I hope that by using natural, minimally processed materials in my rugs, I can provide an eco-friendly alternative to the non-biodegradable, synthetic products that dominate the market. Here are some details about the materials used in Ullman Textiles rugs:
The Wool
The main ingredient in these rugs is Himalayan wool. The wool comes from Tibetan sheep from the high Himalayas. They are fed on
native grass that grows in the region naturally. The wool is cut with scissors and
is then washed in the river with an eco friendly detergent. It's dried in the sun. The wool is sorted by hand into the different natural colors and it is hand carded and hand spun into yarn.
Cotton Foundation
The wool yarn is hand knotted onto a foundation of cotton warp and weft threads.
The cotton is grown in India and Nepal without the use of chemicals or
fertilizers.
The Colors
Swiss chemical dyes are used in the colored rugs. Because any excess dyes can make it into the water table, this is the least eco-friendly part of rug production process. I may eventually experiment with using natural vegetable dyes but for now I've come up with a solution that is maybe even better: an emphasis on the designs that rely on the colors that occur naturally on the sheep. The colors range
from a cream color through beige and gray to a very dark brown. Each sheep
has all of these colors in its coat so the wool is sorted into the
individual colors. All my designs are available in this natural palette.
Final Wash
Once the knotting and trimming of the carpet is finished, there is a final
wash that includes a very small amount of acetic acid.
