Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets (Kashmir)
What they are & why they’re special
- Fine hand-knotted silk/wool carpets (often silk pile on cotton or silk warp) with Indo-Persian florals (chinar, islimi, medallions). Protected as “Kashmiri Hand-Knotted Carpet” (GI), with an official QR-coded GI label that lets buyers scan and verify authenticity and construction details.
- Typical fine qualities run into high knot densities; top pieces documented around ~400 knots per square inch (≈620,000 kpsm) in Kashmir. (Exact density varies by quality/size/design.)
Export & market signals
- Kashmir’s GI+QR program was launched in 2022 to tackle counterfeits and improve buyer confidence; authorities continue enforcement against machine-made fakes being sold as handmade.
India/region-specific strengths
- Traceable authenticity (GI+QR) run by IICT Srinagar; government-backed labeling at point of sale.
- Design archives & skill programs (e.g., digitisation of historical designs; ongoing weaver training) keep heritage patterns in production.
HS code: usually 5701 (knotted pile carpets).
Quality/Spec notes to include in POs
- Define knot density (kpsi/kpsm) window, pile fibre (silk/wool), warp/weft fibre, pile height, and dye class; insist on GI+QR label on each piece.
- Key tests: crocking/rubbing (AATCC TM165 / ISO 105-X12), colourfastness to light/water if relevant to end-use; US flammability (ASTM D2859 “pill test” / 16 CFR 1630/1631)
Bhadohi/Mirzapur carpets (Uttar Pradesh)
What they are & why they’re special
- India’s largest carpet belt for hand-knotted, hand-tufted, and hand-woven rugs across wool, viscose, PET and blends—price points from volume-friendly tufted to fine knotted. “Hand-made Carpet of Bhadohi” is a registered GI (2010).
- Massive buyer infrastructure: CEPC’s Carpet Expo Mart (Bhadohi) anchors international sourcing visits.
Export & market signals
- Uttar Pradesh accounts for a major share of India’s carpet exports, led by Bhadohi (recent state statement: UP ~60% of national carpet exports).
- India overall exported US$ 1.39 bn of carpets in FY24, and US$ 1.24 bn in FY25 (Apr–Dec); India supplies ≈40% of global handmade carpet exports. Top market: the USA.
India/region-specific strengths
- Deep multi-technique capacity (tufted/knotted/loomed) to hit diverse MOQs & price ladders; centuries-old design vocabulary; cluster scale for colourways and size runs.
HS codes
Quality/Spec notes
- For tufted rugs: specify pile fibre & weight (oz/yd² or g/m²), primary/secondary backing, latex/adhesive, shear/finishing, edge/serging; include flame (ASTM D2859 / 16 CFR 1630/1631) and crocking tests.
- For knotted: define kpsi/kpsm, pile height, finish; include AATCC/ISO rubbing and colourfastness suite.
Dhurries (flatweaves): Mirzapur, Warangal, Panipat
What they are & why they’re special
- Dhurries are flat-woven, reversible floor coverings (no pile), typically in cotton/wool/jute. India has multiple GI-tagged dhurries including Mirzapur Handmade Dari (UP) and Warangal Durries (Telangana); Panipat is a major home-furnishing cluster for flatweaves.
- Warangal Durries GI documents weft-interlocked tapestry structures with geometric stripes and angular motifs; Mirzapur notes panja (claw) beating technique.
- Panipat: ~3,095 MSMEs in the textile cluster; ~75% of India’s blankets and large share of home-furnishings; the district calls itself a “city of textiles and carpets.”
Export & market signals
- Dhurries (kilim/flatweaves) sit in the handmade carpet export basket dominated by the USA, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Sweden; India exports 85–90% of its carpet output.
HS code: typically 5702 (woven, not tufted or flocked; includes kelim/flatweaves).
Quality/Spec notes
- Define weave (panja/tapestry/loom), yarn count, weight, ends×picks (EPI×PPI), finish (washed/stone-washed/brush), size tolerances, fringe spec.
- Tests: crocking/rubbing (AATCC TM165 / ISO 105-X12), dimensional change after wash (if washable), US flammability (ASTM D2859 / 16 CFR 1630/1631).
Cross-cutting export picture
- India = global #1 in handmade carpets; ~40% world share; FY24 exports US$ 1.39 bn; USA is the largest buyer.
- Government/industry bodies: CEPC (Carpet Export Promotion Council) provides market access, fairs, and cluster support
Compliance & labelling to include in RFQs/POs
- USA: Carpets/rugs must meet surface flammability standards (16 CFR 1630/1631)—tested via ASTM D2859 (“pill test”).
- EU/UK: REACH Annex XVII (e.g., azo dyes entry 43; nickel release in metal trims/accessories, entry 27).
- EU textile fibre labelling (Reg. 1007/2011): fibre composition labelling for products with ≥80% textile fibres; covers textile components of the upper layer of multi-layer floor coverings.
How to source each cluster
- Kashmir (GI-QR hand-knotted): ask for GI QR labels, specify knot density & fibre; QAs: crocking + flame; use IICT labelling for authenticity.
- Bhadohi/Mirzapur (multi-technique): for tufted, lock down backing/latex spec and shear/finish; for knotted, define kpsi, pile height, and wash; time sampling to CEPC shows/Expo Mart windows.
- Dhurries (Mirzapur/Warangal/Panipat): specify weave & EPI×PPI, yarn, wash/finish, and size tolerances; leverage GI assets where applicable.
Quick reference: HS mapping
- 5701: Carpets & other textile floor coverings, knotted (Kashmiri; Bhadohi hand-knotted).
- 5702: Carpets & other textile floor coverings, woven/flatweave (Dhurries/kilim).
- 5703: Carpets & other textile floor coverings, tufted (Bhadohi hand-tufted).
