How do handmade rugs contribute to the cultural identity of a space or environment?

 Rugs are the ultimate accessory for any room, they define spaces, create focal points and pull everything together. They are the go to for most designers and the best way to express a person’s personality. However, Handmade Rugs are a much more important and storied piece of art than that, they tell the story of displaced people, keeping an ancient culture alive.

 Traditional craftsmanship techniques and natural materials

Handmade Rugs are created with traditional craftsmanship techniques and natural materials. They are more expensive than machine-made rugs, but their superior quality and longevity means they will last generations, becoming family heirlooms that increase in value over time. They are a magnificent combination of function, beauty, durability and value.

 The highest quality materials such as wool or silk

Traditionally, a rug is made from the highest quality materials such as wool or silk. They are responsibly sourced, incredibly durable and hypoallergenic. They have a natural feel to them and are extremely soft. They also last much longer than machine-made rugs and are incredibly easy to maintain.

The most common technique for creating a rug is called hand knotting

The most common technique for creating a rug is called hand knotting. This involves the weavers using their fingers to tie knots one by one on a loom that is vertically stretched over a wooden frame. Each knot adds thickness and density to the rug. This takes months or even years to complete, but the result is a work of art that will last for generations.

 Make a rug is by hand tufting

Another way to make a rug is by hand tufting. This process involves pushing strands of colored wool through the base of the rug, which can create very intricate patterns. It’s a faster and cheaper option than the more labor-intensive hand knotting, but the resulting rug may not be as durable.

A simple way to tell if a rug is handmade is by looking at the back side of it. A handmade rug will have an uneven and textured back, while a machine-made rug will have an even and smooth surface.

conclusion

The first step in designing a rug is for the designer to sketch out a pattern on graph paper. This is called a Taalim and it shows the weaver what colors to use, what size and shape the rug will be and how many knots are needed in each area. Weavers also have design plates that are used as a guide. These are drawings created by master weavers, famous designers and artists that help to keep the Handmade Rugs as true to its original design as possible. Then the dyeing begins. This is done with natural vegetable dyes, ensuring that the resulting rug is eco-friendly and healthy for your home. This is in stark contrast to the machine-made rugs that use synthetic chemical dyes which release toxic fumes and are bad for the environment and for your health.