The Rug Maker

About

A collection of woven rugs by The Rug Maker. As the initiator of the project, Singaporean company The Rug Maker began a collaboration with a Finnish producer, VM-Carpet, and a Singapore-based designer Tiffany Loy. Launched in Maison & Objet Paris 2017.

ETCH


Etch is one of the finest expressions of texture in rug weaving. On first glance, one sees a seemingly straightforward pattern of lines on a rug, only to discover upon closer inspection and feel that it actually boasts a diagonal pattern. The weave grants it a seeming gradient that only adds to its understated elegance.

Grid is a stunning woven work, with its practically three-dimensional pattern. The matrix of fibres from which it takes its name boasts amazing depth and adds to the satisfying texture of the rug under bare feet.

LATTICE

Lattice is reminiscent of trellises and interlacing meshes in real life. Its warm colours lend it a comforting and cheery air while also inviting a closer look. Like its Supertextures brethren, it sports a three-dimensional style that makes some parts of the weave look as though they occupy a separate level of space from the rest.

CONFETTI

Grid is a stunning woven work, with its practically three-dimensional pattern. The matrix of fibres from which it takes its name boasts amazing depth and adds to the satisfying texture of the rug under bare feet.

Weaving Wonders:
How Supertextures Came to Be

Supertextures is a collection born out of the collaboration between The Rug Maker and VM Carpet. This Singaporean-Finnish alliance led to a line of rugs epitomising the finest rug-weaving procedures using traditional materials.


In them, one can see some of the most varied expressions of texture in rug-making, and the unique depth such textures yield when paired with smart design.

How We Make the Rugs

The Supertextures rugs are made using a highly refined process. From yarn spinning to finishing, quality assurance is at the core of the affair.

YARN SPINNING

Flat strips of paper are twisted into strong round yarn by machines. At this stage, they’re all brown or white, and have to be wound into loose skeins in preparation for the dyeing process.

DYEING

The yarn is placed in a huge perforated steel drum, which is then immersed into the alkaline, temperature-controlled dye vat. Dye masters watch this process carefully and make adjustments as needed to achieve the perfect hues.

WEAVING

Hundreds of cones of yarn are fed into the weaving loom, where a machine performs the work. Despite the automation, a person is always watching over the operation to ensure quality.

FINISHING

The rugs are trimmed to size and strips of cotton edging are sewn all around them to protect the edges. They are then rolled up and wrapped for transport to their new home.

The Materials We Used

WOOL

Sourced from Germany, this wool is made from New Zealand sheep. It provides a dense, soothingly fuzzy feel. It also tends to produce rugs with varying nuances of colour thanks to the use of different sheeps’ wool fibres in the blend.

PAPER

First used in Finland to make up for other materials’ shortages after World War II, paper is a flatter option than wool or cotton. That said, it remains nicely springy and is made from sturdy Swedish brown paper or US white paper. To make it, a single flat strip of paper is twisted tightly until it becomes yarn.

COTTON

This is a flat tube of knitted cotton fibre from Estonia, made of 80% cotton and 20% recycled polyester. The tubular structure gives it volume and softness. When woven, its flattened shape also lets it twist and turn in a way that adds variety to the appearance of the weave.

POLYESTER

German polyester is used for the warp, or the yarn that runs lengthwise across all of the rugs. Thin, strong, and flexible, it may not always be visible in the rugs. However, it’s integral to their strength and integrity.

Interested in customising your own woven rug?

We can also craft a uniquely designed, uniquely textured rug for you should you want one.
Simply contact us to let us know what you need!