Cotton is, today, almost universally favored in carpet making to be utilized for both the warps and wefts. The advantages of using cotton for warps are especially evident considering that cotton is a very strong fibers allowing the warp threads to be very resistant and less likely to break. Moreover, the tension is evenly held on a loom with cotton warps, thus making it easier to produce a regularly shaped rug. West12 only employs cotton for the warps of our looms and all cotton rugs are woven using premium Giza cotton which is known for its high quality, its strength and extra-long fiber.
Giza cotton is grown in the area of the Nile River delta where a unique environment creates the ideal conditions for growing cotton. The soil along the Nile delta benefits not only from the nutrient-rich waters of the river but also from the breeze of the Mediterranean Sea that cools down the otherwise hot Egyptian summer temperatures, providing the perfect humidity levels. In this ideal setting that is uniquely found in the fertile valley of the Nile River in Northern Egypt, every year, when the temperatures are still mild (around April), cotton is planted.
Harvesting happens in September through different phases and rigorously by hand to ensure that only fully mature bolls are picked. Machine picking is avoided during the harvesting of Giza cotton because this method would inevitably cut through the length of the fibers and compromise the natural strength of this highly-graded cotton variety. Hand-picking is a time-consuming way of harvesting, but it ensures a more accurate selection and prevents the bolls to be damaged and therefore preserving the quality of the naturally-extra-long staple fibers of the Giza cotton.
Following a careful selection, the precious fibers are sent to Piedmont in Northern Italy to be transformed into yarns. They need to undergo several processes before becoming yarns suitable for weaving rugs. Combing and carding are carried out by experienced craftsmen with the help of advanced technology. The newly created cotton yarn is now ready to be dyed and is sent to a nearby contracting dyeing mill. Finally, the yarn is sent to our spinning facility to complete the final stage of the yarn preparation process and achieve the right thickness, compactness and torsion making it suitable for our artisans to start weaving.
Our cotton stock includes 32 signature colors the choice of which is inspired and follows natural shades, but the palette is also enriched with a highly-edited range of solid and pastel colors as a result of an ongoing and passionate experimentation to find the perfect tone. Our bespoke program offers clients and interior decorators the option of customizing their West12 cotton rug according to colors of their choice.