Fiber at a Glance Rug Type
Cleanable
ARTIFICIAL SILK
Low
(bounce back)
Texture
Durability
Resists Moisture
Resists Stains
Low
Soft
Medium Low
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û
Resilience
Minimal Sustainable Shedding
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û
These area rugs are most suitable for light to moderate traffic area: secondary rooms such as bedrooms and formal living areas. BAMBOO SILK: Fibers that are produced using bamboo (which is a grass) as the cellulose donor. Higher quality than viscose given it’s origin, more similar to banana. It has more stippling when dyed and is very common in India to achieve a high silky luster. It is as delicate as silk. Other properties include a soft hand and good color fastness. It is less resilient than silk and will crush more easily under furniture. Shading will occur from vacuuming as the pile shifts and tracking will occur from foot steps. BANANA SILK: A yarn produced from stripping the bark of banana trees and more common in Nepal. It has better properties than viscose. It dyes more consistently and evenly. It is super soft and resembles Chinese silk. TENCEL: Made from the bark of a cyprus tree, closer to bamboo and banana than viscose. When creating the fiber, less chemicals are used, increasing the chances of stain removal. This is a trade marked viscose from Italy. VISCOSE/RAYON: Can be produced from trees, grass and cotton, as they all get their strength from cellulose origins. Adds luster and shimmer to designs. Soft to the touch, easy to dye. “Faux Silk” can be highly reflective, and the colors change constantly with light, yielding a uniquely dynamic look. Whitest white color can be achieved. May be easily flattened by heavy furniture: not recommended in high traffic areas like hallways, wet areas like kitchens, or under dining room tables. Harder to clean than wool or cotton. Soiling needs immediate attention. It is best to clean the entire rug at one time. COTTON
Low
Medium
Soft
Average
û
û
ü
ü
Fluffy, soft staple fiber that grows in protective capsules around the seeds of cotton plants. Cotton is used in rugs as the structure warp and weft holding other fibers in place. Yarns can be textured to create chenille, it has a natural shine and casual appearance. Often reversible, inexpensive, hypoallergenic, biodegradable/eco-friendly. It takes color very well, therefore, colors can be bolder and brighter. HEMP/ABACA
Medium
High
Coarse
High
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û
û
ü
Hemp Grass is a smooth grass fiber which is a rich, coppery shade of brown, providing a neutral ground to any design scheme. A strong material that is very durable and processed using an eco-friendly water-based method. Unlike some natural rug fibers that cannot handle water or humidity, if a hemp rug does get wet, the material will not get damaged. Simply allow it to air dry. JUTE/SISAL
Low Medium
High
Coarse
Medium High
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û
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ü
Sisal fibers are extracted from the crushed leaves of the agave plant while jute is created from the stems of a jute plant. Both sources produce all-natural, sustainable fibers that can be spun into coarse, strong threads, jute being the softer of the two. They absorb dye well allowing for a variety of natural color offerings. LINEN
Medium
Medium Low
Coarse to Medium
High
û
û
ü
ü
Made from the flax plant, linen is generally acknowledged for it’s strength, absorbency and the ability to keep cool or warm depending on the conditions. Linen’s natural coarseness will greatly soften over time. Linen is one of the oldest fibers around. It tends to gain a weathered, vintage feel which plays to the sense of authenticity that is a touchstone for the new generation of shoppers. Color varies depending on the season in which it was harvested. NYLON
High
High
Soft
High
ü
ü
ü
û
Nylon resembles silk or viscose but is much more durable, has increased resistance to crushing and far better sunlight resistance. This is gaining popularity in both broadloom and area rugs for high sheen, soft and performance. Nylon is a thermoplastic silky material that can be melt-processed into fibers. It is made of repeating units linked by amide links similar to the peptide bonds in proteins. Nylon polymers can be mixed with a wide variety of additives to achieve many different property variations. Nylon can have a low luster to a high sheen. Nylon is very strong and in fine area rugs, can be used in hand loom as well hand tufted. It’s is as expensive as wool sometimes more. In the broadloom world, it is one of the most expensive and luxurious fibers. NuSilk™ is one brand of Nylon Kravet offers and is made in the USA. Whitest white color can be achieved. Nylon has increased resistance to crushing, sunlight fading, insects, fungi, mildew, molds, and rot. Nylon is a performance fiber for indoor use only.
Cleanable Low = Difficult to Clean Medium = Moderate High = Easy to Clean
3 4 6 / C A R PE T / K R AV E T I N C .
Resilience Low = Crushes Easliy Medium = Moderate High = Does not Crush
Durability Low = 1-3 years Medium = 3-5 years High = 6+ years
