Every rug in our collection is woven by hand on a loom in rural India — but not in the same way. Three distinct techniques, each centuries old, give each rug its character. Knowing the difference takes two minutes and tells you exactly which rug suits your home.
Kilim: the reversible flat weave
A kilim is a flat-woven rug: the wool weft is woven tightly back and forth through the cotton warp, producing a rug with no pile at all. The pattern is the structure — which is why kilims are fully reversible. Two faces, one rug.
Choose a kilim if: you want crisp geometric pattern, a lighter rug you can move and rotate easily, and something practical for high-traffic rooms. Browse our wool kilims.
Dhurrie: the cotton classic
The dhurrie is India's oldest flat-weave tradition — woven here entirely in 100% cotton. Dhurries are lighter and softer than wool rugs, naturally resistant to dust, easy to spot-clean, and equally reversible. They have cooled palace floors and graced courtyards for centuries.
Choose a dhurrie if: you want something easy-going — kitchens, dining rooms, summer rooms, homes with kids and pets. See our cotton dhurries.
Panja: the dense, soft pile
Panja weaving is named after the five-pronged metal comb (panja means “claw” or “hand”) the weaver uses to pack each row of wool tightly around the cotton warp. The result is a rug with a dense, structured pile — the most substantial underfoot of the three, with rich, deep colour.
Choose a Panja rug if: you want softness and warmth — living rooms and bedrooms where bare feet spend time. Browse our Panja rugs.
What all three share
Natural wool and cotton, chemical-free dyes, and weeks of skilled handwork — much of it by women artisans whose families have woven for generations. No two pieces are alike: the small variations in a handwoven rug are not flaws but the signature of the person who made it.
Quick comparison
- Softest underfoot: Panja
- Most practical for messes: Dhurrie (cotton, spot-cleans easily)
- Best of both worlds: Kilim (wool warmth, flat-weave practicality, reversible)
- Reversible: Kilim and Dhurrie
Whichever technique speaks to you, the next question is size — our room-by-room size guide answers it in three minutes.