One of India's oldest industries, the carpet industry, has a long history of fine carpet weaving and workmanship. India produces a wide range of hand-knotted carpets, each of which is inspired by the customs, ways of life, and artistic prowess of distinct regions, periods, and civilizations.
The enormous variety of hand-made rugs and carpets is a testament to the outstanding craftsmanship and historical diversity of Indian civilization. With one of the biggest market shares worldwide, India continues to be among the top exporter of handmade carpets.
But are rugs made in India really worth it? China, Iran, Turkey, and other nations also produce oriental rugs. Still, there is a strong market for Indian carpets because of their quality, texture, and exquisite designs. Keep reading to explore the world of rugs in India- from the different types to their characteristics.
Types of popular Rugs in India
1. Indo-Persian rugs
Since the sixteenth century, carpets and rugs with Persian origins have been woven in India. Typically hand-knotted, the design of these carpets incorporates a variety of motifs. Flowers, vegetation, culture, folklore, and regal lifestyles are the main design themes. Persian carpet weaving is a challenging and labor-intensive procedure. Depending on the size, quality, and fineness of the knots used in the design, a single carpet can take anything from a few weeks to a year to finish. The areas surrounding Varanasi that produce the majority of Persian rugs in India include Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Gopiganj. Agra, Jaipur, and Shahjahanpur.
2. Silk carpets
The most sophisticated carpet purchasers and weavers in the world hold Indian silk carpets in high regard. These pure silk rugs, which are also sometimes referred to as Kashmiri carpets, have their own distinctive style in terms of color, quality, pattern, and longevity. These exquisite works of art are meticulously hand-knotted on warp threads, one at a time, following a strict code of colors. Silk carpets are quite luxurious, classic, and royal. These hand-knotted rugs from India are produced exclusively and are made to last for generations.
Check out our product section to buy hand-knotted rugs in silk!
3. Hand tufted rugs
Due to its versatility, efficiency, and affordability, hand tufting is currently the most popular method of making rugs and carpets. Hand-tufted carpets, which are made with portable tufting equipment, are known for being robust and durable over time. Stuffed rugs are typically made of woven canvas, which gives them a sturdy foundation and makes them far more affordable than hand-knotted carpets. Panipat and Bhadohi are important centres for the production of tufted carpets in India.
4. Ziegler carpets
Ziegler is a rare variety of carpets with historical influences from the North West frontier. These hand-knotted carpets and rugs are made of handspun Gazani wool yarn and typically feature classic floral patterns. The distinctive characteristics of these carpets include a low pile that is almost zero and an irregular surface. Most commonly, traditional colours like beige, rust, and red are used to weave these rugs. These carpets are only made in Agra, the Taj Mahal city, in India.
5. Kilim rugs
Rugs from the Kilim region have been around since the fourth millennium BC. The warp and weft strands of the weave are closely woven together to create a flat, pile-free surface for Kilims. Kilims, which are made of wool or cotton, have become increasingly collectable in recent years and fetch high prices. Most often, these carpets are used as prayer rugs or as part of home décor. They are mostly produced in Mirzapur, Rajasthan, and Panipat.
Characteristics of Indian rugs
1. Indian rug crafting is a heritage
In the middle of the fifteenth century, Akbar introduced carpet weaving as an art and craft to India. The Mughal emperor probably brought Persian weavers and artisans with him to create carpets for his palace. This set the stage for the nation's carpet industry, establishing centres in what is now Agra and Delhi.
The history of rug making in Badohi, a city close to Agra, dates back to the sixteenth century. The bulk of the city is still involved in the handmade rug business today. In India, weavers pass on their expertise from one generation to the next. Thus, India has established an unrivaled reputation in rug weaving.
2. Handcrafted and unique
Another factor that sets Indo rugs apart is their handmade nature. Each step in the process of creating a carpet is done by hand, beginning with the spinning of the yarn and finishing with weaving on a loom. An Indian rug takes longer to make because the handwork requires effort and time.
That wait, though, is worthwhile. Each carpet is unique because it is made by hand; it is not a product of an assembly line. If you examine them closely, you will see that they have incredibly intricate intricacies that render the pattern impossible to duplicate.
3. Durability
Indian carpets are made using special processes that give them strength and resilience, which allows them to last for an extremely long time. For instance, carpets created on a handloom using two intersecting threads have a latex backing. It strengthens the carpets and keeps them from unraveling.
The flat-woven textured rugs, which are simple to carry and fold, are just as durable. They are extremely lightweight but amazingly durable since they are woven on either a pit loom or a Punjaloom.
4. Quality raw materials
Why are Indian and Persian Gabbeh so distinct from one another? It is all about the raw material. Diverse materials are used to make Indian carpets, and they are all of the highest quality. Silk and hemp both contribute unique qualities to the rug.
Wool, for instance, is the most popular rug material because it has been demonstrated to break after only 10,000 bends. Consequently, wool rugs become remarkably resilient. Furthermore, they resist stains and shedding. Indian carpets also use silk as a raw material. Although significantly more expensive than wool, they have a softer feel.
5. Customizable
A rug for your home should reflect your tastes. The chances of finding a ready-made rug that adheres to your taste down to the last knot are, at best, average. A personalised rug is what you require in those situations, and artisans in India provide it.
A carpet can be customised to meet your room, décor, or style by changing its dimensions, colour scheme, or pattern. Or, even better, have a custom rug manufactured that is woven from scratch to match your specifications.
Takeaway
Popular throughout the world due to a tradition that is ingrained in the very DNA of the weavers, superior materials, exquisite designs, and vibrant colours. Indian carpets are not simply an extravagance. But they are heirlooms you can pass on to future generations. Another thing that makes the craft of Indian carpet making so remarkable is the regional variations and abundance of quality raw materials. The land of culture and diversity provides you with an astonishing variety, ranging from silk hand-knotted carpets of Kashmir to wool Kilims of Rajasthan.
So, browse through our collection of hand-knotted carpets online and buy Indian rugs online for the best price deals!
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