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| Our crest "Tashi tak gay", incorporating the eight Buddhist auspicious signs, was propitiously rendered for us by a highly realized Lama. |
About Us
Tibet Carpet was established in New York in 1985 by members of Tibet's ancient Ralo family, direct descendents of noted Lama, tantric scholar, and translator, Ra Lotsawa. We manufacture, import, wholesale and retail distinctive carpets, offering a large selection of our exclusive designs and custom fabrication.
The Ralo name on our carpets assures each is a unique work of craftsmanship, entirely handmade using traditional methods and wool from sheep raised in Tibet. We employ numerous Tibetan and Nepalese villagers in the manufacture of each carpet and directly support health and education efforts in the local communities. Our family's strong reputation and deep cultural connections are behind every item we sell.
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| Tibet Carpet is closely affiliated with the Tibetan community. |
When we began selling Tibetan carpets in the United States we were pioneers in the industry. Now Tibet Carpet is one of the oldest continuing Tibetan-owned and operated business in the U.S. with thousands of satisfied customers. Through the years we have gained reputation as one of the most reliable sources for quality Tibetan carpets and antiques.
Most of our production is distributed through specialty rug stores nationwide or custom ordered by interior designers, we also sell directly to the public from our NYC and Colorado locations. Our carpets have been featured in such publications as: New York Times, Metropolis, Metropolitan Home, El-Décor, Bazaar, Southern Accents, Florida Magazine, Home Furnishing, Home Observer, Home Furnishings News, Accessory magazine, Village Voice, Tribeca Tribune.
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| Our New York showroom has 100's of carpets in stock. |
Our commitment to the Tibetan community in exile extends beyond the production of carpets using traditional methods and craftsmanship. In addition to providing steady income to a number of exiles and refugees, we have supported philanthropic health and education initiatives in Himalayan regions and cultural activities in both East and West. No child labor is used in the production of our carpets.
All of our wool comes from sheep raised in the high altitude Tibetan plateau, 16,000-ft. above sea level. Tibetan wool has an exceptionally long and flexible fiber staple and high lanolin content (the best is know as Jang Bel wool) which makes exquisitely supple and durable carpets. The rich lanolin fiber and hand processing give Ralo carpets their special luster, soft feel, and allows the dyes to imbue warmly saturated coloring. The lanolin content also makes the rugs stain resistant and helps protect them from wear.
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| The raw wool is hand-carded (combed to disentangle the fibers). |
Once the sheep are shorn in Tibet, the wool is transported by Yak, human porters, and then small trucks to our manufacturing facilities in Nepal. The wool is then sorted, washed, hand carded, then hand spun into yarn, and dyed in small batches before being woven into carpets. This hand-processing of the yarn is a time consuming part of the process, but it yields a result far more beautiful and durable than any machine processed wool. The yarn is dyed using mineral and plant derivatives, or for certain colors, the highest quality Swiss aniline dyes. Our colors have a special richness valued by connoisseurs—without the harsh or artificial look of many chemical dyes.
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| Wool samples (pompoms) in vegetable-based colors. |
Each carpet is woven on a traditional vertical loom using Tibetan double-knot (Senna) construction. A full-size pattern template is placed behind the loom and the weavers follow the design as they progress. Large intricate carpets take several weeks to develop. Once the weaving is complete, the entire carpet is trimmed by hand using special scissors. (Yes, by hand—imagine how long it would take you to trim a large carpet with scissors!)
The entire process of creating a high-quality 9 x 12 foot carpet can take 1,500 hours of labor!