Hereke is a unique weaving center located at the northern edge of Izmit Bay, near Istanbul. For centuries, hand knotted carpets made of lamb's wool were produced in the village of Hereke. Today, Hereke is recognized for producing the finest hand

Dolmabahçe Palace, in Istanbul, was constructed during the period as the Hereke Imperial Factory. Sultan Abdülmecid wanted the greatest palaces in the world to display the finest carpets in the world. Scientific research was undertaken in order to combine the best carpet-making techniques. Hereke production began with production of the highest quality wool carpets on cotton warps. Natural silk from Bursa permitted even finer hand knotted carpets. The last obstacle in Hereke production