Tribe Home’s new studio in Uptown curates a beautiful display of modern contemporary rugs handmade in India and vintage Persian rugs from Iran.

By buying a Tribe Home rug, you can support the traditional rug weaving industry, which is currently facing the threat of extinction, and preserve the art of handmade rugs.

Tina Richards, founder of Tribe Home, talks to Uptown editor Suzanne McNamara about why there’s nothing like owning a beautiful hand- made rug.

What rugs will we find at Tribe Home?

We have the best selection of unusual and beautiful handmade rugs due to travelling far and wide to curate our collections. One rug can travel through 60 hands before it finds a home and covers a floor. It’s a reminder to go slow, to be patient and present – just as the weaver was when creating the rug.

When you purchase a Tribe Home rug you are not only owning something truly magnificent to enhance your interiors, but you’re also contributing to the livelihoods of many people around the globe.

In an age where machinery is fast replacing people, we face the possibility that rug weaving could become extinct. When people purchase one of our rugs, together we can help preserve the global craft of handmade rugs and contribute to the welfare of people in the carpet weaving regions.

What are the key things to consider when buying a rug?

A rug sets the scene and helps you create a look and feel. Start by considering what mood or feeling you want to create in your space. This will lead you to a particular texture, pattern or colour. The size of the rug really does matter. The most common thing we see (and want people to avoid doing), is buying a rug that is too small for the intended space. Even if you love that rug, the size will let you down and it will never feel right in the space. Don’t be afraid to go bigger. My favourite look is when the furniture is on the rug. It just makes everything appear more grand.

A rug can create a zone in an open plan space and make a small space inviting. It can bring a whole scheme together. It really is an integral part of the design process and shouldn’t be overlooked.

It can be challenging, because visually it takes up a big part of the interior. More so than a sofa. The right rug will lift everything and create such a mood. Quality is also important and this criteria can be a daunting task. Tribe can help you find the perfect handmade rug that completes your dream home.

At what stage of the interior design process do you buy a rug – before furniture or after?

I like to start a scheme from the ground up, therefore the rug for me comes first. You have lots of options that way to create an amazing interior scheme around the rug. However, that is not the case for many and so either is acceptable. If choosing a rug for an already established space, then you would pick colours from that room that may be from cushions, artwork, or an existing pattern. Don’t be afraid to mix traditional rug patterns with modern furniture and vice versa. This makes for a really exciting space.

What’s your favourite rug in the Uptown store at the moment?

One of my favourites is the “dragon rug”, designed and woven in Jaipur, India. Its bright colours and striking dragon design commands attention.

Jaipur is known for its creative designs in rug weaving and you can always expect something a little different from that part of India. This particular piece is a modern rug, and it has gone through special treatments to give it a vintage look.

It is a beautiful hand-knotted piece inspired by traditional motifs found in Central Asian textiles, but with a modern, abstract twist. It takes approximately five months to weave.

The pink you see is recycled silk made from old saris, the traditional clothing of Indian women, and the rest is woven from wool. It’s a standout piece – a work of art and I can’t wait to see where it ends up. I feel it is for someone who is bold and adventurous.