Our Materials Explained

WOOL

The main material used in all our rugs is wool; in India, it is from New Zealand, and in Nepal Tibet. We are huge advocates of wool; we believe it is hands down the hardest wearing of all the carpet-making materials, and as fibres go, it is one of the most resilient. Not only is it renewable, but being naturally sourced from sheep, and not under-going any chemical procedures to make it into yarn that is weavable, it is also completely organic. As such it is also 100% bio-degradable. All in all, we think it is the most environmentally friendly yarn you can use.

Other plus points of wool:

Natural soil resistance
Soft and luxurious to the touch
Naturally flame retardant
Non-allergenic
Resists furniture crush
Unlike synthetic fibres (such as PET) it naturally resists static
Easily cleaned; the fibres naturally repel moisture
Doesn’t attract dirt and dust so hoovering keeps it clean
Provides sound insulation due to its dense fibres
An insulator; providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer

TENCEL

Tencel comes under the umbrella term ‘art silk’, used to describe a variety of man-made, silk-like fibres. There are many different art silks in rug making, made from different materials and sold under various names. We choose to use TENCEL™ Lyocell because we believe it is one of the best plant-based silk alternatives.

Made from wood from certified or controlled sources, TENCEL™ Lyocell is produced using an innovative closed-loop process, where more than 99.8% of the solvent is recovered and reused, resulting in close-to-zero wastage. It is also biodegradable and compostable, so all in all we believe the most sustainable of the art silks.

It has a beautifully soft feel and subtle lustrous sheen, giving us the silk-like finish we love for adding depth and detail to our rugs. It is also known for its strength compared with other similar fibres, making it our preferred choice of art silk, in both the material itself and the way it is produced.

It is important to remember that Tencel is still a delicate fibre compared to wool and doesn’t respond well to water. It can watermark, particularly in lighter colours, so we recommend protecting rugs containing Tencel with our MicroSeal treatment and not placing it in high spillage areas.

SILK

If you want the silky look but with maximum durability then nothing beats real silk. It is the ultimate luxury fibre for a rug. Naturally strong, beautifully soft and with an unmistakable lustre, it has been used in the finest rugs for centuries.

Although often thought of as delicate, silk itself is an incredibly strong natural fibre and, with the right care, is wonderfully long-lasting, rugs containing silk become heirlooms for decades. Like Tencel, it is sensitive to liquids and can watermark, particularly in lighter colours. However, the strength of the silk fibres themselves make it more cleanable than Tencel, therefore superior in terms of longevity and long-term maintenance.

We use Chinese silk.

JUTE

Jute is a wonderfully strong, hard-wearing natural plant fibre, loved for its relaxed, rustic texture and beautiful natural variation. It’s extremely durable, making it a practical choice for busy areas of the home.

Like other natural plant fibres such as sisal, jute is absorbent, so liquids can stain or leave watermarks if they’re allowed to soak in — particularly more difficult spills such as pet accidents. For this reason, we recommend protecting jute rugs with our micro-seal protection.

With the right care, jute is a wonderfully practical, long-lasting choice that brings warmth, texture and character to a room.

Maintenance

Your rug should last for an incredibly long time if looked after properly.

We work with a wonderful family-run company called Classic Rug Care, who know just about everything there is to know about rugs. Where possible, they deliver and install our bespoke rugs, offering a fantastic personal service. They’re also specialists in rug care, maintenance and repairs, and can professionally clean your rug whenever needed. We honestly don’t know what we’d do without them!

With every bespoke rug delivery, we provide full care instructions along with a complimentary non-detergent spot cleaner — the same one our specialists use — to help deal with those inevitable little spills and stains between professional cleans.

And, of course, we’re always on hand if you have any questions about looking after your rug.

Rug Care

Protection

We offer a special protection called micro-seal on all of our rugs.

Micro-seal is a sealant that permeates the fibres, rather than coating them, and lasts up to 5 or 6 professional cleans, which is equal to a few years. It protects from stains and soiling, UVA and B sun fade, mould and mildew and increases resistance by 60%. It is labelled as non-toxic, has no fluorochemicals and emits zero VOC’s, and is bio-degradable.

It can be re-applied by our brilliant team at Classic Rug Care at any time.

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END OF USE

Our rugs are made to last for years and years, but if you have come to the end of the road with yours please think twice before simply throwing it away. There are various options you can do instead to avoid landfill.

Refurbish: if you simply need to change the rug you have to suit another interior, this could be possible. Our team at Classic Rug Care are wonders at amending rugs by either cutting them down or changing their shape.

Re-home: Nothing pleases us more than one of our rugs popping up on Ebay or Lots Road Auctions. Many auction houses, as well as online platforms like Vinterior, will take second-hand rugs. Otherwise, there are lots of charities that you can donate to (Women’s refuges, Furnishing Futures, British Heart Foundation to name a few)

Re-cycle (preferably the last option): If you do decide your rug is in such bad condition the only option is to throw it away, please find somewhere that will re-cycle it properly. Anglo Recycling ensures that it would be broken down and re-used to its full potential.

If you would like advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.