An Iranian town, formerly a village, named Sarouk became home to the famous Persian carpets of the same name. Their production began in the hot desert of Iran in the late 19th century, but it was the Americans who made them famous. In fact, Sarouk carpets were imported to the US and the local customers loved them, especially the curvilinear and floral patterns. But American customers preferred much richer colours, especially raspberry red, so the carpets had to be redyed in the United States. They were then called 'painted Sarouk', the hallmark colour often being a deep red. The finest carpets of this style come from the small Iranian village of Ghiasabad, where most of the local women and men make their living making them. The hallmark of the local Persians is salmon or tomato red mixed with ivory and blue and a very traditional floral style. Sarouk are known for their exceptional quality and ability to withstand decades of wear and tear, making them one of the best sellers in the world.