Zilou is a very beautiful yet simple and humble hand weave. It can be said that this characteristic has made it an original and traditional art of people who inhabit the borders of the desert of Persia. This weave, which mostly looks like Kilims, is usually seen with square patterns, in limited colors, as floor coverings in houses and occasionally Mosques. The primary material of Zilou is cotton yarn, and preparing this yarn is considered the first of many steps of making a Zilou weave. This craft is more common in regions with agriculture, and the cotton yarn used in Zilou is produced locally. Kashan has a very hot and dry environment and is a suitable birthplace for the Zilou in history. Because, in addition to beautiful patterns and unique colors, these hand weaves are used as light and cold floor coverings.

The weaving machinery of Zilou looks very much like the looms of rugs. The motifs and patterns of Zilou are very common with those of rugs and Kilims, too. And yet there are some motifs in the Zilou that can be seen in the architectural buildings of Persia. Geometric and herbal motifs are two main patterns in Zilou, and diamonds, squares, and crosses dominate the geometric group. Due to the nature of this weave, the flowers of Zilou patterns turn into linear designs. The Zilou generally consists of “Goldani” and “Mehrabi” patterns. The third kind of Zilou patterns are specific to this weave and are unique. They are usually provided in the market in two colors, one of which is white. Three famous combinations of Zilou are white and blue, green and beige, and blue and beige. Floor covering is the most important usage of Zilou. Next to this, we have seen new uses of Zilou in recent years, such as bags and cushions, which has resulted in more prosperity of this ancient handicraft of desert lands of Persia.