Once a symbol of cultural prestige, Iran's handmade rugs are no longer selling as fast as they once did, as sanctions weigh on an already troubled economy and buyers' tastes change. "The global economy is in a chaotic situation, meaning that it is even difficult for someone living in a European country to buy a silk carpet," explains carpet trader Hamed Nabizadeh, adding that Iranians "should pay attention to the current trends in decoration." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES