I remember waiting for crafts classes in school every Friday. The last period was all about handicrafts. The best thing that I made was a red carpet where I learnt cross-stitching for the first time. I still cherish it. For me, a durrie was all about covering the floor — a carpet. But over the years the definition of a durrie has been changed. It is today a sophisticated luxury product, associated with expensive lifestyle brands.
The durrie has its history. From China to Turkey — to Egypt — to Mongolia, carpets were traded off and represented local traditions and cultures. It had a blend of its language, motifs, flowers, designs and patterns — all spoke about their traditional roots. And in India the tradition of carpet making saw its epoch with the Mughal dynasty coming in.
Carpet making became an inevitable part of Indian handicraft and thousands of weavers throughout India are working each day to perfect this art. The carpet industry has talented artists mostly originating from tribal art forms. It is mostly done in the remote parts of India and this art is worked to perfection in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu, and Kashmir etc. It is still the source of income for many weavers.
Also, now it is considered graceful. With a lot of varieties available, rugs and carpets are growing ever popular. They can be used at any given place and they instantaneously lift up the outlook of the place.
“Time and advancement in technology have seen the carpet-making industry evolve. Newer and improved techniques, more intricate designs and newer and exciting materials are being used today in the making of carpets.”
To make this art form a class apart many leading companies and stores have taken initiatives to revive this where modernism has not hit yet. Deepankar Choudhury, Director, Hands – Carpets & Rugs, a one-stop destination for premium carpets, says, “Time and advancement in technology have seen the carpet making industry evolve. Newer and improved techniques, more intricate designs and newer and exciting materials are being used today in the making of carpets. Materials like botanical silk and bamboo silk have changed the way we know rugs today, along with traditional materials like fine silk and wool. From the way carpets are woven to the methods used for dyeing, processes have gotten more efficient.”
These carpets have eventually seeped into an expensive lifestyle brand. From a lower priced rug to a premium one; rugs are also among lifestyle statements used to indicate social status. Several changes have also occurred in price points within the rugs categories. The range has increased from entry price to premium within all categories which are mostly determined by the craftsmanship and the quality of yarn used.
Abhinav Mahajan, Director Retail, of the leading soft home furnishing brand Maspar says, “A rug when used typically brings warmth to the surrounding in the room. One should always use a good quality product that enhances the look of the room they are using it in. A customer is always willing to pay a price for a product which fits into their budget and what they relate to. It also shows sophistication which has made it popular these days. A rug used under a coffee table would always enhance the look of the room hence it definitely adds to the sophistication of the room rather than the floor being bare.”
The process of making a handmade carpet is laborious. Months and even years are spent to weave a carpet. These artisans are seeking to revive age-old culture in a modern way. It is pushing forward the traditional artisans and weavers. By bringing together these traditional artisans and providing them a fair and profitable avenue for their skills, these artisans have been brought to the forefront of this industry.
Recently, Obeetee, the leading manufacturer of hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs in India, founded in 1920s, has joined hands with India’s celebrated fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, to unveil an exclusive collection of handmade carpets. Angelique Dhama, spokesperson and chief marketing officer, Obeetee says, “Traditional artisans are involved in all the projects that we do and our weavers and artisans are very receptive to all sorts of designs and challenges given to them. They are highly skilled to do all sorts of designs traditional, transitional and modern.”
According to the designer Tarun Tahiliani, it also represents Indian art. He says, “India to me is one of the last bastions of handmade, intricate luxury. This is reflected in our fashion, in our embroideries, jewels and more. The starting point on my mood board for the carpets, the colours and the techniques are totally Indian. There is no other way to describe them. From classic carpet rendering and from our broken frame series to collage, we have three designs from Mughal miniature — to Chikankari blocks — to my own painting techniques; it is all running through the collection.”
Rugs and carpets are also in vogue because they can be used in diverse ways. It can be designed to be placed in drawing rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms to study rooms. Samira Chopra, creative head of Casa Colour-The Luxurious Furnishing Brand, explains how rugs are of diverse use. She says, “When we talk of rugs and carpets, we are talking about something really diverse. Some rugs can really be very cheap whereas others may be too priced even for the rich at times. It depends on area of use. The ones for bedrooms, dining rooms are usually made of wool and are soft and cozy to give a more posh look. You can also have the affordable cotton and synthetic rugs.”
She also says that it highly depends on the customers. “We have different kinds of customers. We have a diverse range of rugs and carpets that appeal differently to different customers. People have diverse lifestyles, some believe in simplicity and they usually love woolen, cotton or synthetic pieces. Others want something more luxurious, so they opt for animal hides or silk carpets,” says Chopra.
Also, keeping the interior trends in mind, classic Indian motifs and stylized floral patterns have been extensively used to add significant details. Traditional embroideries are expressed in a contemporary way, providing a mirrored reflection of abstract forms, rhythms in repeat to create striking three-dimensional effects.
Our outlook towards carpets has certainly changed. They are considered to be a necessity now. In a way, they are not just in vogue, they are a new world-class lifestyle. Earlier, rugs were largely used for practical purposes. Today, they have evolved into an essential part of aesthetics in a space, be it a cozy corner of your room or office decor or as part of luxury and heritage hotels.