Techniques
We are able to weave designs in a number of different styles:
Hand-tufted, Hand-knotted, Hand-loom, Flatwoven, Jacquard, Shag pile,
With a range of techniques including
Hand carving, Edge chamfering, Loop cutting, Colour gradation and contrasting material accents.
HAND KNOTTED
Hand-knotted rugs are crafted by skilled artisans who individually tie knots of yarn onto the rug's foundation loom. This meticulous process results in durable and intricately designed rugs known for their high quality, intricate design details and longevity. Traditionally one single person creates each rug to ensure consistency and harmony of each knot.
FLATWEAVE
Flat-weave rugs are made by weaving yarns across a loom to create a flat surface without pile. They are typically lightweight and reversible, featuring intricate patterns. A popular style of weaving for outdoor rugs and runners. The weaving technique lends itself perfectly for design styles featuring stripes, checks, herringbones and geometry.
HAND TUFTED
Hand-tufting is a method of making rugs or carpets where a handheld tool is used to punch strands of yarn through a canvas backing to create a pile. The tool hooks and pulls yarn through the backing canvas to form loops or piles. Once the design is complete a backing canvas is bonded to the rug. This is great technique to offer quality and individuality.
hand loom
Hand-loom rugs are crafted using a traditional loom operated by hand, where yarns are woven together to create the rug's surface. This method allows for precise control over the design and texture of the rug.
MATERIALS
Producing our rugs to order allows us flexibility to choose which fibres you would like to have your rugs made from, you could even have a mixture. Think of accents or borders in glossy silks, flecks of metallic yarns which catch the light, or a mixture of luxury fluffy alpaca with short pile merino. You should consider location of furniture in the space, choosing a hard-wearing wool or PET yarn for the section of the room which would have the most footfall and the extra comfort underfoot of a longer pile where you sit. Designs tailored to space and practicality.
Materials Available:
Pure Wool, New Zealand Wool, Cashmere, Merino, Mohair, Angora
Pure Silk
Art Silks, Tencel, Banana and Bamboo
EnCO:RE recycled plastic
Cotton, Linen & Polyester
Grasses - Seagrass, Coir, Sisal and Jute
Leather and hides
Metallic yarn
PURE WOOL
Pure wool, a natural fibre derived from the fleece of sheep, has long been a favoured choice for rugs and carpets. Renowned for its durability and comfort, wool also boasts naturally fire-resistant properties and is celebrated for being an eco-friendly option, as it is both a renewable and biodegradable resource. Its outstanding insulating qualities further enhance its appeal.
Exceptionally resilient, wool is well-suited to areas of high foot traffic, thanks to its impressive "bounce-back" quality, ensuring longevity and performance. Additionally, wool absorbs dyes brilliantly, resulting in rugs and carpets with vivid, enduring colours. With its timeless charm and environmentally conscious credentials, wool remains an enduring choice for those seeking high-quality and sustainable home design solutions.
NEW ZEALAND WOOL
New Zealand wool is renowned for its exceptional quality, softness, and remarkable durability. Naturally bright and white, this wool provides an excellent foundation for achieving vibrant and true-to-life dye colours.
Rugs crafted from New Zealand wool are celebrated for their sumptuous texture, rich hues, and enduring elegance. Like all wool, it is naturally stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, and flame-retardant, making it a superb choice for both style and safety in home interiors. With ethical and sustainable farming practices firmly in place, New Zealand wool is an ideal option for the discerning and environmentally conscious consumer.
MERINO
Merino wool is a luxury fibre sourced from Merino sheep, it is exceptionally soft and warm. Merino wool is fine and smooth. Rugs and Carpets made from Merino wool are known for their velvety texture and superior warmth. These rugs are meticulously crafted and Merino wool's resilience and softness ensure lasting comfort and elegance.
ALPACA
Alpaca wool is a premium natural fibre obtained from the fleece of alpacas, celebrated for its remarkable softness, warmth, and lightweight qualities. Unlike traditional sheep's wool, alpaca wool is lanolin-free, making it hypoallergenic and an excellent option for those with sensitive skin. It is also naturally water-resistant and boasts a silky texture with an elegant sheen.
Rugs crafted from alpaca wool are prized for their outstanding softness, durability, and warmth, offering a plush and inviting texture that exudes both comfort and sophistication. Additionally, alpaca wool rugs are inherently stain-resistant and exceptionally long-lasting, making them an ideal choice for those seeking luxurious and sustainable home furnishings.
MOHAIR
Mohair wool, a luxurious fibre sourced from the fleece of Angora goats, is highly prized for its silky texture, radiant sheen, and exceptional durability. Renowned as one of the strongest natural fibres, mohair combines remarkable resilience with natural elasticity, making it resistant to wear and tear. Its excellent insulating properties provide warmth during cooler months while remaining comfortably cool in warmer weather.
Mohair wool rugs are celebrated for their lustrous finish, soft touch, and enduring quality, lending a sense of timeless elegance and sophistication to any interior. Furthermore, these rugs are naturally flame-retardant and resistant to dirt, making them an impeccable choice for those seeking both beauty and practicality in their home furnishings.
Cashmere
Cashmere wool, an exquisite fibre sourced from the undercoat of cashmere goats, predominantly found in the Himalayan regions, is celebrated for its unrivalled softness, warmth, and feather-light quality. Revered as one of the most sought-after natural fibres globally, cashmere is distinguished by its fine, silky texture, offering a touch that is wonderfully gentle against the skin.
