What is a "shaggy" carpet?
Denmark is world renown for its modern design. Some of the acclaimed Danish designs are: Innovation (in furniture and accessories), B&O (in electronic entertainment) and, of course Jannsen. The Danish Museum of Art & Design hosts many Danish designs for months before they are released on the market.
Whilst travelling Scandinavia, in the early 60s, I came across the "shaggy carpets". The term "Shaggy" derives from shaggy dog (an especially long haired dog). These carpets were manufactured from pure wool made into extremely long thin strands (up to 16cm in length). They were sold under the RYA brand name. They included elements of graphic design and at least 16 colours per carpet. These carpets were hand-made, on simple looms, at home, during the long cold Scandinavian winters.
The RYA carpets were unique and very expensive due to the amount of work invested in each carpet.
Carpets manufactured on mechanical looms, faintly resembling the RYA carpets, began appearing in the late 60s. These carpets were made of wool however, the strands were short and they incorporated only 3 to 4 colours.
During 1970 I founded "Arbel Carpets" and developed a system of tying the required length strand to a cotton net. This system allowed for a close resemblance to the original RYA carpets in strand length, design and abundance of colour. They, obviously, became an immediate success.
These carpets were so soft and even caressing that people placed them in every room. They were used in the living room, bedroom and children's rooms.
Since then we always stock hairy woolen "shaggy" carpets.
In recent years, the textile industry has developed a polyester strand that has enabled Indian companies (and others) to manufacture especially hairy carpets which they call "shaggy carpets". The quality of these carpets varies drastically from one manufacturer to another.
At "Itamar Carpets" you will find a wide variety of quality "shaggy carpets" made from pure wool, a combination of wool and synthetic silk ("Alora") and fine synthetic fibers ("Rolan"). You will also find thicker synthetic fibers, synthetic fiber ribbons combined with synthetic silk ("Dion"). We also have carpets made from especially thick strands of wool ("Targa") and a selection of chenille carpets in the "shaggy" style.
Photographs of these carpets are available on this website.
Please feel free to visit "Itamar Carpets" showrooms where you will find the largest selection of contemporary carpets available in Israel.
Itamar Ziedman
(The author is the founding owner of Itamar Carpets).
Rounding the square
If you want to be out of the ordinary, why not order a round or elliptical carpet instead. We would be happy to oblige.
Do not hesitate to consult us about any shape that you may wish for. We will do the utmost to make your dream a reality.
Natural fiber rugs
You will find a wide selection of rugs made from natural fibers and "green rugs" at "Itamar Carpets". Hemp, cotton, jute and reeds are among the raw materials that we use, usually in their natural colours. These materials are used, to create rugs and carpets, either with machines or, in many cases, hand-made.
Some of these fibers require a very long and unique process to allow for their use in the industry.
Coconut fibers are extracted from outer shell of the fruit that one usually sees in shops. The fruit is soaked in water for approximately six months before the fibers can be removed. These fibers are then woven for use. Since the nineties their popularity has slowly subsided due to their rough hard feel.
Hemp branches are also soaked for extended periods. The fibers are then separated by machine and prepared for weaving.
The "green rugs" of "Itamar Carpets" are manufactured from natural fibers, without the use of chemicals. They are then braided or woven by hand. See "Onda" & "Hemp Boucle" on this website.
The World of Children
Israel is often described as "the world of children". There must be something in the genes of the inhabitants to compel them to place babies and children at the center of the family and as the top priority in family expenditure. And as if this would not suffice, there are always the grandparents ...
"Itamar Carpets" offers a wide variety of wonderful rugs for baby's and children's rooms. These rugs incorporate an optimal combination of soft, caressing, colourful and functional capabilities.
Baby's and children's rugs must be soft. As cotton is one of the softest available fibers, "Itamar Carpets" use it as the raw material for most of these rugs. The cotton threads are braided together with velvet like threads to create a chenille pile. This achieves the desired soft and caressing rug.
"Estel" is one of our softest rugs. It is made of cotton loops and is available in many popular colours.
