Carpets mix modern, traditional styles

Releases adopt contemporary designs while still showcasing distinct Persian influences and local craftsmanship. Handmade models remain prominent.

The latest India-made carpets fuse modern elements with traditional designs that reflect historical and cultural influences from the Mughal Empire.

New handtufted carpets bear abstract patterns, swirls and dots, tribal motifs and other contemporary patterns while handknotted pieces feature Nepali-Tibetan, Persian, flat and hooked weaves. Nature, geometric, royal and calligraphic themes are popular. Makers are showing their modern interpretation of Persian designs by using new colors, 3D prints, irregular pile heights, and an assortment of unique shades, nongeometric patterns and shapes.

Models can also come in vintage colors and pastel tones with black, gold, copper and rose quartz accents. Dip dye versions are mainstream.

Authentic oriental looks and unique mixed styles make indigenous handtufting and -knotting the preferred carpet-making techniques even if electronic looms and machines can help increase capacity and lower production costs.

In terms of materials, silk and wool are common, with the latter sourced locally and imported from other regions, including Nepal, New Zealand, Brazil and the Middle East. Suppliers also combine these with cotton, viscose, hemp, jute and leather to cut down on costs. Recycled fabrics from discarded garments and sarees are also used.

Capry Expotex offers handspun and -knotted designs using NZ wool. The latter features traditional Persian weaves with 150,000 to 550,000 knots per sqm.

Carpets from Mabood International adopt wool, silk, chenille, bamboo fiber and acrylic. Its jacquard, Nepali and Persian weaves are popular and show abstract, geometric and floral patterns with distressed finishes and patchwork.

Models from Rugs In Style Inc. are handknotted and -tufted from a combination of wool, viscose and linen. They adopt Tibetan weaves and feature chess board, marble tiles and abstract patterns. 3D designs and marine themes are also available. Pile height is 12 to 20mm while weight is 2.5 to 3kg per sqm.

Aside from the abovementioned materials, Saif Carpets Pvt. Ltd uses cotton, hemp and micron fiber. Models show needle weaves and floral, nature and geometric themes. Carpets are multicolored. Dip dye styles are also available.

Price of India carpets varies depending on construction technique.

Offered at $15 to $20, low-end machine-tufted carpets use wool with cotton, polyester or jute with a 10 to 15mm pile height and weight of 2.5kg. Handknotted versions are blended with silk and viscose, and feature 60,000 to 70,000 knots per sqm. Price is $200 to $500 per sqm.

Midrange carpets use wool and blends for handtufted versions, listed at $20 to $30. Pile height goes up to 20mm and weight is 3.5kg. Priced at $500 to $800 per sqm, handknotted models adopt silk and have 75,000 to 200,000 knots per sqm.

Nepal wool, hemp and blends are used for high-end handtufted models, which have a 30mm pile height and weighs 4.5kg. These are available for $30 to $100. Handknotted versions are crafted from Pashmina wool and silk with 200,000 to 400,000 knots per sqm. Price starts at $800 and can exceed $2,500 per sqm.

Small and medium companies dominate the carpet-making industry in India. Among 1,000 exporters, there are nearly 100 large businesses that turn out 20,000 to 50,000sqm monthly. Midsize manufacturers, listed at around 300, have less than 20,000sqm output.

Main export markets are the US, EU, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Scandinavia. Asia-Pacific regions, and Central and South America are emerging destinations.

See a comparison table of carpet suppliers on GlobalSources.com