Notes

A carpet is any kind of textile floor covering that has both an upper layer and a backing. Carpets are also known as rugs in many parts of the world, with the two terms used interchangeably in many places. However, in modern western usage, there is a fundamental difference between carpets and rugs, with the former having to stretch from wall to wall.
Carpets and rugs are made from a variety of different materials, and also use a number of different production methods and weaves in their production. Some of the most common materials used in carpet manufacture include nylon, polypropylene, wool, wool blends, polyester, and acrylic. wool rugs are preferred by many people around the world, due to their natural feel, excellent durability, and availability in a wide range of colours.

Carpets and rugs can be made from a number of blended, natural, and synthetic fibres. While traditional rugs were all made from natural materials, such as wool from goats and sheep, a number of synthetic materials have also started to be used in modern times. Synthetic materials do have some advantages over wool and wool blends, such as lower cost, ease of manufacture, and durability. However wool rugs are the preferred option for many people around the world, who enjoy the natural appearance, soft comfortable feel, and amazing durability of wool products.

While the natural appearance and durability of wool rugs are the two major reasons why wool and wool blend carpets are so popular, wool also has a number of advantages in terms of how it can be dyed. Wool responds to dye very well, and a range of different colours can be used to create a range of different rug designs. In many cases, wool is blended with synthetic fibres like nylon in order to increase its natural durability, with a range of blended wool yarns being used in the production of modern carpets and rugs. The most common blend is 80 percent wool and 20 percent synthetic fibre, with a variety of synthetic fibres used in different carpet products. However, despite these many advantages, wool and wool blends are still a fairly small segment of the carpet market, due to the higher costs involved with the sourcing of wool and wool production.