Merida Meridian was founded in 1978. In 2008, we will celebrate our 30th anniversary.
What products is Merida Meridian known for?We are well-known for our high-quality, distinctively designed natural plant fiber products woven from sisal, abaca, coir, jute, seagrass and paper.
Does sisal vary in quality?Yes! High quality sisal flooring begins with the selection of the fibers. Only clean, white fibers with a long staple length are selected for Merida carpets. The dying and weaving process also sets Merida 's products apart. Our sisal is machine-combed nine times to soften and separate the fibers and to remove any traces of dried leaf tissue. This laborious combing process adds to the high-quality luster of Merida Meridian's finished product. The combed fibers are fiber dyed (individually) prior to being spun, producing a superior color-saturated yarn that adds to the depth and beauty of the finished product. The fibers are spun using Merida 's Katani Bora yarn spinning system, then woven into broadloom by skilled European weavers on modern power looms.
Merida is the capital city of the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Merida Meridian's sisal was originally imported from this city, which became our namesake.
Where can I buy Merida Meridian products?Merida products are sold across the country in carpet retailers, designer showrooms, lifestyle stores, and through some designers directly. Please click on the showroom locator to find a dealer in your area or contact our Customer Service Team at 1-800-345-2200.
What is sisal?Sisal fiber is obtained from the Agave plant, whose fibers are coarse, long and extremely strong. Merida sources the world's highest quality sisal from the Agave plantations of East Africa, and weaves the fibers in Belgium, where the laborious process includes combing the fibers nine times and dyed individually prior to being spun. Sisal carpets are naturally sound-absorbing, antistatic, and extremely durable because of the inherent qualities of this tough, hard wearing fiber.
What is the difference between a sisal rug from Merida and one from other manufacturers?There are a few easily identifiable differences that set Merida 's sisal rugs apart from our competitors.
- Superior raw fiber processing: Merida 's East African sisal is shipped to Belgium where it is machine-combed nine times to soften and separate the fibers and to add to the high-quality luster of the yarns. The combed fibers are fiber dyed (individually) prior to being spun, producing a superior color-saturated yarn that adds to the depth and beauty of the finished product.
- Sophisticated design: Merida 's textures and patterns reflect a sophisticated, distinctive aesthetic with unique designs and rich yet subtle colors.
- Range of products: Merida offers a wide variety of fibers, textures, patterns and colors that offer solutions to interior professionals looking to create visual interest in a room.
- Superior workroom capabilities: Our skilled workroom staff and sewing team specializes in custom sizes, shapes, borders and edge finishes. Merida products are recognized for their detailed finishing techniques and fine craftsmanship.
The Abaca fiber is indigenous to the Philippines and is part of the banana family. The entire industry of growing and processing abaca fiber is contained within the Philippines to retain jobs and support the local economy. The dramatic range of natural colors – from the glossy, white inner fibers to the dark, coarse outer fibers – and variation in texture make abaca uncommonly beautiful as woven floor covering.
What is coir?Also known as coco fiber, coir is taken from the hairy and fibrous husk that surrounds the coconut. Merida's coir is obtained from India, and spun in Belgium from the longest and finest fibers available. Coir is used in combination with sisal fiber to enhance the quality and performance of the finished products.
What is jute?Jute fiber is derived from an annual shrub that grows in hot, humid climates such as India, where Merida obtains its jute from. Jute fibers are long, resilient and soft to the touch, and can be spun into heavy cords as well as fine yarns.
What is seagrass?Seagrass plants are fast-growing perennials that thrive in wet environments. Merida's carpets and rugs are made from the resilient, flexible stems of seagrass plants. Seagrass is known for retaining its fresh, grassy scent long after it has left the field, but this will dissipate in time. When seagrass is woven into a carpet, the result is a highly spill-resistant, durable, resilient floor covering that is comfortable underfoot and retains the fresh look of the outdoors.
What kind of wool do you use in your floor coverings?Merida Meridian's wool products are woven with 100% New Zealand Wool. This superior wool fiber provides just the right amount of twist when it is spun to give the carpet strength and longevity as well as a pleasant touch underfoot. The presence of wool in a carpet signifies quality, durability, safety, comfort and beauty. Wool also signifies luxury, especially as the proliferation of synthetic fibers has come to dominate the carpet market. Because of the structure of the fiber, woolen yarns trap air, making wool carpets great insulators of heat and sound.
What is the most durable product that you sell?Our Singapore tiles are made with a durable coir/sisal blend and rigid backing. These tiles can be easily removed and replaced if necessary, and are rated for medium contract use in heavy traffic areas.
What products are suitable for commercial application?We have several products rated for light or medium contract use. Our light contract products in the Core Collection include qualities in the Adirondack, Bonpreso, Structure, Textura and Woodstock families. Our C-Koko tiles are made with a durable coir/sisal blend with a rigid backing. These tiles are rated for medium contract usage.
How does Merida weave paper rugs? How durable are they?Merida Meridian is a pioneer in twisting and weaving paper flooring. Paper is a natural fiber with superior strength. As a truly innovative use of a familiar material, our woven paper designs combine varied yarn thicknesses, color, weave, and texture to create visual depth and distinction while reflecting the grace and comfort of living with natural materials.
