmenportal “surfed” the Internet in search of evidence confirming the popularity of the Turkmen carpet around the world.

Let's start with the most recent fact – in January 2023, former Irish UFC champion, mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor shared a picture on his social network page where Internet users immediately recognized the Turkmen carpet.

In early January 2022, Russian artist Feduk released a video for the song “Dancing in the Kitchen”. The video was shot in Kazakhstan. The clip involves two locations – an apartment and the decoration of a room in a snowy forest. If you carefully watch the clip, you can notice a Turkmen carpet on the floor.

In the clip of the Italian duo – rapper Fedez and singer Noemi for the song L'amore eternity (translated as “Eternal Love”), a Turkmen carpet falls into the frame.

In 2014, ex-chief creative director of the Burberry fashion house Christopher Bailey presented the men's autumn-winter collection. Accessories deserve special attention of the show, namely bags made of various carpets, including Turkmen ones.  

Photo: vogue.com

A 2005 photo circulated on the internet, where Angelina Jolie plays with her first adopted son Maddox, also shows a Turkmen carpet. But not everyone knows that the filming for the June issue of Vanity Fair magazine took place not at the Hollywood actress' house, but at the Ritz Hotel. By the way, the photo shoot was conducted by American portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz, known for her work with many world celebrities.  

Turkmen carpets are also used as an interior element in the following films:

The Godfather 2 (1974) – starring Al Pacino and Robert de Niro.

The Taming of the Scoundrel (1980) – with Adriano Celentano and Ornella Muti. 

Far and Away (1992) is a film starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

I Have You Alone (1993) is a Russian film with Alexander Zbruev and Marina Neelova.

From the Cradle to the Grave (2003) is an action movie starring Jet Li and Mark Dacascas. 

Joy (2015) – with Jennifer Lawrence as the founder of a business dynasty.

The American guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) had a weakness for oriental carpets. In his London apartment, where the musician lived in the late 60s, there are a lot of textiles and carpets, among them the national Turkmen carpet. Today, the apartment located at 23 Brook Street has been turned into a museum in memory of the iconic guitarist.   

Photo: styleinsider.com.ua

A few more shots:

Paul McCartney (the Beatles).

Photo: beatles.ru

Miles Davis (1926-1991) was an American jazz trumpeter and band leader who had a significant influence on the development of music of the XX century. Davis was at the origin of many styles and trends in jazz.

“Abbey Road” Recording Studio is a complex of studios in London, where such legendary rock bands as The Beatles, Duran Duran, Mike Oldfield, The Shadows, Pink Floyd, Oasis, U2, Keane and Travis were recorded.

Photo: mobile-review.com

A shot from the promo video White Christmas (2018) by British rock musician Eric Clapton.

At a concert by Lee Ritenauer (2005), an American jazz guitarist and composer, a Turkmen carpet lies on the stage.

Resources: ru.kinorium.com; muz-tv.ru; vogue.com; archive.vanityfair.com; kinomania.ru; styleinsider.com.ua; ru.pinterest.com; beatles.ru; mobile-review.com

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