• History

  • Dev Sarawagi's Empowerment Cycle

    A pioneer in the art of rug-making for two decades, Sarawagi has gained the reputation of a versatile designer, innovative manufacturer, and a leading exporter of hand-knotted Nepalese rugs.

     

    Established in 1992 by design aficionado Dev Anand Sarawagi, the Sarawagi brand has become known for manufacturing prime quality Nepalese rugs. In order to maintain top level design confidentiality and to ensure quality with timely delivery, the entire process from customer engagement to product delivery remains fully owned and operated by Sarawagi. With our commitment towards customer satisfaction, our devoted team of designers, dyers, weavers, and washers bring every beautiful Sarawagi rug to life, knot by knot.

     

    Dev Anand Sarawagi based the business model on the idea that business should do more good than damage. The idea of Inclusive Community Development is engrained in every aspect of our business, and resonates through our work. Visit the DreamWeavers and the Sarawagi Scholars pages to learn about our Community Development Programs.

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    The Story of a Rug

    Click through the slides to learn how our rugs are brought to life.

     

    1. Design

    Our designers draw inspiration from Nepal's rich cultural heritage and gorgeous landscapes, giving birth to contemporary rug art. We spend hours choosing colors from our yarn library, or from the ARS and Pantone color sets.

     

    2. Graph Creation

    The design is converted into a life-size graph, or naksha, either by hand or using computer software.

     

    3. Hand Carding

    Raw Tibetan wool is hand carded and turned into fibres.

     

    4. Hand Spinning

    The carded fibres are spun using a traditional spinning wheel, or Charkha, to make yarn threads that are ready to be dyed.

    5. Dyeing

    Light, medium, or heavy abrush is done for designs that demand a lot of texture.

    After the yarn is dyed, each color is approved by Dev Sarawagi himself.

     

    6. Plying

    Each strand of yarn used for weaving consists of three plys. We often ply different materials together into one strand in order to achieve a certain texture or shine.

     

    7. Weaving

    Our factory is the nerve center of our business. Our skilled weavers work tirelessly to weave each knot to perfection, and after months of labor the hand-knotted Nepali rug is born.

     

    8. Washing

    Washing determines the texture and shine of the final product. Our rugs are washed twice to open up the fibres, to get rid of stray filaments, and to attain a beautiful sheen.

     

     

     

    9. Stretching

    An adhesive is applied behind the rug and it is put on a stretching frame out in the sun. The rug absorbs the adhesive and sun-dries, straightening the edges and resulting in a perfect shape.

     

    10. Finishing

     

    Our finishing specialists use eight different types of tools to give our rugs a perfect shear, trim, and finish.

     

    The finished rug is packed and shipped to customers all over the world- in Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia.

     

     

     

     

  • Materials

    Tibetan Wool

    The predominant ingredient in our rugs is wool from the Tibetan mountain sheep.

     

    This wool's naturally oily property gives a lustrous sheen and texture to the rug.

     

    What's magical about this wool is that the more you use the rug, the shinier it gets. Unlike other wool, the strands of this wool remain upright once woven, so when you walk on our rugs or comb your fingers through the surface, the strands will not bend- they're good as new, every day!

     

    Natural Fibers

    We love to use natural fibres like Hemp, Nettle, Jute, Soya, Linen, and Allo in our rugs. Allo, or Himalayan Nettle, is a natural fibre extracted from the Cannabis plant. It grows naturally in high altitudes, and is light, strong, and has a silk-like sheen. Allo is said to have the longest fibre in the plant kingdom, making it ideal for carpets. Allo harvest and processing serves as a source of livelihood to numerous local mountain communities.

    Chinese Silk

    The lustrous Chinese Silk adds a touch of sophistication to any room.

    When the silk is blended with Tibetan wool, it gives the rug a beautiful texture and shine.

    ECONYL®

    Nylon waste from landfills and oceans around the world is transformed into ECONYL® regenerated nylon.

    The nylon comes in a dull and a shiny version, and dyes beautifully, making an ideal combination for hand knotted rugs.

    Bamboo Silk & TENCEL™

    Bamboo silk is a natural fibre extracted from the Bamboo plant, and is imported from China. It is an economical alternative to Chinese Silk and gives a gorgeous sheen to the rug when blended with wool.

    Similarly, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA™ technology are manufactured in a closed-loop process by the company Lenzing. TENCEL™ makes for a economical replacement to Silk.

  • Custom Orders

    Have a design you'd like us to bring to life on a hand-knotted carpet? Like one of our designs, but want to adapt it in your own size and colorway?

     

    Our designers will work closely with you to understand the inspiration behind your designs and what you expect to see in the end product. Our loom sizes range from 2'x3' all the way to 20'x60' and we can work with every design and color imaginable.

     

    Contact us for custom orders.

  • Our Customers

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