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EXQUISITE RUGS - BAMBOO SILK RUGS FROM INDIA

Bamboo silk rugs are those rugs/carpets made of bamboo fiber.

Bamboo silk fabric is a natural viscose obtained from bamboo plants. The cellulose is carefully removed from the bamboo. Sticky paste-like cellulose goes through processing and then dried under sunlight. On drying, the stickiness vanishes and forms a soft, shiny, and silky fiber. The fluffy cloud looking-like fiber feels cool to touch.

Exquisite bamboo silk rugs are also known as Artificial silk rugs or Art silk rugs. The other name is Rayon silk. Carpet manufacturers in India also call it a China silk rug.

Faisal International uses bamboo silk in hand-knotted Tibetan rugs, handloom, and tufted. Fine flat-weave rugs also use this natural material to create admirable pieces of art.

How To Identify Bamboo Silk Rugs

The close-up image below of bamboo yarn can visually explain in itself the texture it creates.

Modern Bamboo Silk Rugs From India

The bamboo yarn comes into existence by spinning the fiber by the hands. So when the handspun bamboo silk rugs get trimmed, a beautiful pattern appears with varying dark and light colors. The shades are basically due to the twist in the yarn. A twisted bamboo yarn on the dye does not allow the color to penetrate to the yarn’s center’s depth.

Guess what the fundamental difference between wool dying and Bamboo or Chinese silk dying is! While wool dyeing is on high-temperature water, it is not the same as the bamboo or art silk yarn. Silk generally gets dyed in cold water(room temperature).

It is advisable to make a pom for a more color accuracy match any given color code with bamboo silk color. A pom making is by trimming strands of dyed bamboo yarn. The results are more accurate. Never match with the dyed pile. Doing so can widely vary color from your desired color code once the rug is complete.

Is Bamboo Silk Rug Good Quality?

What is a good quality in a Bamboo rug?

A knotted bamboo silk rug price depends upon the rug’s quality. A hand-knotted bamboo silk rug comes in both – low and high quality. To measure a hand-knotted bamboo rug’s quality count the Knots Per Square Inch(KPSI) of the carpet/rug.

Low quality has less than 50 KPSI; hence they cost less than the average rug quality of 81 KPSI.

On the high-quality side of the bamboo silk rug, you will find more than 100 KPSI. A 200 KPSI quality rug is far more expensive than a 75 KPSI rug.

Why Buy Rug In Bamboo Silk?

Adds luxury to the home decor.
Identical to cocoon silk
Inexpensive compared to real-silk.
Blends beautifully with wool.
100% natural fiber.

Other Silk Rugs

Banana silk rug
Sari silk rugs
Viscose rugs

Bamboo Silk Rugs Durability

So, are bamboo silk rugs durable? Well, the durability of these rugs is excellent if taken with good care. Try to avoid placing silk outdoors as the fiber does not react well with direct sunlight and a wet climate. They are ideal for living room, bedroom decor, and places with average foot traffic.

Periodical proper vacuum and wash can prolong bamboo silk’s life and hold it look new and fresh.

Shedding & Sprouting Issues With Bamboo Silk Carpet

Although bamboo area rugs are durable yet you can notice some shedding in the area rug. However, this still is not an issue to panic about as this happens with every natural fiber made rug. The rug fiber will shed depending on the rug’s quality and the foot traffic it receives.

The shedding of your high-quality bamboo rug will gradually lessen and stop within 2-3 weeks.

Sprouting in a rug generally refers to the popping out of the rug’s fabric in them. Sprouting is a common issue that you will face with every new-made handmade carpet. In case you find any material flying out of the rest, NEVER pull it out. Instead, clip the yarn using a pair of scissors.

Note: Never use a beater bar on wool and bamboo silk area rugs. Doing so can damage and weaken the fiber of the carpet.

Difference Between Bamboo Silk And Viscose

Is bamboo silk the same as viscose?

Both the materials come from the phloem part of the tree. Yet, both are not all the same. Bamboo silk is natural as it is an extract from adult bamboo grass(tree) cellulose. Viscose, on the other hand, is not all that natural fiber as it is wood pulp and is chemically processed.

Viscose area rugs are the softest of all carpets and rugs. They are softer, smoother, and silkier than bamboo.

Bamboo Silk Vs Silk

Firstly, how is bamboo silk made?

Bamboo silk is an excellent alternative to real silk as they are much cheaper.

The main difference between a bamboo silk rug and a traditional silk rug is the nature of their existence, durability, affordability, and usage.

