Made in Europe.

There are lots of reasons why production in Europe is a logic choice.
Practical arguments like less transport are key to minimalize the carbon footprint of a rug.
Using prime ingredients is key to make a product that lasts for a long time and will thereby create less waste.
Wool is the main ingredient for rugs. The most common wool for rugs comes from New Zealand which is far away from Europe.
Because of its strength and durability it outlasts other, more sensitive qualities and thereby earns back the long voyage it had to make to Europe.
To choose Made in Europe is also better when one wants to stay in control. Within the EU there are strict rules on social and sustainable ways of working. There is a minimum wage, no child labour, working conditions are according to a good standard.
Regulations for environmental protection are standard within Europe.
Wool will be treated and dyed with colours that follow tough Eco standards. No harmful, toxic chemicals will be used.
Producing nearby gives the possibility to check often and easily so no unneseccary mistakes occur and no product goes to waste.
A system of made to measure means no stock is needed and because of nearby production a fast delivery is still possible.

Another reason for “Made in Europe” may be identity.
People lives are getting more and more international.
Most borders in Europe have vanished and travelling has become easy and everyday.
At the same time we have a growing need to belong and idetify with our environment. The products we surround ourselves with define who we are and who we want to be.
Choosing handwork in Europe will underline the connection one has with ones surroundings. It makes independence possible from places far away where we are not always able to control conditions and secure supplies.
Nowadays people are more conscious of the things they buy.
There was a supermarket that started promoting local products with the slogan “From the region, for the region”
This was about 15 years ago. It was the time of a general turnaround for the Made in Europe.
The artisans that make handwoven rugs experience a revival.
Until recently the last remaining factories had a hard time selling their products.
Now the ones that still exist are working very hard to keep up with the demand.
Like many other industries, textile companies have a hard time finding enough weavers and spinners.
Last parts of the know how and artisinal traditions still exist.
Most schools where these professions where tought have disspappeared however so schooling people is up to the factories themselves.
Lucky enough there is a growing interest in handwork. Not everyone is made to sit behind a computer. The thrill of making a object by hand is unequalled.

It is great to know that a colaboration within Europe between a designer in Amsterdam and weavers a days drive away is possible.

MATERIALS

Most of the yarns that are used for rugs are made out of wool.
Most of that wool comes from New Zealand. The wool fibre that comes from New Zealand is strong and has a soft touch.
Wool has some fantastic qualities that are hard to beat.
It is elastic, hypoallergenic, absorbs water without feeling damp, breathes, wickes away dirt, absorbs sound and feels great on the body.
Of course it is nicest to work and surround yourself with natural materials. Wool is a top fibre but there are plenty great alternatives.
Linnen for example has a great touch, is very strong, grows easily without needing much water. The yarns spun out of linnen have a beautiful shine and a characteristic The hand and optic of linnen adds many different options for a designer to use. It has a characteristic stiffness and beautiful shine and is really strong. Therefor it is also often used as the yarn for warps.
Hemp is another thing that makes a great comeback. Amsterdam is famous for the flowers it produces and the stems make great fibre for yarn that is very fit for carpets.
It has a very soft, nearly papery touch and a beautiful shine.
Jute is used a lot for the inside of wool yarn to make it more stable so a rug ends up being more stable. It can of course also be used visibly for a rougher, stiffer, hairy look.
For a soft and shiny effect silk is a great material. Colours are most intense when silk is used. Its colours and shine have an unequaled effect. Old saris can be recycled into colourful fibre and make a great yarn also when it is combined with wool.

USE

Rugs have a great variety of use. They may be put on the floor in your living room of course. Carpets will enhance the atmosphere of the room where they are installed. They are warm and welcoming and improve a room with its qualities. It will take care of acoustic improvement, humidity is going to be more balanced and your feet will be warm and comfy.
Wool is antistatic and dirt repellent which makes a woollen rug easy to maintain.
Rooms will be more dressed and stylish with a personal rug too.
It is a easy way to bind all elements of a room into a whole and it will complement your interior design.
A rug will enhance your living room, bedroom, hallway and dining room but will also be a great addition in your working environment.
A entrance hall, waiting room and boardroom will feel much more comfortable with a rug in place.
Imagine the feel of a meeting in a hotel lobby with a rug under your feet. It will definetly make you feel more grounded and at ease.
Maybe a rug is so beautiful that you do not want to put it on the floor and choose to hang it on the wall.
It is a work of art and can complement your art collection.
A wall piece may be even more of a statement piece, either in your living room and in the meeting room.
Art and design go well toghether, they can complement each other and create a distinctive, accomplished and refined interior.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainablility is a important part of rug production in Europe.
One way of reducing waste is to produce only what is ordered.
Made to order rugs are a preferable way of avoiding waste
This means not having stock which may or may not be used and may end up going to be thrown out.
Most wool for rugs comes from New Zealand which is far away.
Its toughness and wearability makes up for the long trip it made.
Woolen handwoven rugs can last a generation and are an investment for life. The nice extra of a flatweave rug is that both sides are the same. This makes it even more long lasting. If one side is not perfectly fresh you turn it around and your rug will start a second life.
All production in the EU has to follow the strictest rules for environmental wellbeing. This means that for example the dying of wool is done to the highest ÖKOTEX standards.
Our wool is mulesing free, no animal torture for our base material!
Other materials may can be chosen to work with. The same strict demands will apply to them. Linnen is a good example of a European produced fibre that has excellent qualities. It grows easily without using lots of water or fertilizer.
Also hemp is a great material that grows easily, quickly and minimalizes the carbon footprint.
Recycling is another way of dealing with reducing waste.
Jeans are one of the main items sold but not always worn very long. They can be ripped into strips and woven into rugs like the traditional rag rugs but with a more contemporary look.
There is beautifull silk fibre from India made of recycled sari.
It can be spun into new yarn and be made into rugs with strong lively colours or used as accents in combination with wool.
The production in the leather industry has plenty of unused leftovers. The smaller parts can be cut into strips or fun shapes to be used for knotting rugs. This way you will have a rug with a luxurious material and a playful look which shows a whole new version of a knotted rug.