A Global Family of Storytellers
Craftsmanship
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Each Pelican House piece is a result of collaborations with over 150 artisans. We weave using traditional and ancestral techniques blended with contemporary ideas to co-create products steeped in culture, place, and the tales our artisan communities wish to tell.
We believe that every Pelican House piece carries the story of its maker and their relationship with tradition, craft, skill, and textile. We work in harmony with our land, local biodiversity, seasons, and the incredible people that weave our products into existence.
Our hope at Pelican House is to truly celebrate our artisan partners and their craft.
It is our responsibility to bridge the often untrodden path between our conscious buyers and communities of artists, makers and crafts-people. We are committed to preserving their past, present and future.
THE CRAFTSMANSHIP JOURNEY
In India and Nepal, our artisans follow the same techniques that have been used for hundreds of years.
We have remained faithful to their traditions, keeping the process handmade at every stage, with materials chosen to reflect both heritage and innovation. Each yarn and weaving method carries its own character - some bringing strength, others softness, or a subtle lustre. From fine and flat weaves to rich, shaggy textures, every piece begins its journey with these foundations of craft. Here's a brief introduction to the basics of the rug journey.
HANDCARDING AND HANDSPINNING
Carding is the process of preparing wool fibres for spinning. This is done by careful teasing of the raw wool by hand. It is then worked into yarn by experienced spinners.
DYEING
Each strand is carefully hand-dyed by specialist dyers who rely on both experience, intuition and patience to match the colour, blending pigments until the perfect tone emerges. Using small poms - tiny bundles of wool prepared in advance we use with our clients - they match colours with meticulous precision.
DRYING
The yarn is then dried under the warmth of the sun, which sets the colour and deepens its richness, giving each strand a subtle vibrancy that no machine could replicate. The sun plays an important role in the making of every rug.
WEAVING
The rug is then handed over to our impeccably skilled weavers, masters of the technique they have perfected over years of practice. Every piece is crafted entirely by hand, requiring time, patience, and true artistic refinement to bring the designs we have given them to life.
WASHING
Once the weaving is complete, the rug is gently washed and brushed by hand with wooden paddles, before being laid out to dry under the warmth of the sun - a step that enhances its softness and brings its colours to life.
HAND-FINISHING
Every rug is carefully hand finished by skilled artisans, who refine the surface, trim the pile, and perfect every edge by hand. This meticulous process enhances the rug’s texture, definition, and durability - ensuring that each piece meets the highest standards of craftsmanship.
Handknotted Rugs
Flatweave Rugs
Jute Rugs
Tufted Rugs
From jute to handwoven, flatweave and tufted, explore our full range of ready-to-shop rugs.
SHOP ALL RUGS
MAKE IT BESPOKE
Pelican House specialises in a fully custom service for Interior Designers, private and commercial projects. Our in-house design team and rug specialists can advise on design, colour, materials and size for a simplified custom process.