QUALITY & PRICE :

What is the difference between hand knotted and machine made rugs?

Hand-knotted orientals outlast their machine made cousins by at least fifty years, and usually much longer. When compared with a true oriental, a machine made rug lacks charm, originality, durability, and potential investment value. Machine made copies may initially cost you less (not always) but, pause to consider its replacement cost after, for instance, ten years of family life. Add to this the cost of inflation and the fact that machine made rugs have little, if any, resale value. It is prudent to spend a relatively small extra amount of money and buy a handmade oriental rug. A true oriental at ten years of age is still considered "new" by the trade.

What importance do knots play in the quality of a carpet?

One important way to determine the quality of an oriental rug is by studying the compactness of the weave, measured as the number of knots per square inch. More knots per square inch require more labour invested in the rug, which commands a higher price. However, knot count is only one factor, which affects rug quality. It is not always true that a carpet with fewer knots per square inch is less valuable or of lower quality than a rug with a high knot count. Quality standards differ in different classes of rugs.

Well made rugs have knot counts that are the same throughout the rug. Regularly spaced, even knots are an indicator of quality, as is a pattern which looks sharp and regular when viewed on the back of the rug. Wool used in the pile is available in many grades and affects the finished look, quality and price of the rug. Quality wool is resilient enough to return to its original appearance after being compressed. Many different brands of sheep produce rug wools; each with its own sheen and softness characteristics.

RUG CARE:

How do I maintain my rug?

The good thing about high quality rugs is that they do not need much maintenance. They are made with only high quality wool and they are incredibly durable. Handmade rugs tend to last a lot longer than machine made rugs.

How do I clean my rug?

Because our rugs are made of natural wool, it is very hard for them to stain, and very easy for them to be cleaned. If your rug becomes stained by accident, take some soap, warm water, and a sponge to cleanse it gently. Be sure to rub with the pile of the rug, not against it. This method will get almost any stain out instantly. Be sure to sweep in the same direction in which the pile of the rug faces. Strictly suction vacuum cleaners are best to use with handmade rugs. Again, try to vacuum the rug going with the pile, not against it which forces the dirt back into the rug.

How should I protect my rug from direct sunlight?

Although not particularly harmful to vegetable dyes rugs, constant exposure to direct sunlight may cause the colours in rugs to mute and fade a little. If fading becomes a problem rotate the rug to achieve uniform colour.

What does padding help with?

Under-padding prevents the crushing and wearing of the pile after extensive use and this extends the life of the rug. It helps keep the rug firmly in place and won’t allow the rug to move around when walked on or vacuumed.

GENERAL:

What is a Tibetan carpet? Is it made in Tibet?

Hand made rugs have been part of the Tibetan culture for hundreds of years. They are an integral part of the daily life and Buddhist practices of typical Tibetan households. These beautiful pieces are highly valued and are passed on from generation to generation. In olden times a young woman might spend months weaving a set to bring into her new home upon marriage.

Traditionally, these rugs are used for sitting or sleeping on, rather than walking on. That's why many antique rugs are about 3 feet by 6 feet in size; this size fits the raised banquets that function as both seating areas and beds in many Tibetan houses. Particularly fine weaving or patterns of an enlightened nature are used in monasteries and by Buddhist practitioners during seated meditation. There are also smaller rugs, sometimes called meditation rugs, which are the right size for one person to sit on.In modern times, the rugs are made larger to accommodate use as floor carpets. New patterns and designs complement contemporary and traditional home decor. Today, Tibetan rugs are handmade by Tibetan exiles in India and Nepal as well as people from the five Himalayan kingdoms. What makes authentic Tibetan textiles unique is the combination of traditional methods that has produced carpets lasting centuries and the premium quality of wool from Tibetan sheep living above 16,000 ft.

While the sheep are raised in Tibet, the wool is sold on the gray-market through age-old family and trading connections across the Himalayan border. All Adoro Tibetan rugs are manufactured by indigenous craftspeople using pure Tibetan wool in our workshops located in Nepal. Because many manufacturers claim to make "Tibetan" carpets, the buyer must be aware of inauthentic products. Some weavers dilute the expensive Tibetan wool with inferior wool from other countries. Many Indian and Chinese companies make carpets in a similar style—often employing the cheapest mechanical methods—without using Tibetan materials or craftspeople. Many carpets on the market today were made with short cuts to save time and money, and as a result they do not have the beauty and durability of traditionally manufactured Tibetan rugs, which will retain their value and even appreciate over time.