Distinctive paper products begin with specialized pulp from coniferous softwoods – fir, spruce, hemlock, balsam and pine trees. The fibers used to make Merida's paper products are obtained from conifers grown in the forests of the Adirondack region of Upstate New York. During the twisting process, a wax emulsion is applied to the paper to help it spin smoothly and to add to the yarn's water resistance. This construction results in an uncommonly strong, durable floor covering that is smooth and soft underfoot.
Merida Meridian's paper collections, Adirondack and Woodstock, are woven in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Are any of your products “green”?Merida Meridian strives to be a role model in the floor coverings industry for designing and manufacturing sustainable, “better for your environment” products. Historically, the carpet industry has used a variety of chemicals and synthetic materials in the production of flooring products. Merida is committed to using natural, sustainable and renewable fibers, such as sisal, seagrass, jute, paper and wool.
We are mindful of the environmental impacts of our raw materials and manufacturing processes, and we do our best to minimize these impacts. As we work to further understand and reduce our environmental footprint, we are proud of the environmentally-friendly characteristics of many of our products and raw materials:
- Abaca fibers are not dyed and the finished products receive no backing material. Our Abaca rugs are 100% natural.
- Coir fibers make up about one-third of the pulp found inside the coconut husk. The other two-thirds of the pulp, commonly referred to as coir pith, is a waste material that is used in combination with other organic materials as compost in agricultural fields.
- Jute fiber is considered an eco-friendly material that is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable. Merida 's jute yarns are not dyed.
- Paper fibers that are used to weave Merida 's paper floor coverings are sourced from sustainable, managed forests.
- Sisal is a sustainable and renewable source for woven floor covering material. No pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in sisal production, and most weeding is done by hand rather than through the use of herbicides.
- Wool is a renewable, biodegradable fiber that has natural insulating properties to help retain heat and increase cooling effectiveness. The wool industry prides itself on its environmentally responsible production methods: no internationally banned pesticides are used on the New Zealand sheep farms where Merida 's wool is obtained from, and the scouring process employed to clean the wool is extremely energy efficient.
Merida recommends a dry extraction cleaning system such as Host® or Capture®. These products are available at hardware and home improvement stores, and in the home care sections of most mass retailers. Merida also sells Host® cleaning kits to authorized Merida customers. Depending on the type of spill, different mixtures can serve as effective cleaning agents. Examples include dish detergent and water, or a vinegar or ammonia solution. See Merida's Care and Maintenance Guide for additional details.
I’ve heard natural fibers are difficult to clean. How do I educate my sales staff or customers about cleaning and maintaining natural fiber rugs?We offer a care and maintenance guide that is a helpful primer for living with natural fibers. Here are a few basic tips:
- Vacuum frequently (at least weekly) at remove fine dirt particles that can lodge between the fibers and cause additional wear.
- Do not steam clean or wet shampoo; use a dry extraction cleaning system such as Host or Capture.
- Attend to spills and spots immediately. Blot, do not rub, the area with a clean, dry cloth, or scrape solid substances with a spoon or butter knife.
The lifespan of a natural fiber rug is highly dependent on how much traffic, direct sunlight, and regular cleaning it receives. With proper care and maintenance, natural fiber rugs can last up to ten years or longer. However, in high traffic or busy households, rugs may wear more quickly. It all depends on the interior environment.
Do you still offer Siseal or Sisal Guard on any of your products?No. Siseal and Sisal Guard are designed as topical applications for sisal rugs, and we have found that the absorbency of sisal fibers can draw the chemicals away from the surface of the rug, rendering the treatment ineffective after a short period of time. Merida does not add these treatments to our products. However, you can purchase these products and apply at home. These products are available at some online retailers and Home Depot.
Are there any chemical treatments used in Merida’s products that would make them unsuitable for a green design project?Some of the yarns used in our products are dyed, which is considered a chemical treatment. Our abaca and jute yarns are not dyed, but to meet U.S. import regulations the abaca fibers are fumigated before being imported to the U.S.
All of our products are tested for a variety of performance and wear tests as well as a number of safety tests required by the industry (i.e. flammability.) We work with several independent testing laboratories as well as the Carpet and Rug Institute. Our products are rated for flammability according to fire ratings from the ASTM E-648 test for commercial application of carpet. All of our products' fire ratings are posted on our Web site and on each rug label. Please contact Merida Meridian if you need more details on performance tests.
Is Merida Meridian’s latex backing natural latex or synthetic?Most of our Core products use 100% natural latex backing made from natural rubber.
Will Merida’s latex backing discolor or stick to hardwood floors over time?The performance of natural latex backing varies depending upon environmental factors in a room. For example, natural latex can break down or start to crumble if the room is dry. There are many types of finishes and sealants used on wood floors, such as oil-based, solvent-based and water-based polyurethane. Natural latex can react with a floor finish when exposed to moisture, cleaning detergents, soaps or other liquids. How it reacts depends on the floor finish and the substance it comes in contact with. If the finish becomes porous, sticking can occur.
Will the color of my Merida Meridian rug fade over time?Natural fiber rugs that are placed in sunny locations can, over time, result in the fading of dyed materials and the gradual darkening of un-dyed fibers. Rugs placed in rooms that receive direct sunlight should be turned regularly to reduce noticeable fading.