Bamboo silk is from plants and is readily available in any quantity. Bamboo silk in rugs is much cheaper than real silk; they’re suitable for anywhere in the house but are not ideal for the outdoors.

Pure silk is from a cocoon’s larva. Collecting silk undergoes a process that includes killing several silkworms in hot water. It takes plenty of time and a workforce to process them. Silk is imported from China and is the costliest fiber for making rugs. Since silk rugs are delicate, they are suitable for low foot traffic areas. Since they are expensive, they are mostly used in the house’s virtual space or used for wall hangings.

Bamboo Silk Vs Wool Rugs

	Bamboo Silk	Wool
Texture	The bamboo silk yarn has a soft, smooth, and shiny texture. Absorbs color well in the dyeing. They are hand-spun, and the twisted fiber thread has no uniform thickness.	Good quality wool is soft, spongy, and carries color dyes uniformly very well.
Cost	Inexpensive compared to wool. Bamboo and wool pair beautifully, creating a unique art when blended.	100% pure wool rugs are more expensive compared to bamboo silk and banana silk rugs.
Dye	In cold water.	At boiling temperature water
Speciality	The color variation is the specialty and the beauty of an art-silk rug. It has unique color variations formed as the dye's color does not reach the inner part of the twisted fiber.	Wool is the number one choice and has been in trend for centuries.
Traffic	Bamboo carpets/rugs are suitable for average traffic areas.	Wool made rugs are suitable for high traffic areas.

Combination Of Bamboo Silk Rugs And Wool

Handmade rugs and carpets can either be of the whole of bamboo silk or can have wool in combination with it.

The combination of bamboo silk and New Zealand wool rugs creates magic. Wool and bamboo silk area rugs are trendy amongst rug importers worldwide. They compliment each other on a cotton foundation. While wool dances to its blur tone, silk shines and highlights the woven design.

The Perfect Ratio Of Wool And Bamboo Silk

You can find a complete 100% bamboo silk rug while some also combined with wool. But what is the perfect ratio of wool and bamboo silk in a rug?

Most carpet importers regard 70% wool and 30% bamboo silk as the right ratio for the two’s blend ratio. However, it is not any standard or absolute ratio followed strictly by all. The proportion can depend upon the design of the area rug. Some rugs also have a 50-50 wool and bamboo silk ratio, and they indeed look fabulous.

Wool And Bamboo Silk Rugs

It creates an overall unique art piece where the shiny bamboo silk glows within the 70% wool frame.
Wool is more durable than bamboo silk or any other rug material. When bamboo silk and wool both come together with the lifespan of that rug increases.

The Challenge In Cleaning Bamboo silk and Wool Rugs

Another question asked frequently is, are bamboo silk rugs hard to clean!

Bamboo silk rug cleaning at home is easy when there are not many stains to clean, but it may still need professional cleaning at least once every 1 to 1.5 years. Self-washing your carpet can save money, especially when it gets dirty quite often. Follow the easy instructions given below for cleaning bamboo silk rugs:

Before cleaning, first vacuum or broom up the rug to remove the excess soil and dust. Do not use a beater bar.
Pour some cold water and apply any mild shampoo. (For spot cleaning, prepare a solution in a spray bottle. Wipe to clean using a damp cloth).
Scrub gently with your fingers. Do not use a scrubber unless required. For stubborn stains, use a brush with soft bristles.
After cleaning, flush water in the direction of the woven pile. Repeat till all the shampoo form is out wholly.
Once washed, roll the rug against the pile’s direction. Let it lean vertically against a wall overnight for excess water to drain out.
Next, unroll the rug under good sunlight for it to dry. Do Not Over-Dry In Sunlight for too long.

Note: We recommend getting your wool and bamboo-silk rug cleaned by professional rug cleaners.

Affordability

Owning real-silk is like a dream come true. Unfortunately, not everyone can pay for these luxurious handwoven rugs. Hand-knotted bamboo silk area rugs are affordable alternatives to the pure silk area rugs. For an updated price, contact Faisal International by email or give a call.

Bamboo Silk Rugs Pros And Cons

Pros

The top advantage of bamboo silk area rugs is that they are soft and smooth.
They go excellent with both modern, contemporary as well as traditional home decor.
They are way more affordable compared to real silk and are the closest alternative to them.
Suitable for average foot-traffic areas. Lay them in places like a living room, bedroom, and hallways.

Cons

Bamboo is, after all, from plants and does carry all its property too.
Highly responsive to crushing. When heavy furniture is placed against its pile direction for too long, the fiber tends to break. To bring it back to life, use a wet towel and iron technique.
A 100% bamboo silk rug is not suitable for outdoor usage or places with moisture.