Who knew that walking barefoot on stinging nettles or spiky cacti could be quite so luxurious? A British rug-maker believes the fibres from these overlooked and under-loved plants could be one of the sustainable super-materials of the future — as well as making surprisingly comfortable rugs.
The London-based Knots Rugs says it is seeing a spike in demand for rugs made from wild nettles or cacti grown in the Himalayas. The rugs, which are textural, natural and soft, are being sourced by interior designers to decorate everything from private members’ clubs to country farmhouse-style English kitchens.
“This collection has proved very popular since launch, especially because of people’s growing interest in sustainability and using natural fibres,” Bonnie Sutton, the managing director of Knots Rugs, a third-generation family business, says.
The nettle harvested to make these rugs grows fast and wild and can tower above 2.5m, earning it the local nickname “elephant nettle”. The cacti are cultivated using renewable agricultural methods. The cactus leaves are crushed and soaked until the fibres disperse. The fibres are then spun by hand, making the material super-soft as well as strong. A hand-knotted rug can take 16-20 weeks to make, while those spun on a traditional loom have a lead time of 8-12 weeks.
“Both plants offer a less resource-intensive process than other materials such as cotton, or plastic-based fibres such as nylon, acrylic and polyester, making it far kinder to the planet,” Sutton says. “The public are becoming much more conscious of materials and the stories behind overlooked fibres like cactus and nettle.”
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Naturally there is a carbon footprint associated with shipping from Nepal, but Knots Rugs says it always groups as many rugs together for shipment as possible, rather than sending out individual items, and they are transported mainly on passenger jets rather than cargo aircraft, to limit associated emissions.
Interior designers such as David Linley and Christian Bense have used the rugs in recent projects for wealthy clients. Thomson Carpenter, the head of interior design at David Linley, says: “I’ve always been a fan of natural, almost rustic rugs in a more formal, traditional setting. I feel they ground the space and prevent the house from taking itself too seriously, so to speak.”
He continues: “For a recent project in London’s Holland Park I chose several flatweave rugs made from the cactus plant from Knots Rugs.”
Sutton points out the subtle differences in the cactus and nettle, which can also be woven into rugs together. “Nettle is a really amazing fibre that has a lovely lustrous shine and texture, as well as a mottled effect when used in its undyed form — although it takes well to dye,” she says. “Cactus has a beautiful, brash look, with naturally occurring colour variations and shades.”
The versatility of the rugs is a bonus — they are easy to match with different design palettes. Sutton adds: “They blend well and don’t fight with the space and furniture they are paired with; they are very adaptable.”
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Prices range from £1,200-£5,100 depending on size. 100 per cent cactus from £506 a square metre; 50 per cent nettle/50 per cent cactus from £655; 100 per cent hand-knotted nettle (100 knots per inch) from £1,055; knotsrugs.co.uk
