About Rugistan®: Direct Importer of Handmade Rugs

Rugistan® is a direct importer of handmade rugs, with showrooms in Chicago and Evanston and free shipping across the U.S. We buy hand-knotted rugs and kilims in person where they are woven, check every one by hand, and sell them to you without the importer, wholesaler and exporter markups in between.

Handmade rugs on display in a Rugistan showroom

Why buy your handmade rug from us

  • Bought at the source. Shams travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan to choose rugs himself, and our own buying team works there year-round.
  • Lifetime guarantee of authenticity and quality. Every handmade rug is what its listing says it is: hand-knotted or handwoven, with the origin, age and materials described, for as long as you own it.
  • Fair, marked prices. Every rug is marked with its price, and we match the price of the same rug at any legitimate seller.
  • Try it at home. Take a rug home on approval from Chicago or Evanston and see it in your room before you decide.
  • Free U.S. shipping and 30-day returns when you shop online from anywhere in the country.
  • Care for the life of the rug. Professional cleaning, repair, restoration and rug pads custom cut to your rug.

Hand-knotted rugs, kilims and runners in every size

We keep 1,400+ rugs in stock, most of them one of a kind, from 2x3 accents to 12x15 room sizes, plus runners. Shop Afghan rugs, Persian rugs, kilims and flatweaves, vintage and antique rugs, modern rugs and runners, or start with large rugs for living and dining rooms.

Our story: from the weavers to your floor

Shams Frough founded the business in Evanston as Kapisa Rugs. From 2009 to 2014 he worked alongside the U.S. military in Afghanistan, then settled in the United States and turned his passion for authentic handmade rugs into a store. He still makes buying trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and every rug bought there keeps paying the weaving families who hold the craft.

Rugistan buying trip for hand-knotted rugs

In 2024 Kapisa Rugs became Rugistan®. Today you will find us in Evanston, where our showroom fills two storefronts side by side at 600 and 602 Dempster St on the Main-Dempster Mile, and in Lincoln Square, Chicago.

Rug cleaning, repair and custom rug pads

Bring your rug to either showroom for professional cleaning, repair and restoration. We also cut rug pads to the exact size of your rug so it stays flat and in place. See rug cleaning and repair.

For designers and the trade

Interior designers, architects, stagers and retailers get trade pricing, rugs on approval, trade holds and custom commissions woven to size by our own team in Afghanistan. Chat with us or call either showroom to open a trade account.

In the news

Rugistan® and founder Shams Frough have been featured in TIME, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Evanston RoundTable, Evanston Now, The Daily Northwestern and The Evanstonian.

Visit us or shop online

See the rugs in person at 600 Dempster St, Evanston (847-863-1249) or 4815 N Western Ave, Chicago (312-868-1898), or shop all rugs online with free U.S. shipping.

  • Direct importer, bought at the sourceDirect importer, bought at the source
  • Lifetime authenticity & quality guaranteeLifetime authenticity & quality guarantee
  • Free U.S. shipping, 30-day returnsFree U.S. shipping, 30-day returns
  • Try it at home from Chicago or EvanstonTry it at home from Chicago or Evanston
  • 150+ five-star Google reviews150+ five-star Google reviews
Rugistan buying hand-knotted rugs directly in Afghanistan
How we buy

Bought where they are woven

Most rug stores buy from an importer who bought from a wholesaler who bought from an exporter. We skip all of that. Our own team lives and works in Afghanistan, and the owner travels there to buy. We choose each rug by hand, check the knots, the wool and the dyes, and ship it straight to our own floor.

  • Since 2023 — our own full-time buying team in Afghanistan
  • Bought in person — the owner travels to Afghanistan to buy, from Kabul to the northern weaving towns and Herat
  • Checked by hand — knotting, wool and dye before a rug ships
  • New weaving — commissioned so the craft keeps paying the families who hold it
Shop Afghan rugsVisit a showroom

Two showrooms, one floor of rugs

Evanston: two storefronts side by side on the Main-Dempster Mile. Chicago: Lincoln Square. Take any rug home on approval.