The history of Eastern Knots, now one of America’s leading importers of hand-made Tibetan rugs, can be traced back 30 years, to a small carpet shop founded by a man named Ngawang, who’d fled Tibet following the Chinese occupation of his country in the 1950s, and settled in the tiny Nepalese village of Jawalakhel.

Using traditional carpet-weaving methods and tools passed down through generations, such as the ancient spinning wheel and vertical wood loom, Ngawang’s children remain committed to creating the same exquisite, custom-made rugs that their father once produced. Their carpets, each one a work of art, are crafted from the durable, lanolin-rich wool of Himalayan sheep, and woven and knotted by hand into both classical and innovative contemporary designs.

The rugs featured here are from each of their five Collections—two new Collections are due out in 2012.
 

Comet Blanket Beige from the Cosmo Collection

Altar Smudge Filter from the Homespun Collection

Khorlo II from the Geo Collection

Lhoma I from the Khoryug Collection (Khoryug means environment in Tibetan)

Isle from the Yuniiku Collection (Yuniiku mean unique in Japanese)

Eastern Knot Rugs is also dedicated to social responsibility, and sell only carpets certified by Care & Fare, an organization devoted to fighting against child labor in all countries where carpets are manufactured.

www.easternknots.com (check out what’s on sale)