Nick and I had the opportunity to go to Nepal and view the process of making our rugs from start to finish. Below is a selection of images showing the mapping process, raw material storage, the dying lab & dye vats, weavers making samples, and all the different people involved in every step of the entire process.
You can see me on a rooftop porch working with the designers to translate my paintings into separated sections to build a map for the weavers to follow. There are yarn balls wound up that contain mixed ply strands so the weavers can achieve even more color variation per knot and the scale used to measure bales of wool and silk.
With so many personalities working together on each detail, from deciding how to blend and mix colors for each knot, to creating the rendering and map that will guide the weavers in reading the design, to cooperatively balling up the yarns after the dying process, the final outcome is a true collaboration of craftsmanship. Seeing this firsthand has us even more convinced that each rug is truly a one of a kind work of art.
While we were in Nepal we also witnessed the devastation from the Earthquake in Kahtmandu where many Unesco world heritage sites and homes have been badly damaged or totally destroyed. There is a fuel crisis throughout the country which is forcing most of the population to wait in line for days to receive small rations that will only last a few days, or purchase fuel on the blackmarket at a hyper inflated rate. This is wreaking havoc on the day to day lives of Nepalis, and adding massive economic strain on many levels.
But despite the current issues, our partners have continued to accomplish producing the most amazing work. We were extremely honored to be guests in their country and thankful for their gracious hospitality. We look forward to working with them through this situation, and helping as much as we can by ordering more fabulous rugs!
