INTRODUCING SUKHI RUGS & INTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER NASIA BURNET

What are Suhki rugs? What does Sukhi mean? What differentiates Sukhi rugs from other textile companies on the market? These were just some of the questions that were on my mind when I got introduced to Sukhi about a month ago.

Let me assure you, Sukhi isn’t just your ordinary carpet brand. In fact, there are so many cool little things that make them different from anyone else on market. One of their biggest selling points (at least for me) is that the rugs are ethically made in their country of origin. Sukhi means ‘happy’ in Nepali and the happiness of the people who make the rugs is something Sukhi take very seriously. They even name the rugs after the people who have created them (what a genious idea!)

I’ve picked my top three rugs from their current collection (it was a tough job, but somehow I managed to narrow it down to my final 3!) I’m not going to lie, it was their Beni Ourain rugs that really caught my eye first. They are so beautiful and versatile. By the way, I love that the rugs are sent directly from the makers. Since there are no middle men, the prices are incredibly competitive. Also, since the rugs are hand made, they are highly customisable too which means each rug is a unique piece of art on its own.

Here are my top 3 rugs..

1) NAIMA

This rug was love at first sight. I mean, how could I not fall in love with this rug? It ticks every box for me. Naima is definitely a signature Beni Ourain rug. It’s hand made and incredibly soft (and 100% fair trade!). I’d love a soft sheepskin rug in the living room but this rug would also be ideal for the bedroom. This is probably one of the most versatile rugs out there. Naima will go with most interior styles which means it’s a timeless piece and worth the investment for sure.

2) AYUSH

Ayush is my second favourite rug in the collection. Why? Because it’s simple and stylish. Wool rugs don’t get much more elegant than this, right? Ayush is a woolen loop rug, made of 100% wool of course. Like all the other Sukhi rugs, it’s super versatile. It goes with both contemporary and traditional interior schemes. You really cannot go wrong with Ayush in my opinion. 

3) SUNIL

This rug has such a gorgeous Scandi vibe about it. It looks so warm and inviting. Sunil is also a hand made rug and I just love the braided look. I could look at this pattern for ages – it’s so captivating! This rug kind of reminds me that less is more. It’s simple and complex at the same time. I would love a braided rug like this in our living room. I’d probably go for a neutral colour, maybe light grey. I’m always worried about staining my wool rugs but apparently all you need to do is to wet them and then sponge the spillage with a watered down detergent. How clever!

INTERVIEW WITH THE SUKHI RUGS FOUNDER – NASIA BURNET

Where and how did you get the idea for Sukhi rugs?

During our travel to Nepal, we discovered that the handicraft from this country was incredible and we really wanted to share these amazing handmade felt ball rugs with the rest of the world too so that everyone can have access to these lovely rugs. The cheerful colours and the high quality of the felted balls really jumped out. Then we decided to set up two workshops in two different parts of Kathmandu. The women who work for us live within a walking distance from their workplace. About half of the women make the felted balls, and the other half make the rugs. Others handle the supervision and training. As soon as they are done making the balls or rugs, they bring the products back to the workshop. We currently sell handmade felt ball rugs from Nepal, Patchwork carpets from Turkey, Beni ourain carpets from Morocco and felt and wool rugs from India.We also believe that the talented people who make Sukhi rugs should have a great pay and excellent working conditions. That is why we visit our artisans regularly. We are closely involved with every step from ordering, making and sending it to the buyer, directly from the maker.

What differentiates Sukhi rugs from its competitors?

Each Sukhi rug is unique. Sukhi allows customers and design
professionals to choose their preferred size, shape, design and colours. The
result is an authentic rug. One that fits their home and personal style
which is pretty unique. You have the ability to create your own handmade rug
all the way from Morocco, Nepal, Turkey or India. Furthermore, we add a label with the name of the maker to the rug so that when
you receive your rug you can even send back a thank you message or
pictures!

Another thing that differentiates us from competitors is
that we’ve had a social mission from the day we started ; the majority
of the women who work for us are illiterate, which makes them vulnerable, but by
making Sukhi rugs, they can take care of their children in addition to taking care
of the housekeeping because they have the flexibility to work when it suits them best. The result is that these woman are able to live comfortably
and can send their children to school. It gives them a feeling of pride
and self-reliance which I am very proud of!

How do you  come up with new designs?

I am a textile designer (studied at an Art school in the Netherlands),  The countries where our rugs are made are famous for their handicraft which I love and it is my mission to show their work with the rest of the world. The combination of my designs with their traditional craftsmanship is interesting as we bring new and old together and that is very inspiring. I get inspired by the countries where our rugs are from, by flowers and by nature.

What’s your favourite rug (you can only pick one!) and why?

My favourite rug is from our new ”Hygge” collection named: Kalim. It is a braided wool rug made from soft New Zealand wool. I loooove the pureness and softness. And the color is perfect. It fits in every room 🙂 What is your favourite Sukhi rug?

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

1) Follow your dreams 2) Think big.

I love your new ‘hygge collection’. What else can we expect from Sukhi rugs in 2018?

A lot! We are working very hard behind the scenes 🙂 Follow our Instagram to stay up to date and not to miss anything, https://www.instagram.com/sukhimatot New designs are coming up, but I cannot tell you how they will look like and where they are from…I’ll let you know once we have launched them!

Thank you so much Nasia for giving us an insight into your business. I feel so inspired by Sukhi rugs and Nasia’s outlook on life. I hope you feel inspired too!

For more inspiration, head over to  www.sukhirugs.com

* Thank you Sukhi for sponsoring this post.

*Images credited: Sukhi