Custom Rugs, Carpets & Runners

The Weavers Fascination & How I Came to Learn About Rugs & Carpets

As a youth I became passionate about hand-made rugs and carpets. I would spend time with the weavers and repairmen in my father's warehouse and tried to learn as much as I could from them. They were sources of deep knowledge and experience.

I would spend hours asking them why they thought a rug was special or unique - not only how it looked but also how it was made and the materials used. I learned what made a rug and carpet technically great and also very quickly that these creations deserved admiration and respect. The definition to a repairman of what made a rug or carpet great were very different than just aesthetic which many dealers value. 

Designing & Sponsoring Weavers in N.W. Pakistan

In my twenties living in N.Y.C. I was already deep into my adventure of collecting rare and unusual tribal rugs. I was approached by a large and very successful importer of Rugs and Carpets to produce designs for his weavers that would be well received in the U.S.A. Not only did I design rugs, but I also visited rug weaving centers overseas.

On a trip I met a young Afghan the same age as myself. Kamal & I became good friends over time and one day he proposed we start our own design and weaving business. We made four rugs which sold immediately.  In an effort to ensure what I had learned all those years ago from the repairmen in my father's warehouse   Kamal & I agreed to make rugs & carpets of distinction. I did the design work and laid out the technical specifications. He purchased the qualities of wools and dyes we needed and supervised the weavers. Great rugs were woven.

Create a Custom Order Rug or Carpet with Us!

Our rugs and carpets are what are called in the trade, Honest & Happy. The colours 'Sing' the Afghans say as with expensive and saturated dyes the colours are crystal clear.

Made from plant dyes and the highest-grade Afghan wool which is called Gazni wool they are woven exactly as rugs were woven 200 years ago. Very few rugs are woven to these standards today and I firmly believe anyone who is lucky enough to acquire one is indeed fortunate. Besides the technical work the cost of natural dyes as well as Gazni wool is more costly than chemically produced dyes and processed wool.

I see one of my designs posted online and rug people commented on it. When I told them I designed it nearly 30 years ago and posted my original drawing, so people understand the value of creating as well as buying a quality rug or carpet. Quality always shines through and the experience with a great rug is so different to an experience with a less quality rug.

Vegetal dyes are sometimes called incorrectly vegetable dyes. The creation of these dyes is a real artform and having our Master Dyers has been a blessing. Natural dyes over time mellow like a pair of blue jeans and the rugs start to get a natural antique look with use. Nothing is shaved down or chemically treated to fake an antique look that is so prevalent today, but which really means our rugs perform and last.

Gazni wool is high in natural lanolin oil which most commercial wool has stripped out. Commercial wool is bleached to create snow white wools with the use of chemicals. This can compromise the health of the rug or carpet. Not only do the wool fibers start to snap, break and ultimately shed but it's really not as healthy. Unprocessed wool encourages the rug to develop a smooth and polished patina which is so prized in time. 

All designs are hand drawn and all work follows the same process that antique rugs were made by. If you are interested in one of our Happy Rugs or Carpets allow us to show you the steps to enjoying what will become a family heirloom.