Rug buying trip round-up with Jennings Rugs

Hear from Clare about her recent rug-buying trip and the exciting treasures she has purchased, which will enhance our existing rug collections.

The journey to Pakistan to buy Afghan rugs, carpets, runners, and kilims

On a sunny Spring morning in April, with much excitement and anticipation, I boarded a British Airways flight to Islamabad. Sadly, there are no direct flights to Lahore, so I had  a 4-hour car journey upon arrival. By the time I landed, it was 11:15 pm. I was relieved to see my agent was waiting to meet me. Driving in Pakistan is an experience at the best of times, and now we had to do it in the dark!!! I arrived at my hotel at 4 am and, after a shower, managed a few hours of sleep before starting work. I normally travel to Pakistan in February, when the temperature is a pleasant 24-25°C. Whereas, in April, the temperature reached a high of 37°C. It was lovely to meet up with friends that I have known for many years and to sit and share green tea with them and generally catch up with things that are happening in Afghanistan.

Why Pakistan?

Having just described my journey, it is probably a good time to let you know why I go to Pakistan, when I primarily only buy Afghan hand-knotted rugs. In reality, the rugs from Afghan weavers cross the border in a raw, unfinished state. The carpets are cut from the looms without end stopping or surface clipping, they need the selvedges fitting and they require tumbling to remove dust and many washes to take away excess dyes and change the colours with the different washes that they apply, a complex number of finishing processes that through collaboration between the weavers and the finishes ensures rugs of the highest standard.

A typical first day on a rug-buying trip

I always spend my first day visiting my various suppliers to see what is available. I am even more excited than usual this year, as the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan had been closed for 8 months, and nothing had been getting through. In January, they reopened the border and then insisted on removing everything from the lorries and measuring each rug while searching for items that might be being smuggled in. 

Examining the oriental rugs on offer

My timing worked well, as these goods had now been through all the finishing processes in Lahore and were ready for me to inspect. Naturally, I have my favourite suppliers to buy rugs from, and they didn’t let me down – lots of lovely rugs, carpets, runners and kilims to choose from. 

Looking for the perfect oriental rugs

Typically, I know what stock I need, and I know what catches my eye and grabs my attention. I am constantly looking out for unusual pieces that you won’t find anywhere else - interesting designs, different colour palettes and obscure sizes. When I choose rugs to buy, I primarily look at colour, followed by quality, design, and size, while also keeping an eye on the pricing. I will only ever buy from distributors who support the traditional rug weavers. We aim to ensure that our rates of pay are significantly higher than those of production-led suppliers, who often keep wages low.

Exciting new oriental rugs coming soon

It was a very successful trip with a huge consignment docked at the end of July. Keep an eye on our website as we gradually add this new stock to the Enroute Collection.