The image of traditional Rajasthani decor is never complete without a royal rug or carpet. So, when it’s about adorning homes, rugs and carpets are among the few staples that have endured for generations. When it comes to the traditional handicrafts Jaipur seconds none. Jaipur is famous for its hand-knotted rugs and carpets. The artistically woven carpets curated by Jaipur-based label, Jaipur Rugs are a way of expressing the glitz of the Rajasthani culture. They have successfully managed to offer the best traditional designs in the world.
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History of Jaipur Carpets
Carpet weaving was originally introduced by the Mughals in Rajasthan. Earlier, the Rajasthani royal homes or Havelis always adorned their spaces with lush carpets and rugs. The royal families or the affluent families could afford heavy and expensive carpets. The common people used to weave rugs and durries using old cloth pieces. With the time, the villagers have brought innovations in their designs of the carpets in Jaipur. The traditional rugs and carpets have surpassed the glories of times and have stood out. The dedicated artisans have been continuing the supreme task of weaving these exquisite carpets from the last three decades and now are beyond comparison. There is a large variety of rugs available today, made of wool, silk, jute as well as different synthetic fibres.
How Jaipur Rugs came into existence
Jaipur rug is a global brand that was established in 1978 by Nand Kishore Chaudhary. The story of Jaipur Rugs began 40 years ago, when Nand Kishore after finishing his college, started working in his father’s shoe shop in a small village Churu. Though he was offered a government job in a bank, he wanted to start something big on his own. Soon, he came to know about the hand-knotted rugs industry from one of his friends. He then stumbled upon the market for carpets in Jaipur and studied the huge demand with lack of suppliers. He borrowed Rs. 5,000 from his father and began his journey as an entrepreneur with two looms and a few weavers.
Soon he scaled up and shifted to a larger space while increasing the number of weavers engaging in manufacturing the hand-made carpets. Eventually, he joined a cause with Gujarat tribal artisans to create employment opportunities for the poor and lower castes. He dedicated his time and effort in educating those villagers the skills required for weaving, further giving them livelihood in his company. His efforts continued for almost 20 years. In the year 1999, finally, he returned to Jaipur and established Jaipur carpet now known as Jaipur Rugs. Thus Jaipur Rugs came into existence.
Significance of Jaipur Rugs
Their rugs possess the antique look, the traditional bonding and the glorifying artwork of the skilled craftsmanship. The colourful tones, incredible weave patterns, and varying thread counts of these rugs created by artisans make them certainly distinctive. With its headquarters in Jaipur, Jaipur Rugs operates at more than 20 branches in 6 states and 600 villages in India. It has its presence in over 40 countries with its independent base of over 40,000 artisans. The company also has a huge percentage base in Atlanta, United States. With the quintessential array of the rugs and cheerful appearance of every single thread, it’s very hard to ignore the substantial brilliance of the Jaipur carpets and rugs.
Jaipur Rugs increase in their domestic client base living up to the expectations of the present generation. The stories and experiences of the local artisans who make a livelihood through their commitment and hard work have inspired the young generation. Due to this, the youth of India has switched their interest towards buying products with not only aesthetic qualities but also the thought that goes behind its creation.
How Jaipur Rugs changed the lives of artisans
Today, Jaipur Rugs are one of the biggest exported handmade products from India. Having worked for over three decades, the company has empowered many village artisans. The company fulfilled their dreams of a better quality of life. They have given a new lease of life to not only the carpet weaving but also the weavers. The aim of Jaipur rugs founder, N.K. Chaudhary was to empower the marginalised weavers and connect them with the global market. In 2004, he set up JRF(Jaipur Rugs Foundation), a non-profit organization to support the social mission. The JRF also arranged the Weaver’s Engagement Programme to introduce artisans to the entire process of carpet production. With this, they arranged recruitment and training artisans that work for JRC.
From the decades, Jaipur Rugs has been encouraging the poor, low castes, and especially low-income women in India to earn access to weaver employment opportunities. Jaipur Rugs is a grown-up brand because of its design, quality and USP of its products that are handcrafted with no use of machinery. It is also unique because of its community-rooted social mission. Jaipur Rugs enabled the weavers to own their looms. As of 2015, Jaipur Rugs provides sustainable livelihoods to over 40,000 home-based artisans who work on their own 7,000 looms across 600 villages. Every year they create more than 500,000 rugs and ship to over 40 countries across the world.
Benefits they get from JRF
With JRF, the artisans are also attached with beneficiary programmes including healthcare, education, insurance and financial inclusion initiatives. Jaipur Rugs helps weavers to obtain Artisan cards and receive associated benefits. These include discounts on health insurance schemes, access to loans, subsidies and scholarships for their children from the government. This helps weavers become financially and socially independent. Their workforce comprises local artisans from five different States, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar.
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Highlights of Jaipur Rugs
Jaipur Rugs offers an excellent range of modern to traditional hand-made carpets. All the carpets are endurable and perfectly fit for any living space being specially made from natural fibres like silk, wool, cotton, jute and hemp. Also, there is a selection of rugs made from recycled and eco-friendly materials like sari silk and non-dyed wool, silk yarn, khadi yarn and the hand-embossing effect that creates a more vibrant effect. Not only this, but they also offer services such as carpet washing, professional carpet cleaning, and revival of old carpets by giving it a vintage touch and making it reusable. They also transform them into additional accessories such as rug bags.
Where to buy Jaipur rugs
For authentic hand-knotted Jaipur rugs, you can shop via retail stores in Jaipur.
If you want to buy Jaipur carpets and rugs online visit, https://www.jaipurrugs.com/.
Apart from this, Achrol House and National Handloom Emporiums are a good place to buy genuine Jaipur Rugs.
How much are Jaipur Rugs prices
Jaipur’s rugs and carpets are available in various materials, sizes and styles made up of cotton, wool and silk are very high in demand in India and for export.
The price for these may range anywhere between a few thousand to lakhs of rupees depending on the quality. The quality of these carpets is measured in terms of no of knots per centimeter – the higher the knots, the better the quality and higher the price.
Despite being expensive, people love to buy these for the warmth, colour, and character these hand-woven carpets add to a place.
The colourful carpets have fascinated people all across the world. Tourists make it a point to visit Jaipur and its markets looking for these very authentic and classic carpets. As you look forward to owning the next awe-inspiring carpet, Jaipur rugs can go a long way in augmenting the beauty of your house and their designs will continue to stand out.
