Turkish Carpets

During prayers, followers of Islam typically make use of prayer rugs. As a result, the sheer numbers of people who follow Islam, as well as the use of prayer rug formatted carpeting in mosques, created an carpet production capability on a very large scale. Carpets can vary from simple designs to very elaborate pieces of art. Geometric patterns mixed with representations of flowers, leaves, etc., form common themes.
The first two images show prayer rugs in the Sultanahmet Camii/Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
Carpets are also widely used in hotels, homes, and even in the long distance buses in Turkey. In mosques you do NOT wear shoes. The carpets provide a warm cushion for your feet.
The third photo shows carpets at the exit door from the Sultanahmet Camii.Blue mosque. The style is similar to designs sold in North America, regardless of country of manufacture and are not laid out as prayer rugs. Note also that visitors are stepping outside before putting their shoes back on.
Although most of the carpet shops in Istanbul use fairly contemporary settings for selling their wares, occasionally you find a more rustic shop, such as one we found in an alley on the north perimeter of the Aya Sofya.