Erbent preserves traditional Turkmen textile crafts that have declined sharply in urban areas. Carpet weaving here follows the Tekke style — deep reds and crimsons built from repeated geometric guls (medallion motifs), each pattern encoding tribal identity in a way that Turkmen weavers can read at a glance. Women typically weave on horizontal ground looms, a technique better suited to the nomadic lifestyle than the vertical looms used in Persian workshops.
Felt-making (keche in Turkmen) is equally well-preserved. Raw wool is spread, wetted, and rolled repeatedly around a wooden dowel until the fibres compress into a dense, weather-resistant mat used for yurt walls and floor coverings. You can watch both crafts being practiced in private homes; your guide will know which families are comfortable with visitors. Buying directly from the maker is common and welcomed — a small carpet or felt hanging is one of the few genuinely local souvenirs you will find in Turkmenistan.