Natural Fiber Rugs

Natural Fiber Rugs have made a big revival in home décor. Jute, coir, and sisal are some of the most popular fibers currently being used in woven natural rugs. The fibers are highly sustainable and rapidly renewable resources. The fibers can be used on their own or combined with wool or cotton to create a softer hand feel. Fibers are often woven undyed but can also be dyed in wild colors to create patterns. Natural material rugs can be layered with other rugs like wool kilims or used on their own.

The Nomad Trend

A nomad is defined as a person amongst a community who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. While these people travel, they pick up influences from one culture to the next to make it their own.

Nomad is a global electric trend that we are seeing in both fashion and home décor.  It is mish mash of  cultures coming together to create a unified look.  African tribal influences as well Native American patternwork are created in a modern way with the use of color and technique. Unexpected color grounded in neutrals is a characteristic of this trend. It is a creative look at a Bohemian lifestyle.

Kilims from the Rugs by Raj Fall Collection

Durries from the Rugs by Raj Fall Collection

Pillows from the Rugs By Raj fall collection

The use of traditional ikats and chevron patterns in new constructions such as modern kilims, printing and stone washing effects are updated looks in home décor.

Raj Overseas has developed this concept in many products in their Fall Collection in Poofs, Pillows, and Rugs.

Overdyed Rugs

West Elm - Empire Kilim rug

The idea of overdyed rugs originates in Turkey: it involves using the remnants of old, even vintage, carpets by sewing them together and dying over them with a single color to make it appear monochromatic. The magic, however, is in the memory of the patterns that emanate faintly from below. In India, patchwork rugs are made from recycled hand-woven rugs and overdyed. The hues are created not only in patterns, but also in the revelation of the basic weave below, so that motifs are created in form rather than motif. 

ABC Carpet - Color Reform Rug

Anthropologie - Euphrates Rug

Due to the processes involved in making the overdyed rugs, they appear as antiques.  One of the reasons why they are so special is because no single rug can be the same. The dying produces a different effect on each rug which makes every piece a unique item.

Elte - Patchwork Second Life rug

World Market - overdyed patchwork

Ikat - The art of tying and binding

Ikat - the trend this season

Ikat is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft fibres.

Anthropologie Astrid Chair

Madeline Weinrib Luce Fabric

Bindings, which resist dye penetration, are applied to the threads in the desired patterns and the threads are dyed. Alteration of the bindings and the dyeing of more than one color produce elaborate, multicolored patterns. When all of the dyeing is finished the bindings are removed and the threads are ready to be woven into cloth.

West Elm Bliss Chair

The defining characteristic of ikat is the dyeing of patterns, by means of bindings, into the threads before cloth construction, the weaving of the fabric, takes place. Herein lies the difference between ikat and tie-dye. In tie-dye the fabric is woven first and the resist bindings are then applied to the fabric which is dyed.

In warp ikat the patterns are clearly visible in the warp threads on the loom even before the plain colored weft is introduced to produce the fabric. In weft ikat it is the weaving or weft thread that carries the dyed patterns which only appear as the weaving proceeds. In weft ikat the weaving proceeds much slower than in warp ikat as the passes of the weft must be carefully adjusted to maintain the clarity of the patterns.

Dwell Studio Diamond ikat azure pillow

Calypso St. Barths Paisely ikat rug

J. Crew Indira ikat dress

Text: Wooly Eyes
Images: Image source mentioned in the captions

Life in Tufts and Knots

Traditional Kilm Weaving

The term "carpet" derives from Old Italian carpita, "carpire" meaning to pluck, and the term ‘carpet’ is used interchangeably with the term "rug." But, they are not the same thing. Historically the word was also used for table and wall coverings, as carpets were not commonly used on the floor in European interiors until the 18th century.

The history of carpet weaving goes back to ancient times and now it has become a flourished industry. There are various trends now, and carpets from different countries are unique in their own pattern. Every country has its own tradition of carpet weaving which reflects its culture and norms.

Spinning the yarn

India is one of the countries where carpet weaving has a history dating back to the Mughal era. Another important aspect of Indian carpets is that materials like, yarn, cotton, jute, bamboo and silk are used in the manufacturing process. The carpet industry in India is scattered across different states and each state has its unique tradition of weaving.

Manually sorting the raw wool

At Raj Overseas, techniques like wool sorting, yarn spinning and carpet weaving are still done using the ancient traditional techniques and modern technology is parallely used to maintain high end quality.  

While life is often in tufts and knots, this one is particularly enjoyable. 

Finished carpet