The Almond motif originated as a design known as “boteh” in ancient Persia, where it symbolized the cypress tree, a flower, or a flame. Later, it appeared on luxurious Kashmiri shawls in India and was called Kashmiri. When it reached the Levant, it was given the additional name “Al-Lawza” (the Almond). Eventually, it spread to Europe, where it took its Western name “Paisley”—after the Scottish city of Paisley, which became famous for reproducing this motif. In modern times, it has come to represent classic elegance.
The addition of the word “Kurdish” to the name likely stems from the widespread use of this motif among Kurdish artisans, whose version differs slightly from the traditional almond pattern.