Saturday, 9 January 2010

Environmentally Friendly Rugs

The trend towards ecologically conscious shopping continues as more and more people included environmental concerns as part of the selection process when shopping. Shopping for eco friendly rugs has many advantages apart from just being better for the world as a whole it is also better for you. Most eco friendly rugs and textiles are free of chemicals and toxins that you would find in a rug made of manmade fibres. Modern houses can be a nightmare of toxic chemicals in paint, varnishes, textiles and furniture. Filling your house with less toxic furnishings and ecologically friendly paints is ultimately better for your health.

Whilst buying a ecologically friendly rug may in some cases be more expensive there are budget eco rugs out there, and investing in a more expensive natural rugs may work out cheaper in the long run as most natural fibre made rugs are fairly sturdy and count there usage in decades rather than years. So choosing a rug you love and paying a bit more for it, is probably easily justifiable as a long term consideration particularly when you consider the environmental and health benefits.

Identifying eco friendly rugs is comparatively easy by firstly sticking to a list of things to avoid. Fibres that are manmade or products of the petrochemical industry are absolutely to be avoided such as nylon, polypropylene, polyester and acrylic which is often marketed as being environmentally friendly because it breaks down quickly in the environment but it is also toxic. The best rule of thumb is to stick to naturally occurring plant and animal fibres such as wool, hemp, bamboo, cotton, sea grass, jute, cashmere, mohair, sisal and silk obviously this list is not exhaustive.

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Anatolian Felt Rugs







Semi antique Anatolian felt rugs made by the nomads of the Taurus Mountains in Turkey.

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

Recycled Rugs

These irresistible recycled rugs are made out of old curtains, burlap bags and rugs that are then remade in to beautiful patchwork kilim rugs and dyed with natural dyes. The result is a beautiful contemporary rug that is also ethically made out of recycled natural materials.





Unique Rugs
eco friendly rugs
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Thursday, 26 March 2009

Felt Rugs of Kyrgyzstan

Read My latest article about the Felt Rugs of Kyrgyzstan at RugRag.com.

Monday, 9 March 2009

Contemporary Kilim Rugs






Beautiful high quality handmade patchwork kilim rugs made in Turkey by Ethnicon. These contemporary rugs are made using natural dyes and recycled materials.

Monday, 9 February 2009

Handmade Felt Rugs

Handmade in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, these felt rugs called Shyrdak rugs are made from 100% sustainable felted wool and dyed using all natural vegetable dyes. The people of Kyrgyzstan have been using Shyrdak rugs for thousands of years to decorate their homes and yurts. The rugs are luxurious, hard wearing and unique each one a piece of artwork incorporating designs and motifs about nomadic life in Kyrgyzstan. Although felt is one of the oldest fabrics known to man (felting pre-dates weaving) these traditional rugs still sit perfectly with contemporary design ideals.





Click here to see our collection of Oriental Rugs

Thursday, 29 January 2009

Website review – Revival Fabrics

Fantastic website; dealing specifically in vintage fabrics and unique textiles. Revival Fabrics stocks a selection of authentic hand selected classic fabric patterns from the 1920’s through to the 1970’s all in mint condition and available to purchase online. There is a good selection of retro fabrics available making this website a perfect resource for designers wishing to create something unique and original. The rarity of the fabrics on offer means that they are very collectable and can only retain their intrinsic value. In the past the company has been used by Hollywood costumes designers looking for original fabrics to add a touch of authenticity to the films Dreamgirls and Catch Me If You Can. It is also possible to pick up vintage designs by famous artists such as Maija Isola, Grandma Moses and Associated American Artists group.


Vintage Fabrics - Revival Fabrics is your place for vintage fabrics. Find what your need from the 1920'2 - 1970's. You will only find original fabric here. Also check out their Revival Fabrics blog.