Hand-Knotted Nepali Carpets, Made to Your Design
Tibetan-knot rugs woven by skilled Nepali artisans from Himalayan wool, silk and natural fibres. Choose any size, colour, design and knot density, from 60 to 150 knots per square inch. We manage sampling, production, quality control and shipping.
Woven in the Kathmandu Valley Since the 1960s
Nepal's modern carpet industry grew from the Tibetan weaving tradition, brought to the Kathmandu Valley by Tibetan refugees in the 1960s. Within a few decades, hand-knotted carpets had become one of Nepal's best-known exports, valued by designers worldwide for deep pile, soft Himalayan wool and almost limitless design freedom.
Today, skilled weavers still knot every carpet by hand, one knot at a time, on large vertical looms. Depending on size and density, a single carpet can take weeks or months to finish. The designs range from traditional Tibetan and Nepali motifs, geometric patterns, florals and mythical symbols to clean, modern and abstract styles.
Choose Your Knot Density
In Nepal, carpet quality is measured in knots per square inch. More knots give finer detail and crisper lines, but also more weaving time and a higher price. Here is how the common grades compare.
Bold, simple designs with a chunky, rustic hand. Best value and fastest to weave.
The best balance of detail, softness and cost for most contemporary designs.
Finer curves and detail, popular for high-end interiors and silk accents.
Very fine detail and gradients for luxury and statement pieces.
The bars show relative weaving time and cost. Finer grades take noticeably longer to produce.
Materials That Make the Difference
Natural, high-quality fibres give Nepali carpets their softness, sheen and long life. Mix them freely to create texture and contrast.
Himalayan Highland Wool
Long-staple, lanolin-rich wool that is soft, resilient and naturally stain- and dirt-resistant. Our signature fibre.
Hand-carded & hand-spun optionsNew Zealand Wool & Blends
Very even, consistent yarn for clean contemporary designs, often blended with Himalayan wool.
Uniform colour & textureSilk
Adds luminous sheen and fine detail, used as accents or for luxury all-silk pieces.
Wool-silk highlightsAllo (Himalayan Nettle)
A wild Himalayan nettle fibre with a natural, earthy texture. A sustainable story for eco-minded brands.
Natural fibre collectionHemp & Other Natural Fibres
Durable, textural plant fibres for flat or low-pile rugs and mixed-material designs.
On requestCotton Foundation
Strong cotton warp and weft form the base that every knot is tied onto.
Standard constructionNatural & Vegetable Dyes
Colours from plants and minerals for soft, organic tones and a gentle, natural colour variation called abrash.
Azo-Free Synthetic Dyes
Light-fast, consistent colours matched exactly to your pantone or yarn poms, compliant with EU REACH azo-dye limits.
From Raw Wool to Finished Carpet
Every Nepali carpet passes through many skilled hands. These are the key stages.
Wool Sorting & Washing
Raw wool is sorted by quality and washed to remove dirt.
Carding & Spinning
Fibres are combed and spun into yarn, by hand or by machine.
Dyeing
Yarn is pot-dyed in small batches to match your colour poms.
Design Graph
Your design becomes a knot-by-knot graph for the weavers.
Hand-Knotting
Weavers tie every Tibetan knot by hand on vertical looms.
Cutting & Beating
Knot loops are cut to form the pile, and rows are beaten tight.
Washing
The carpet is washed thoroughly to bring out softness and colour.
Stretching & Drying
It is stretched square and dried in the sun.
Trimming & Carving
The pile is clipped level, and outlines are hand-carved for depth.
QC & Packing
We inspect size, colour, finish and binding, then roll and pack for export.
Your Design, Woven in Nepal
Interior designers, retailers and hospitality brands send us a sketch, CAD file or mood board, and we turn it into a carpet.
Brief
Size, design, fibres, density and budget
Artwork & CAD
Design adapted and graphed for weaving
Colour Poms
Dyed yarn poms sent for your approval
Strike-off Sample
A small woven sample to check colour and texture
Production
Typically 8–14 weeks, depending on size and density
QC & Shipping
Inspection, documents and delivery to your door
From Tibetan Classics to Modern Minimal
Beautiful, and Made the Right Way
Buyers today need to know who made their carpet and how. We build that transparency into every order.
No Child Labour
We work only with verified workshops of adult weavers, and can source from GoodWeave-certified producers on request.
Verified Workshops
Factory visits and supplier verification before production starts.
Social Audits
Support for BSCI, SMETA (Sedex) and other audits through our certification & audit service.
