Ethical rugs attract top designers

I've recently been doing some work with GoodWeave, the charity which aims to eradicate illegal and exploitative child labour in the rug industry.  I mention it to friends and the reaction tends to be: "surely that doesn't still go on does it?" Well, yes it does, and, if anything, is on the increase as rug sales have slumped in the West during the recession and manufacturers and weavers, out in places such as India and Nepal, are under pressure to save money. Bonded child slave labour is nothing new in the rug industry...

But fortunately the concept of GoodWeave is catching on with top rug Designers in the UK, who are signing up and taking a stance.

Basically, GoodWeave runs an independent inspection scheme, which means local inspectors turn up at manufacturers and home weaving looms, out in India and Nepal, completely unannounced and inspect the premises looking for child labour. Only rugs from certified manufacturers are allowed to be exported with the GoodWeave label on them, which is the one way consumers in the UK can be sure they are purchasing an ethically produced rug - simply turn it over and look for the GoodWeave label. GoodWeave then funds education for rescued children and supports community health programmes and environmental initiatives to support the weaving communities.

The good news is that an increasing number of leading names in the UK rug industry have signed up to support GoodWeave and now commission or sell GoodWeave labelled rugs.  Respected rug retailers and designers such as Knots Rugs, Bazaar Velvet, Deirdre Dyson, WovenGround.com, Rug-maker.com and Jacaranda all sell GoodWeave labelled rugs and there are some amazing designs.

And we are talking beautiful, soft wools and silks hand-knotted in the most beautiful designs and colours - forget your smelly, inferior quality, rustic yarns in various colours of brown, which traditionally used to be associated with anything "ethical"! This is one of Rimo's designs 122-01, which is a favourite of mine.

It is also encouraging to see new Designer Liz Eeuwes signing up to the GoodWeave initiative too. 

There is hope!