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The Vision of Orientiq
We exist to support widows, orphans, and struggling families in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries. Our aim (we are still working on it) is for near-direct trade with small carpet weavers so we can “Weave Hope, One Rug at a Time!”
How it Started
In 2023, I took my family for a short visit to Istanbul, Turkey. We have a home located in a very historic part of Istanbul where the streets are cobblestone and the history dates back to the time of the Ottomans.
Our kitchen has a hole leading down to tunnels which they say were used by Ottoman leaders for getting around from house to house and to other important landmarks through an intricate maze of underground tunnels.
Our Afghan Friend
Hamid lives not far from our home in Lancaster, PA. He had worked for the American military in Afghanistan and was starting a construction company when we first met. He painted our house in Lancaster and did a few other jobs around our business to help him launch his business.
When I informed Hamid we were going to Istanbul that summer, he said, “You need to meet my brother and sister.” They were both living in Istanbul at the time.
Thus, we sat with Hamidʻs brother, Habib, in Istanbul, our feet planted on intricately designed and woven carpets from Afghanistan. Habib began telling me about the process of creating the carpets lying on his floor. The size carpet on his floor, he said, would take around 18 months to complete!
Organic and Safe Carpets
While the lengthy process of creating a handwoven Afghan carpet captured my imagination, I was also deeply impressed with the process. My wife is greatly interested in healthy living (more than I am), so she was also drawn to the idea of carpets with NO CHEMICAL DYES! WOW!
“There is no dye in the carpets,” he explained, explaining that all the vibrant colors are made from vegetable dyes or other organic matter. How could they get such a variety of vibrant colors from organic matter, I wondered?
“I have 400 Carpets in Afghanistan”
While the story of the carpets caught my interest, Habib told me that he has 400 carpets sitting in a warehouse in Afghanistan that he cannot sell. Due to the nature of Habibʻs work before leaving Afghanistan, it was unsafe for him to return or retrieve his carpets.
I was sold! Beautiful carpets. Handwoven. Sitting in a warehouse in Afghanistan!
“Weaving Hope, One Rug at a Time”
Well, getting carpets to Lancaster should be easy, right? Maybe! It took months to figure out the logistics and get carpets to Lancaster.
Furthermore, as my interest in carpets grew, so did my connections with others. I soon connected with Obed Imtiaz, whose uncle in Pakistan has helped him procure carpets from Pakistan. However, he had difficulty getting their carpets to market. We are in the process of creating an agreement to bring Pakistani carpets to the market.
Then came the Noorzai Collection from another connection in State College. Like Hamid, he was a refugee in America with connections back to his community. A friend found donors to send money to Afghanistan to start a training school for orphans and widows to teach them how to craft carpets. Hence, The Noorzai Collection.
We are only beginning and think there is a long way to go! We look forward to seeing how many families we can provide hope for.
Chris Stoltzfus (Visionary and coFounder)
Learn More About Our Collections
Each oriental rug collection has a story to tell. The Elvan collection was born out of a life of weaving carpets just to survive and care for a family which birthed a vision for providing support for widows and orphans in similar situations. The Noorzai Collection grew out of a desire to support widows and orphans in Afghanistan by starting a weaving school where they learn the trade of weaving and produce oriental rugs to fancy your home!
Get to Know the Faces Behind Orientiq
We are just an ordinary bunch who want to make a difference in the lives of people around the world. Meet our team!
Chris Stoltzfus
Founder and Head of Marketing
Chris and his family reside in Lancaster, PA, which the BBC named the refugee capital of America in 2017. Since 2012, they have met and worked with many refugees by providing employment, housing, and friendship.
Jordan Stoltzfoos
Founder, Logistics and Shipping
Jordan has spent about 10 years working in private Christian schools. After teaching at Weavertown Mennonite School in Lancaster County, PA, he moved to Ohio, where he is teaching at Legacy Christian School.
