Karastan has always been known as a provider of high-quality machine woven wool rugs that replicate many classic Persian oriental rug designs.
Woven in America, made of high quality materials and construction. I’ve seen Karastans from the 1930′s still in very good condition. In fact, we had an older one come through our shop a few weeks ago, and it had an interesting – and outdated – care tag on the back. Right here:
Karastan rug care tag - be careful!
Here’s a blog I wrote over on our San Diego Rug Cleaning Company rug repair blog - with a point by point blow of the tag in question.
As Karastan has begun importing product from China, you can no longer say that it represents high quality in machine made product. For some unknown reason they have decided to create some blended rugs with wool and viscose, and as all frequent readers of The Rug Chick blog know – viscose is the worst rug fiber to ever choose for your home.
When you read the label description, let me know, was there anything in it that you were also surprised to see in print as “recommended instructions”? Am I the only one surprised?
- Lisa
P.S. Heads up – rug cleaning workshop upcoming on August 6-7 - get your seat before it SELLS OUT!
Hi Lisa,
To be truthful, Karastan has only imported some of their studio collection from India over the last few years, but its still only a very small percentage of their sales. With the exception of a beligium wiltons and a few other Novelty rugs imported, Karastan’s sales remain strong on their orginal Spooler Axeminster style rugs and those will always be made here in the USA. Mohawk’s purchase of Karastan had forced some profit oriented changes like the studio series exeriement but with some new changes in Mohawk Management, Karastan has recommited in 2010 to only producing products in the USA, over the next year you will see any Karastan Imported products slowly phased out and the tried and true woven broadlooms and Axeminster will continue to dominate the total sales for Karastan rugs.
David Sweeney
Sweeney Bros.
Karastan Gallergy of Design
David – thank you for the insight on Karastan’s focus. For years I recommended them without worry, but as I saw the inferior overseas product sneaking in, especially the viscose (and some poor quality Chinese hooked product) – I assumed something had happened to the ownership. You answered my question as to the “why” behind the lax in quality choices.
Glad to hear they may be moving toward their past superior product creation. Perhaps you could put in a word to tell them to stop selling disposable viscose rugs to consumers – when consumers discover they are paying good money for bad product, it will harm their brand they’ve built over the decades.
Thanks!
Lisa