A few weeks ago I did not know much about sisal. My knowledge of natural fibers had been a bit limited before I came to Merida. But now in my fourth week as the marketing intern, I know that there is a lot to be said about this particular fiber.
It is rapidly renewable
It is durable
It is naturally insulating and difficult to ignite
Its production does not require the use of herbicides or pesticides
I also know that there is a lot that distinguishes the sisal that Merida uses in its area rugs. It all starts with the plant. Merida uses the highest-quality sisal, grown in the ideal climate conditions of East Africa. Then Merida’s unparalleled production process turns those fibers into its many distinctively designed rugs.
First, the cleanest, whitest fibers are separated and shipped to Belgium. There they are machine-combed nine times to soften and separate the fibers. After combing, the sisal is fiber dyed, which ensures rich, consistent color. The dyed fibers are then spun into smooth, silky yarns and woven into broadloom on jacquard looms. The process is completed with the talented Merida workroom staff who finish the rugs with custom shapes, sizes, and edge finishes.
Working in the same building in which these finishing touches are made, I have been able to see and appreciate exactly what this process produces for our customers. Compared with some of the natural fiber textiles from other companies that I have seen at the Boston Design Center, Merida’s extensive process does make a huge difference in terms of quality and presentation – one that even the untrained eye of an intern can distinguish.
Here I am showing off two of our new sisal designs, Kyoto (left) and Serengeti (right).
Merida is having a promotion and giving away my favorite natural fiber rug: a chunky abaca design called Malaybalay Bark. I have had an abaca rug in my living room for more than a year now and every time I have friends over, I receive many compliments on how beautiful it looks. People are also amazed when they learn about its sustainable design.
Abaca is a vegetable fiber, a type of material that is rapidly renewable and helps to control global warming by producing oxygen and capturing CO2. Our abaca rugs are also 100% biodegradable if properly disposed of because they are not dyed and use no backing materials. At the end of the rug’s useful life, it may be chopped up in your yard or composted for fertilizer.
The fibers themselves come from the Philippines and are grown on plantations managed by a farming cooperative that provides more than 1,000 small farmers with seeds, technical support, sustainability education, and financial assistance that helps their families and communities thrive. The rugs themselves are woven by hand, requiring valuable artisanal skills from local craftspeople.
Filipino craftsman weaving an Abaca rug
We are very proud of these rugs not only because of their sustainable design but also because of how great they look! You can view our abaca products on our web site by clicking here, and don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win one of these fantastic rugs for yourself!
Merida has recently started a contest to help promote the sustainable aspects of our rugs directly to consumers and designers. The winner this month will receive one of my favorite designs from our greenest rug collection, Abaca, Malaybalay in Bark (pictured below). Its organic structure and deep rich color evokes a warmth that can liven up any room and bring the outside in. Sign up here for a chance win!
Malaybalay – Bark
Interior design is becoming more and more environmentally conscious and with that products are being created to help support this demand. As a textile designer, I can’t imagine designing a fabric that doesn’t have a green story supporting it. The idea of blanketing our earth with synthetic fibers feels suffocating.
Thankfully, I can design textiles with these morals in mind. Abaca is a great example of this. It’s handwoven in the Phillippines of undyed, unbacked fibers that are rapidly renewable. The local farming and artisan communities that grow, process, and weave abaca are thriving in part because of our business. I love that I can design textiles that have such a small impact on the earth and that have such great stories behind them.
One of these fabulous sustainable rugs could be yours by signing up at our ‘Win a free area rug‘ contest. (I only wish the contest was open to employees as well!!!) Good luck!
Earlier this month we worked with the folks at Children’s Hospital here in Boston to furnish a new patient family home for needy families whose children are being treated at the hospital. The Yawkey Family Inn is an old Victorian, formerly a fraternity house, that has 22 bedrooms and many common areas in need of beautiful rugs to make the space feel like home. Natural fibers are a great way to warm up and tie together large spaces, so we volunteered to donate four rugs to the project. For the sitting area in the entryway of the house, we needed a durable material to stand up to traffic, in a dark brown color to match the doorways and molding, so our sisal design Kona, in color Black Walnut was a perfect choice. The rug gives a lovely, textural feel to the space.
Kona in Black Walnut
For the meeting room, we chose a wool and paper rug, Folk in Gazpacho, for its softness, durability, and of course the great pop of color, which works really well with the other deep shades of red and orange in the room.
Folk in Gazpacho
The same Folk rug also appears in the playroom (where the softness is key for little hands and knees), along with another plush wool rug, Delancey in Blaze. I love how colorful this room is!
Delancey in Blaze (left) and Folk in Gazpacho
Thanks to Children’s Hospital for allowing Merida to be a part of this great project. We hope our rugs and all the other fantastic furniture, food and supplies that were donated to the house can make the families that stay there feel a bit more at home.
For more about the house, check out this video clip from the grand opening:
Good luck!
