Craft

Räkki Rugs stands for unique rugs in which traditional craftsmanship and high-quality materials in sustainable production meet inspiration from contemporary art.

The precious craft of carpet weaving is an old art practiced by only a few manufactories. The lengthy process of carpet production is continued in pure manual work. The production consists of the following phases: shearing, spinning, dyeing, weaving and knotting through to the finishing and final washing of every carpet.

The wool used in our rugs comes from Tibetan highland sheep. The Tibetan highland wool is one of the best varieties in the world.
This is due to the high fat content in the material, also known as lanolin.
The sheep are exposed to the harsh climate of the Himalayan mountains and therefore produce significantly more fat than sheep that live in lower regions.
The wool is carded and spun by hand.

The materials such as wool or silk are then dyed manually. The irregular structure in the grain creates a variety of color nuances that subsequently bring a special liveliness in the rug.

For a glowing design in the rug, we use Chinese silk, for example, in addition to wool, which creates an elegant, shimmering surface. Another fiber is nettle. Stinging nettles, often perceived as “weeds”, can be used excellently as a textile fibre.
The stinging nettle, which is mainly cultivated in the Himalayan region, is not only very popular for its softness and robustness, but also because for its similarity to plant silk. The hand-spun stinging nettle fiber makes each carpet unique. The colors which are constantly changing depending on the inclination of the fibers and which gives the carpet a pleasant firmness.

After the different materials have been dyed, preparation for knotting begins. For this purpose, the designs, in original-size, are placed on sheets of paper that serve as knotting patterns.
The knotting pattern serves as a template for turning the design into a rug.

The knot used for our rugs is the traditional Tibetan loop knot, which differs from both Persian and Turkish knots and is only used in Nepal and Tibet. The Tibetan loop knot is knotted around a metal rod and then cut open with a knife.
Our rugs are all hand-knotted on looms. The looms are built from metal frames, which are mainly covered with a cotton thread and thus form the warp for the carpet.

Depending on the size of the rug and the complexity of the design, 2-5 weavers usually work on a rug at the same time and weave about 5-10 cm a day. Today, the craft of knotting is practiced equally by women and men.

After the rug is removed from the loom, it is hand washed. The wash refines the rug and thus increases the radiance of the colours.
We pay attention to an ecologically compatible laundry that is biodegradable and free of chemical additives.

The wet rug is then stretched onto a metal frame and dried in the sun. When the carpet is dry, after approx. 1-3 days, the final touch follows.

With traditional and very large scissors, the pile is trimmed to a continuous height at the end. The rug is then checked for knot quality and colour, dimension and design are also checked and perfected.

Approx. 3-7 months pass until a rug is finished. It can then start its long journey across the world. It will eventually create its own particular beauty in someone's home.