The best selling rug, for baby's children's rooms, in Israel, is the "Yael" by "Itamar Carpets". It is available in no less than 22 spectacular colours.
We also supply rugs made of soft acrylic fibers that are easy to clean. These flat pile rugs are available in wonderful patterns of animals, a car and many more. We also offer round rugs.
There can be no doubt that one of our rugs will complete the required design of the room.
Simple effective recommendations for cleaning children's rugs are supplied.
The magical secret of woolen carpets
The vast majority of quality carpets and rugs are made from wool.
Wool is a natural protein fiber that grows from the follicles of the sheep's skin. It is like human hair in that it is composed of keratin-type protein. Each wool fiber is a molecular coil spring making the fiber remarkably elastic. Nature has folded the chemical polypeptide chains back upon themselves in such a way that they act like a coiled spring which elongates when it is extended and retracts when it is released. This allows it to quickly return to its original appearance after being subjected to a weight, such as a chair. However, a heavy table, placed in one position, may leave an indent. It is therefore advisable to periodically rotate the rug.
Historically, the most commonly used fibers for clothing were wool and hemp. Shepherds wore wool and farmers wore hemp. This, in turn, allowed for immediate identification, which often resulted in conflict. Judaism forbade the mixing of wool and hemp to the extent that woolen clothing was marked as excluding hemp.
There are different wool fibers. The thinner ones (less than 25 microns in diameter), like "Marino", are used mainly in the clothing industry. Thicker fibers, like New Zealand wool, are used for carpets. The thicker fibers have more spring and are therefore more suited for long term shape retention.
Wool is mainly produced from the fleece of sheep. Smaller quantities are produced from such animals as "alpaca", "cashmere", "llama" and "angora" which make the product more expensive. These expensive wools are almost entirely used in the high fashion industry.
Wool is a hygroscopic fiber; it takes up moisture in vapor form. This allows it to easily absorb 18% (and more) of its weight in moisture, subject to relative moisture, without feeling damp or clammy.
As opposed to popular belief, wool does not heat. It simply acts as an excellent insulator. Since wool does not create static electricity, it does not attract dust from the surrounds. This makes it easier to keep clean. (Stains require specific treatment).
Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton or synthetics. It is therefore the preferred material for safety requirements (i.e. planes etc.).
Wool absorbs many different dyes deeply, uniformly and directly. Dyes penetrate into the inner medulla core of the fiber where a chemical reaction occurs making the color change permanent.
Felt is one of the processes available with wool. The physical structure of the outer scaly layer of the wool fiber contributes to wool's unique property of felting. Under the mechanical action of agitation, friction and pressure in the presence of heat and moisture, the scales on the edges of the wool fibers interlock. This creates a stronger substance.
Wool threads are cut during the manufacture of woolen carpets. This, naturally, leaves short fibers, on the cut edge, which become down. The longer and thicker the thread, the less down created. It is to be expected that, a new carpet, will shed a certain quantity of down. But, regular vacuuming will put a stop to this nuisance.
There is almost no shedding of down from felted wool. It is therefore stronger and more resilient. Due to these facts, it is used to create quality carpets with a unique appearance. You will find felted carpets and rugs amongst the designs available at "Itamar Carpets" i.e. "Targa", "Pebbles", "Rose" etc.
An additional process of wool fibers creates a very curly thread which drastically reduces the shedding of down. (See "Curly" at "Itamar's").
Contemporary polyester fiber carpets
The polyester fiber is made from a molecular chain. It is easily affected by heat. This allows it to be shaped into many shapes i.e. plates, film, sheets and threads. The carpet industry use polyester threads, with a triangular or square, cut section. The formation of the thread creates a smooth surface which is light reflective. It is therefore shinny.
Polyester fibers hardly absorb moisture or water. However, they do allow for the creation of static electricity (mainly through friction).
The Indian carpet industry developed a shinny polyester thread which enabled the manufacture of shinny carpets.
This new thread can be found at "Itamar Carpets" in polyester carpets or combined with synthetic silk i.e. "Alma, Artica" etc. We also have carpets manufactured with polyester ribbons i.e. "Dion", "Metalica", Sigma" etc.
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