Chinese silk, or pure silk, is a rare, valuable material produced by silkworms. Treasured and traded for millennia, pure silk imbues rugs with unparalleled durability, sheen, and luster. Real Bamboo silk presents similar advantages at a lower price point, but breaks more easily and will lose its sheen over time.

Created by highly skilled artisans, hand knotted rugs involve a very time-intensive process involving hundreds of thousands of individual knots. They are produced on a loom, with more intricate designs resulting in a denser rug. Hand tufted rugs, quickly made by technicians using a special tool and adhesive backing, can recreate almost the same designs as hand knotted rugs, but with less finesse and a much shorter lifespan.

Tibetan or Himalayan wool is locally called changpel – long, thick fleece from Tibetan Highland sheep. Changpel has excellent tensile strength and is especially rich in lanolin, giving it an incredibly soft feel that has led to it being named the most luxurious wool in the world. New Zealand wool comes from merino sheep. Although it contains less lanolin, it is still very soft and durable, and is known for coming in a pure white color.