JENNIFER MANNERS
Rug designer and founder of Jennifer Manners
1 Curate curiosity.
Ask for the story behind the items you are purchasing for your home. Understand how they are made and by whom, as these are usually indications of ethics and business practices – and in the meantime, you can uncover some wonderful details that create an even greater appeal. We send photos of our rugs as they are being made so our clients can see the individuals making them. We also send photos of the installed pieces to the weavers so they can understand how their work impacts its new home. It seems basic, but is so effective for both the weaver and the buyer.
2 Ask about construction when you are buying a rug.
A well-made rug should last for generations, and will only get better with time. There is a wide range of constructions available at every level of the market. Avoid machine-made and hand-tufted rugs if at all possible. The latter was developed to give the look and feel of a hand-knotted rug but with faster production times, and they quickly crush and pile, looking worn and aged, because the construction doesn’t have the integrity to hold the wools (or other fibres) erect. The ideal option is a hand-knotted rug, dyed in a small batch to minimise energy consumption.
3 Buy bespoke.
When items are made individually it cuts down on waste, energy and shipping miles. Mass-produced rugs, for example, consume more energy to make and then sit in a warehouse, with many never sold and ending up in landfill.
4 Keep an eye on packaging.
It is ironic when companies spend a great deal of effort creating a sustainable product, and then ship it out in plastic bags.
STEVE FORDER
Director, The Pure Edit
5 Support companies that bring sustainable innovation to market.
Generating demand for more sustainable alternatives helps bring down production costs – which
