Fuzzy Bus

The tradition of hand knot carpets began in India roughly two thousands years ago. During the fifteenth century the carpets became well known throughout the travelers and traders. Later on, during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the fine art of weaving the rugs flourished under the rule of the emperors of Mughal. Most of the carpets throughout India, and the city of Kashmir specifically, were created using wool, but silk has also been a popular material for the quality of the weft and the warp. To check for the quality of a carpet, the number of knots and the quality of those knots can be distinguished by looking at the underside of the rug. The more knots there are in a square inch indicates a carpet of higher quality and durability. Many travel to the cities of India during the winter season, staying in Kashmir and Delhi five star hotels, in order to take advantage of the winter sales. The vendors load up their vehicles, bicycles or motor-cycles and sell the rugs on the street corners if necessary.

Many of the cities of Northern India host these open air markets, and buyers from countries such as Germany, the United States and Australia travel to the cities during this time, often in search of the older rugs, which just as with fine wine–get better with age. When the weather becomes too cold for tourists, the vendors go door to door. Sometimes if necessary, they use their knowledge to clean the carpets of those who don’t want to purchase new ones. The cleaning of the carpets is a delicate procedure and often only those well known for the expertise are hired for the job. During these times, the vendors often take advantage of those who do not have a clear understanding of the value of carpets, often trading the ‘old’ carpets for brand new carpets. In this way the cleaning of the carpets becomes a much more profitable venture.

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