On Wool Craft
Our woolen rugs are made by following hundreds of years old Ethiopian traditions. The rugs are completely hand made to create as many jobs as possible. The aim of SERA HELSINKI is to empower the most vulnerable groups in Ethiopia – people with disabilities and single mothers.
Our collections have both knotted and woven rugs which are made using different techniques. Every rug is unique. All sheep are different in colour and every weaver works in a different way so there are no two identical rugs.
The Sheep and Their Shepherds
Our wool comes from the highlands of northern Ethiopia. The climate is cool in these regions and therefore the villages have traditions using wool in their everyday life. The sheep roam freely in the nature and are looked after by the shepherds.
The threads of the carpets are hand made from woollen fleece shorn off the sheep. It is not chemically dyed and this is why our products are natural and ecological. Sheep fleece comes in three colours; black, white and brown. The different thread colours are achieved by mixing the natural wool colours. The thread keeps its natural lanolin – also called wool wax or grease – which helps to remove any dirt on it.
Every sheep varies in colour by nature and every weaver works in a different way. For this reason every rug is unique, there are no two identical rug.
Meet Our ShepherdsHandmade Thread
The thread in our woollen carpets makes them unique. The thread is handmade. It has not been chemically or in any other way dyed, all colours are natural lambswool colours. This makes the thread ecological and nature friendly. Sheep fleece comes in three colours; black, white and brown. The different thread colours are achieved by mixing the natural wool colours. For example grey comes by mixing black and white. This makes all the carpets unique as the colours vary slightly from thread to thread and carpet to carpet. A thread is made in several different phases.
Learn about our thread making process
Knotted Rugs
Knotted rugs are thick and luxurious. To produce one six square meter knotted rug takes about one month from a team of five persons. One square meter of knotted rug weights about 5 kilograms. The rugs are made by using a traditional Ethiopian rug making technique.
Learn more about our knotted rugsWoven Rugs
Woven rugs are produced by horizontal looms. The woolen thread crosses the cotton warps. One square meter weight about 2 kilograms and the woven rugs are thinner than knotted rugs. To produce one six square meter woven rug takes about two weeks from a team of two persons.
Learn more about our woven rugs
