Enterprise Way, Wandsworth
London SW18 1EJ
Tel: 0208 3373005
Fax: 0208 3377332
Those of you who have visited Greece - the land of unspoilt beauty and blue seas - will probably have heard of Flokati rugs. Flokati has been a part of traditional Greek weaving for years, originally used by shepherds as clothing and as bedding inside their tents during the long winter months when the Northern mountains of Greece are cold and capped with snow. They were invented by the 5th century Vlachs, who came from the high villages in the Pindos mountain range. The shepherds raised sheep and goats to produce dairy products for sale at markets in the Macedonian region, whilst their wives used the fleece to weave the Flokati in a way which has changed little up to the present day.
The shearing, necessary for the survival of the sheep, provides the wool which is carded and spun to make the yarn. This is then woven on the looms to the desired density and pile height. The rugs are sent up into the mountains and placed in friction baths, this is where a Flokati comes to life. The stream water is diverted into canals ending in large whirlpool baths where the Flokati is tumbled in water for approximately 40 hours. By tradition, soaps and solvents are not used. The high pressure cleanses the wool and causes the back of the Flokati to shrink, the pile swells and opens up, making it luxuriously thick. The rug is then removed from the water and hung out to dry naturally, in a traditional and environmentally friendly process.
Due to the high lanolin content in the wool, they have their own built-in barrier to dirt and staining, our Flokati rugs are machine or hand-washable and become reborn with water. They will provide your home with warmth and beauty for many years.
