Yazd’s handicrafts reveal a working city beyond its celebrated desert architecture. From handwoven textiles to metalwork and carved wooden doors, these traditions reflect generations of practical skill and artistic exchange.
The historic city of Yazd stands near the old Spice and Silk Roads. UNESCO recognises its living commercial and handicraft traditions alongside its earthen architecture and qanat water system.
Craftspeople adapted their methods to local resources, trade and demand. Their work cannot be explained by broad claims about the character or temperament of Yazd residents.
Some traditional skills remain in use, while others have changed with new materials, machinery and markets. The following seven crafts and occupations illustrate the variety of Yazd’s working heritage.
From woven cloth and plant-based dyes to metalwork and carved doors, these trades connect everyday objects with the history of the city and its workshops.
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Sha’r-bafi (dast-bafi)
Sha’r-bafi, also written sharbafi, refers to a tradition of weaving cloth on hand-operated looms. Yazd’s historic textile production was connected to local workshops and regional trade.
Traditional looms use rollers, heddles, reeds and foot pedals to hold and separate the threads as the weaver builds the fabric. Equipment varies with the workshop and type of cloth. Research on Yazd’s weaving workspaces documents the changing relationship between craft practices and the city’s built heritage.
Mazari
The traditional occupation called mazari includes grinding and preparing plant materials, particularly henna and madder. Henna powder is made from dried leaves; madder roots have historically been used to produce red dyes. This specialised preparation trade served textile makers and households.
Termeh-bafi
Termeh is a patterned textile associated with Yazd and other Iranian weaving centres. Traditional examples often combine silk and wool and feature the curved boteh or paisley motif.
Materials and methods vary by period and workshop. Not every modern termeh item is handwoven, so visitors buying a piece should ask how it was made.
A late nineteenth-century termeh textile in the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, probably produced in Yazd, shows the craft’s historical importance. The museum identifies silk-and-wool construction and notes the use of such textiles in Qajar ceremonial dress.
Dara’i-bafi
Dara’i-bafi is a traditional form of ikat (resist-dyed weaving) practised in Yazd. Artisans bind selected sections of yarn before dyeing; when the coloured threads are arranged on the loom, their patterns emerge as the cloth is woven. The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art explains the broader ikat technique. If you are buying dara’i cloth, ask whether its pattern comes from resist-dyed yarn or surface printing.
Blacksmithing (chalangari)
Traditional blacksmiths made and repaired tools such as knives, locks, tongs, chains and weighing equipment. Their work required practical knowledge of heating, hammering and shaping metal for everyday use.
Goldsmithing and Jewellery
Yazd’s goldsmiths have used casting, mould-making, engraving and other jewellery techniques to produce ornaments in a variety of styles. The work calls for precision and design skill; claims about the personal qualities of every artisan are not verifiable.
Traditional Carpentry and Wooden Doors
Traditional carpenters made doors, shutters, window frames and fittings for houses, bazaars and religious buildings. Carved joinery, decorative details and coloured glass helped shape the appearance of historic interiors. Visitors can explore the wider architectural context through UNESCO’s description of Yazd.
Visiting Craft Workshops in Yazd
To learn more about Yazd’s working craft traditions, look for workshops where artisans can explain their materials and methods. Ask permission before photographing people or their work, and respect spaces that are not open to visitors.
When buying textiles or handmade objects, ask whether the piece was made by hand, where it was produced and how to care for it. A workshop visit can help you understand the difference between traditional techniques and modern production without assuming that every souvenir is locally made.