Rugs crafted from cashmere wool are exceptionally rare and cherished for their unmatched softness and refined elegance. These rugs provide a sumptuous, inviting feel, adding an unmistakable air of luxury to any setting. Naturally insulating and hypoallergenic, cashmere wool rugs deliver a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication, making them a truly exceptional choice for the discerning home.
TENCEL
Tencel, a modern semi-synthetic fibre crafted from cellulose typically sourced from wood pulp, is admired for its silk-like sheen, exceptional softness, and smooth texture. Highly absorbent, it lends itself beautifully to vibrant dyeing, making it a popular choice in the world of textiles. However, it is worth noting that Tencel is less robust than some natural fibres and may show signs of wear with time.
Rugs made from Tencel are celebrated for their luxurious, glossy finish and soft, indulgent feel underfoot. Often chosen for their ability to deliver sophisticated designs at an accessible price point, Tencel rugs bring a touch of high-end elegance to any interior. That said, these rugs do require thoughtful care, as they can be sensitive to moisture and may not endure heavy use as readily as more durable alternatives.
PURE SILK
Pure silk, a natural fibre spun by silkworms, is celebrated for its exquisite lustre, sumptuous softness, and remarkable strength. With a rich heritage spanning centuries, silk remains synonymous with luxury, gracing fashion, textiles, and refined home interiors. Its hypoallergenic nature and breathable qualities further elevate its status as a preferred material for the discerning.
Rugs made from pure silk are the pinnacle of elegance, showcasing a radiant sheen and unmatched softness. Their intricate patterns and vibrant hues reflect masterful artistry, creating pieces of timeless sophistication. Renowned for their durability and enduring beauty, silk rugs are often cherished as family heirlooms, preserving their splendour and grace through generations.
BAMBOO SILK
Bamboo silk, an eco-friendly fibre derived from bamboo cellulose, is celebrated for its smooth, silky texture and subtle natural sheen. Offering the luxurious feel of traditional silk with a more sustainable approach, bamboo silk benefits from the rapid growth and low resource demands of its source material. It is soft, durable, and features excellent moisture-wicking properties, making it both practical and refined.
Rugs crafted from bamboo silk are highly regarded for their sophisticated appearance, with a delicate shine that lends a touch of understated elegance to any interior. They are delightfully soft underfoot, providing a truly luxurious experience. However, to preserve their beauty, these rugs benefit from gentle care and thoughtful maintenance.
BANANA SILK
Banana silk, also referred to as banana fibre, is a sustainable and environmentally friendly material derived from the stems of banana plants. This natural fibre is prized for its strength, lightness, and silky texture, complemented by a gentle sheen that exudes understated luxury. Fully biodegradable and crafted with minimal environmental impact, banana silk represents a harmonious blend of elegance and eco-consciousness.
Rugs fashioned from banana silk are admired for their distinctive lustrous finish and soft texture underfoot. Combining sophistication with sustainability, these rugs lend themselves beautifully to vibrant, eye-catching designs thanks to the fibre's excellent dyeing properties. While durable, banana silk rugs are inherently delicate and benefit from mindful care to maintain their exquisite appearance and feel.
POLYESTER
Polyester is a man-made fibre that’s known for being durable, affordable, and low-maintenance. It’s resistant to wrinkles, stains, and fading, which makes it a practical option for a range of fabrics. Polyester can even imitate the look and feel of natural fibres, but with the added bonus of better resilience and longer-lasting colour.
Polyester rugs are popular for their strength, bright colours, and ability to keep their shape and appearance over time. They’re also moisture-resistant and easy to clean, which makes them a great choice for busy homes or households with children and pets.
EnCO:RE Fibre - Recycled Plastic
EnCO:RE yarn is made from plastic bottles and other plastic waste materials. It is transformed into a strong yet surprisingly soft eco friendly fibre, much alike real wool.
This process helps reduce waste to landfill and cuts down the environmental impact.
Rugs made from EnCO:RE are a brilliant choice – they’re sustainable, hard-wearing, hypoallergenic and practical. They stand up well to moisture, stains, and fading, making them perfect for busy areas of the home. They’re also really easy to clean. The yarn comes in a wide range of bright colours. So, when you choose a rug made in this fibre, you're not only making a smart, eco-conscious decision, but you’re also adding a durable and stylish touch to your home.
Bringing new life to old plastics by turning them into performance fibres, this is an Encore worth repeating.
EnCO:RE cycle. RE purpose. RE use. RE peat.
Acrylic
Acrylic fibre is a soft, budget-friendly material used in hand-tufted rugs, available in a huge range of vibrant colours. While cheaper than wool, it’s less durable and may pill over time, especially in high-traffic areas. However, it’s easy to clean and resistant to stains and moths.
Commonly used in outdoor rugs, acrylic’s production has a bigger environmental footprint than natural fibres. That’s why, in recent years, we’ve switched to our more sustainable, recycled plastic EnCO:RE fibre.
cotton
Is soft, absorbent and lightweight. It is a good choice for flat weaving and in bright colours, as the fibre holds the dyes well.
Jute and Sisal
The grass fibres when woven into rugs are attractive and versatile however they are challenging to live with. They are sustainable however they are highly absorbent and do stain and retain odours easily. Sisal is a stiffer fibre and feels coarse underfoot, making it the ideal fibre for entryways and hallway runners. Jute, on the other hand, is soft and works better in living rooms and bedrooms. We have created similar looking rugs for the modern world made with PET yarns and wool, giving the same natural look but with added durability, softer feel and the benefits of being stain and water repellent.