How long does it take to make a rug?

Making an authentic Tibetan carpet by traditional methods is an enormously labour intensive activity, which yields a far superior product. Hand-woven wool carpets commonly come in 3 densities: 60, 80, and 100 knots per square inch, with the higher count being more durable and incrementally more time consuming to weave. Adoro rugs are made in a variety of densities to meet different customers' specific needs, but most of our fine carpets include 60 to 100 knots per inch.
In addition to the time for weaving, is the time to card and clean the wool, spin the yarn, dye the coloured yarns, and finally trim the woven design. Detailed weaving requires skill and attention and progresses slowly—a fine 9 x 12 foot carpet often represents 1,500 hours of labour. As a practical matter, larger carpets are made by a team of weavers and other craftspeople over several weeks to months.

Why do some rugs have fringe and others don't?

All Tibetan carpets have a cotton "fringe" on the ends; this is the natural remaining ends of the warp threads once the carpet is cut off the loom. Since some customers prefer the look and practicality of a clean edge, the fringes are often cut and then sealed by binding the edges with the same coloured wool as the border.

Are these rugs made with child labour?

The use of underage and child labour is a serious concern in many parts of the world. Many carpet manufacturers in developing countries exploit children for their inexpensive labour in situations where economic pressures often prevail over education needs and health concerns. Adoro rugs has never used children in the manufacture of our products, nor do we condone the practice common in the industry. We explicitly prohibit workers under the age of 16 in our workshops, the permissable age for working in Nepal. In our workshop communities, we support local education and health programs to help ensure a better quality of life for our workers' families and to keep their underage children out of the workplace.

What is the 'Care & Fair" organization about?

Care & Fair - (Carpet Trade Against Child Labour) is a professional association of the European carpet trade. It was founded in 1995. Their members fight the exploitation ofchildren in the carpet production business. Manufacturers are obliged to pay one percent of the value of imported carpet from India, Nepal and Pakistan into a fund. This fund enables Care & Fair to finance the projects. For more information on Care and Fair please visit: www.care-fair.org

How are the fibres for our natural rugs processed?

Natural fibres such as hemp, banana, nettle, jute, and cactus are entirely hand processed in the villages of Nepal. The plants are soaked in water for many days, after which they are pounded; this separates the pulp from the fibre, which is then spun into thread. Subsequently, our ability to buy their products to make into carpets helps them a great deal financially.

What is the colour range?

We employ a palette of over 1950 colours in the creation of our complete inventory of designs. Several of these colours are authentic, traditional tones made from plant and herb extracts and naturally occuring mineral colorants. Wool using these colours has to be dyed in pots, by hand, and in small batches. One outcome of this is that, by the very nature of the process, constantly even results are not possible.

To meet the demands of contemporary customers for a wide range of colours not found in natural dye colours, we also use AZO-free Swiss dyes in specific contemporary colours, following the European Natural Colour Scheme Index. Wool using these colours can be machine dyed and therefore a uniform, even effect can be achieved.

The important issue is less about natural vs. aniline dyes, but whether the dyes used are of good quality creating colours which are rich and lustrous, and if the overall effect of the colour and design is pleasing and harmonious. We make carpets that range from exceptionally subtle gradations to boldly contrasting patterns, yet the results are always well balanced. Adoro rugs do not have the bright garish harshness, or the undesirable effect of one colour "popping out" that many synthetic dyes produce.

What are the general delivery times for customized rug orders?

We ususally process your order between 60 and 120 days depending upon the size, design, and the knottage of the rugs. We will confirm your estimated arrival date, when we confirm the order. Please allow extra time for delivery if any unforseen situations occur in Kathmandu, Nepal. We will have you updated of weaving processes, and will e-mail you photos of your rug in the making. Delivery time for a strike-off sample if required, is approximately 3 weeks. For more detailed informaton regarding delivery times for customized rug orders please contact us.

What are the prices of your rugs?

Pricing is hard to determine without knowing the exact type of rug being discussed, as we offer rugs in many different knots and also different fibres such as wool, silk, cashmere, nettle, jute, banana, hemp, and cactus. Thus each fibre and knottage count having a different price ranges. For specific inquires please contact us and we can definitely provide you with a quote. Custom orders are non-refundable and non-exchangable. A 50% deposit is required once the order is confirmed and the stike-off has been approved, the remaining is required before shipment.