Design ties in with tradition:
The genesis of a Geba rug from grass to design object: The wool processed in Nepal comes from high mountain sheeps from Tibet. Very long fibres and lots of wool grease are special properties that protect the animals in their harsh habitat and are the ideal basis for long-lasting rugs – provided that the processing is so gentle that the natural properties are preserved.
Geba’s experience and the high flexibility of the weavers in the ateliers in Nepal also enable the production of special formats, sizes, designs and colour matching, according to the diverse wishes of the customers. Tibetan wool and Chinese silk are used for the production of the carpets. Especially the Tibetan wool shows character and charm due to its not pure white colour. The wool is brushed and spun by hand and therefore has different thicknesses, which gives it more personality. With the traditional Tibetan knot, great effects as well as different pile heights can be achieved.
Washing and drying the highland wool
In order to preserve the valuable natural wool grease, the wool is not chemically cleaned, but washed in a mountain stream at 4000m above sea level. Fibres that are too dirty are sorted out by hand. The washed wool is dried in the sun.
Carding and spinning
The washed and dried wool is then carded by hand. This means that the individual wool fibres are pulled apart and combed in one direction.
This lays the foundation for spinning the fibres into wool threads and dyeing them. The hand-carded and hand-spun wool threads later absorb the colours in varying intensity and provide the very special charm and character of the carpets.
Dyeing the wool
The wool threads are dyed with natural and environmentally friendly vegetable dyes. The colours are usually derived from Geba’s own colour palette, which is based on coherent colour combinations. The natural wool with its own basic colouring ensures that colours are not 100% identical, but remain vibrant through slight variations. By using synthetic colours – e.g. in interior design – exact colours can of course also be guaranteed.
Knotting the rug
The rugs are knotted in the partner studios in Nepal. The families use a Tibetan sling knot that looks back on thousands of years of tradition. It combines the possibility of executing ornaments and patterns precisely with robustness suitable for everyday use.
Finesses and effects
To emphasise certain design elements, the pile of some rugs is sheared at different heights. From case to case, the Tibetan highland wool is supplemented with other materials such as hemp, silk, linen, nettle and many more. In certain cases, carpets can also be knotted without wool at all. Hemp carpets, for example, dry very quickly and are therefore particularly suitable for entrance or spa areas in hotels. Other materials can also be used for allergies to sheep’s wool.
Final cleaning
Finally, the carpet is washed by hand. To dry slowly, it is stretched out and placed in the sun – this guarantees dimensional accuracy. The result is a rug of timeless quality, each with its own story to tell.
The final product
The finished rug is checked again according to strict quality criteria, packed and sent to the Geba rug gallery in Austria. From there, the rugs find their way to customers in the hotel and private sector.
Read more exciting stories about Geba rugs >>HERE>>
GEBA Fairtrade with STEP® label: Fair conditions for Geba partners
From the shearing of the sheep to the finished piece, Geba rugs pass through many hands. The actions of these hands should not be motivated by coercion and exploitation, but by joy and satisfaction. Therefore, Geba rug production follows the rules of the STEP label, with which the company commits itself to social engagement and fair conditions and submits to appropriate controls.
Photos: Geba GmbH
Geba online >>