Natural Materials
Wool, silk and plant fibres, with natural dyes available and support for local artisan communities.
Testing & Compliance
- Flammability: USA 16 CFR 1630/1631 (pill test); EU and contract fire ratings on request
- Azo dyes: EU REACH restricted aromatic amines
- Colour fastness: to light, rubbing and water
- Fibre content: for accurate labels (e.g., US FTC textile rules)
- Pre-shipment inspection: size, colour, defects, binding and packing
Testing is arranged at accredited labs. See our product testing and quality control services.
Carpet Specifications
Typical specifications. Every order is confirmed on a detailed spec sheet before production.
| Construction | |
| Technique | 100% hand-knotted, Tibetan knot, on vertical looms |
|---|---|
| Knot density | 60, 80, 100 and 150 knots per square inch (others on request) |
| Pile | Cut pile, typically 8–15 mm; hi-lo, carved and loop textures available |
| Foundation | Cotton warp and weft |
| Materials & Colour | |
| Pile fibres | Himalayan wool, New Zealand wool and blends, silk, allo (nettle), hemp |
| Yarn | Hand-carded and hand-spun, or machine-spun |
| Dyes | Natural / vegetable dyes or azo-free synthetic dyes; custom colour matching |
| Sizes & Orders | |
| Sizes | Any size or shape: rectangles, runners, rounds, oversized |
| Design | Your design (sketch, CAD, image) or our collections |
| Samples | Colour poms and woven strike-off samples |
| Lead time | Typically 8–14 weeks from approval, depending on size and density |
| MOQ | Flexible; single custom pieces to container loads |
| Packing & Shipping | |
| Packing | Rolled (never folded), wrapped in polythene and sealed in woven HDPE or hessian bags, with labels |
| HS code (indicative) | 5701.10 (knotted carpets of wool or fine animal hair) |
| Documents | Commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin (GSP where eligible), test reports on request |
| Shipping | Air or sea freight, door-to-door. See our logistics service |
Built to Last for Generations
Vacuum Gently
Use suction only, without a rotating beater bar.
Rotate Yearly
This evens out wear and sun exposure.
Blot Spills
Blot, don't rub, then let it air dry.
Professional Clean
Have it washed by rug specialists every few years.
Some shedding is normal for new hand-spun wool rugs and settles with use.
Related Products & Services
Let's Weave Your Next Collection
Send us your design, sizes and quantities. We'll come back with yarn poms, a strike-off sample plan and a tailored quote.
Request a Quote & SampleFrequently Asked Questions
What makes Nepali hand-knotted carpets special?
Nepali carpets are knotted by hand, one Tibetan knot at a time, usually from soft, lanolin-rich Himalayan wool. The result is a dense, durable pile and almost unlimited design freedom. A well-made Nepali carpet can last for generations.
What does "knots per square inch" mean?
It is how carpet quality is measured in Nepal. Common grades are 60, 80, 100 and 150 knots per square inch. Higher densities allow finer detail and smoother curves, but take longer to weave and cost more. 80 knots is a popular balance for contemporary designs.
Can you make carpets to my own design and size?
Yes. Send us a sketch, CAD file or reference image with your sizes. We adapt the artwork into a weaving graph, send dyed yarn poms for colour approval and, if you wish, a small woven strike-off sample before full production.
Which materials can I choose?
You can choose Himalayan wool, New Zealand wool and blends, silk, allo (Himalayan nettle) and hemp, on a cotton foundation. Wool and silk are often combined to create sheen and contrast in the design.
What is the lead time for a custom carpet?
Production typically takes 8–14 weeks after design and colour approval, depending on size, knot density and quantity. Sampling usually adds a few weeks at the start. We share a production schedule and updates throughout.
Are your carpets free from child labour?
We work only with verified workshops of adult weavers, and we can source from GoodWeave-certified producers and support social audits such as BSCI or SMETA on request.
Do you test carpets for export compliance?
Yes. We can arrange flammability testing (e.g., US 16 CFR 1630/1631), azo-dye testing for EU REACH, colour-fastness and fibre-content tests, plus a pre-shipment inspection of size, colour and finish.
How are carpets packed and shipped?
Carpets are rolled, never folded, wrapped in polythene and sealed in woven HDPE or hessian bags. We arrange air or sea freight door-to-door, with the commercial invoice, packing list and Certificate of Origin.
Request a Carpet Quote & Sample
Share your design, sizes, quality and quantities, and our team will reply within 24 hours.
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