Tibetan Carpets

Carpet weaving is an important Tibetan art.  It is centuries old and has evolved in recent years as the primary means of support for Tibetan people living in exile in Nepal and India.  Through the sale of carpets, they are able to provide for the education of their children and care for their elderly.  It is also an important source of income for the Tibetan Government in Exile and is used to increase worldwide political awareness of the Tibetan situation.

Why do we support this cause

• Tibetan carpets are 100% natural
• Made only of the finest wool
• Augment a wood floor very nicely, allowing you to get rid of traditional "Western Carpets" which become a breeding ground for allergins
• Is a natural non-industrial industry where weaving is still done by hand
• Dyes used are generally all natural dyes and carpets are made in small batches
• Tibetan carpets do not off gas harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and the smells like the synthetic materials and glues of manufactured carpets
• Supports the Tibetan People in exile
• Tibetan carpets are good for the environment

What is a Tibetan carpet?

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.

Is it made in Tibet?

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. Most Tibetan carpets are manufactured by indigenous craftspeople using pure Tibetan wool in 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 rugs which will retain their value and even appreciate over time.

How long does it take to make a carpet?

Making an authentic Tibetan carpet by traditional methods is an enormously labor intensive activity which yields a far superior product. Handwoven 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.

Carpets are made in a variety of densities to meet different customers' specific needs, but most fine carpets include 100 or more knots per inch.

In addition to the time for weaving, is the time to card and clean the wool, spin the yarn, dye the colored 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 labor.

As a practical matter, larger carpets are made by a team of weavers and other craftspeople over several weeks to months.

Why do some have fringe and others don't?

All Tibetan carpets have cotton "fringe" on the ends, this is the natural remaining ends of the weft threads once the carpet is cut off the loom. Since some customers prefer the look and practicality of a clean edge, the fringe is often folded underneath the rug, covered with a strip of canvas, and hand bound.

Eco-Friendly Tips

Table salt is all you need to remove baked-on food from inside the oven. Cover the area with salt while the oven is still warm.

After it cools, scrape the food away and wipe with a damp sponge.

Switch to vegetable-based cleaning products.

Did you know if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 28-ounce petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with a vegetable-based product, we could save 82,000 barrels of oil a year? This is enough oil to drive a car over 86 million miles! Vegetable-based cleaning products are becoming readily available in supermarkets across the country, particulaly those that specialize in natural foods.