About Us
The Karnor difference
Karnor is one of the top producers of high quality hand knotted rugs in Nepal serving renowned interior designers and rug studios worldwide. Our mission is to achieve our clients’ vision in rug design, texture and colour. We use authentic Tibetan wool, have a 10,000 sq. ft. dedicated weaving facility, a team of designers and experts, and live order status and support system. We are also a proud member of Labelstep, whose comprehensive fair trade standards encompass universal human rights, including the prohibition of child labour; working conditions; fair wages and eco-friendly production.
Our motto is ‘Positivity and Productivity’, and we ensure that our staff have competitive salaries and provide weavers’ children with free elementary education and daycare. We strive to ensure that weavers and staff work in the best environments in terms of workplace standards. Over the years, we have helped provide education support through college for various weavers’ children and dependants. All our weavers are paid the standard pay rates as regulated by the Nepal Labour Standards Act.
History of Karnor
Karnor Carpet Manufacturers was founded in 1991 by Tashi and the late Kunchok Sangpo in the midst of the Tibetan carpet boom in Nepal. Tashi brought with him extensive knowledge and training in traditional Tibetan art and crafts, and Kunchok Sangpo a high level of expertise in Tibetan highland wool and textiles. Shortly after, Penpa Sonam and Nekyab joined and play a critical role in continuing to drive the company forward.
31 years later, Karnorr has developed into a competitive custom rug business producing the finest bespoke Tibetan rugs, serving high level designers, rug studios, and clients across the world.
Tibetan Carpets
Tibetan rug making is an ancient, traditional craft. Tibetan rugs are traditionally made from Tibetan highland sheep’s wool, called changpel. Tibetans use rugs for many purposes ranging from flooring to wall hanging to horse saddles, though the most common use is as a seating carpet. A typical sleeping carpet measuring around 3ft x 5ft (0.9m x 1.6m) is called a khaden.
The process of making Tibetan rugs is unique in the sense that the knotting method is different from that used in other rug-making traditions worldwide. With the introduction of modern technology some aspects of the rug-making processes have been taken over by machine in many workshops, in particular yarn spinning and trimming of the pile after weaving. This is primarily because of cost, disappearance of knowledge etc. Nevertheless, the finest carpets are those still made in the traditional way, by hand.
In the 1950s, there was a major influx of Tibetan refugees to India and Nepal following Tibet’s occupation by China. With them they also brought their knowledge of rug making. Today, rug business is one of the largest industries in Nepal and one of the major exporters in the country. Tibet also has weaving workshops, but the export side of the industry is relatively undeveloped compared with Nepal and India.
To explain the process behind Tibetan handknotted rugs, we have shared here a video depicting the various stages:
Community
Supporting the weaving community
At Karnor, we strive to find better ways to support the wonderful community behind the handmade rug industry. Over the years since our founding, we have helped educate more than 100 children of weavers, helping them through elementary education. Many of these students are now college graduates.
We also support and facilitate sponsorship of students in higher academic pursuit from the handknotted rug community. One of our sponsorship beneficiaries today is a medical doctor who practices in Nepal!
Genuine Action for Voiceless Animals (GAVA)
Karnor is also proud to share that our own staff have started an initiative called ‘Gava’, where they help abused, neglected and sick dogs and other animals in the streets of Kathmandu. Watch video here.
If you would like to help sponsor a child or become a supporter for our various social projects, contact us at info@karnorr.com