A Brief History of Color Reform

The Color Reform collection at our company is a special collection of carpets composed of new carpets finished to look like vintage carpets. They are today's version of antique carpets. However, in some circles, color reform carpets is a term used when referring to vintage hand-woven wool carpets that are neutralized from their original colors while retaining the essence of their original design and then over-dyed to create a modern and monochromatic unique rug. Some of these rugs are bleached for a sun-kissed romantic look while occasionally some are damaged rugs. This unorthodox approach to these earth friendly rugs yields a wide variety of beautifully saturated patterns giving the carpets a fresh and artful look.

Most Color Reform carpets are originally from Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Caucaus regions. In the early 1990s some rug manufacturers began experimenting and dyeing their carpets with tea dyes or a cocktail of herbs, fruits and stone dyes. This resulted in giving the carpets an even yellowish hew which at the time sold well in the world market place. Due to this success, rug manufacturers from all over the world began dying their carpets with tea dyes of different shades. This somewhat reduced the demand of other rug types such as the more traditional Chobi.

Some scholars argue that the motivation behind this color movement was not due to environmental concerns but rather that it stemmed from the fact that some finished carpets would come out as imperfect and inconsistent while others were damaged during the manufacturing process. In order to keep these carpets, their colors were neutralized and then tea dyed, thus giving them a second life.

Since 2010, damaged and non damaged hand-woven carpets have been submerged into vegetable and chrome dyes in order to meet big demand from today's consumers. Color Reform carpets are extensively advertised in interior decorating and design trade shows, books and magazines in Europe and North America. These carpets once traditional have become contemporary works of arts. Much buzz has been created behind these remarkable carpets, particularly in the United States. The rugs today are available in a range of sizes and are a great way to bring a pop of color to homes and offices. They can pretty up a masculine black and white space or add interest to a neutral palette with choices from a rainbow of colors.

Sources and inspiration: Bérinstain, Valérie, et al. L'art du tapis dans le monde (The art of carpets in the world). Paris: Mengès, 1996. Print.; Jerrehian Jr., Aram K.A. Oriental Rug Primer. Philadelphia: Running Press, 1980. Print.; Herbert, Janice Summers. Oriental Rugs, New York: Macmillan, 1982. Print.; Hackmack, Adolf. Chinese Carpets and Rugs, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1980. Print. ; De Moubray, Amicia, and David Black. Carpets for the home, London: Laurence King Publishing, 1999. Print.; Jacobsen, Charles. Oriental Rugs A Complete Guide, Rutland and Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962. Print.; Bashir, S. (n.d.). Personal interview.; Web site sources and dates of consultation vary (to be confirmed). Without prejudice to official usage.