Nepalese carpets are different from any other carpet available on the world market because they are knotted on rods rather than on straight warps.
MANUFACTURING Carpets in Nepal
The majority of our carpets have been produced in five small factories owned by one family in Nepal. This family has been in the carpet business since 1970, three generations of designing as well as manufacturing all their own rugs without the use of child labor. In 2001 they received a prestigious award in Paris for their unique designs.
A 3 X 5 foot carpet in 80 knots per square inch (172,800 knots per carpet) requires approximately one month to hand knot and finish while the same size in 100 knots (a staggering 216,000 knots per carpet) takes 40-60 days to complete. Carpets are made of 100% New Zealand and/or Tibetan wool; the extraordinary colors are achieved with specialized Swiss dyes.
After dying, the wool is dried on the factory roofs in the brilliant Nepalese sunshine of fall, winter, and spring. Summer brings the torrential rains of the monsoons, so wool is stockpiled in advance to enable production to continue during the rainy season. Twenty-five to fifty tons of wool are kept in inventory to supply the needs of the five factories.
Nepalese carpets are different from any other carpet available on the world market because they are knotted on rods rather than on straight warps. Warps, and subsequently fringes, are made of heavy-duty cotton. Many of the yarns are spun by hand. All carpets are washed by hand prior to shipping to improve the luster of the wool. |
 Skeining the wool |
 Knotting around the steel rod |
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 Design taking shape |
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 Carving out the designs |
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 Finishing the edges |
Empress Orient is the importer and distributor of handmade wool and silk and wool carpets from Nepal. Catering to both residential sales and specialized commercial projects, including custom orders. Shipping available worldwide. VISA accepted.
