The most important factor to be aware of when choosing an Oriental Carpet are the materials used in the weaving of that rug. It doesn't matter that a rug is hand-woven if the wools and dyes can't hold up to years of abuse. Like any textile, the quality of wool determines how long a rug will last.

The best rug wool comes from high mountain sheep and is spun by hand on drop spindles. The wool is left in its natural form, retaining essential oils and lanolin, that protects wool and keeps it strong over time.

Unfortunately, 95% of rugs are woven with highly processed, New Zealand wool. The wool is bleached and stripped of its oils, and then machine spun into overly consistent yarn. Although these rugs are soft and have tighter knots, the wool is dead and breaks down over time.

Dyes are the other most important factor to be aware of. For centuries rugs were woven with natural dyes coming from organic sources, including indigo, madder root, milk weed, onion skins, and bark.

Beginning in the 1930s, these traditional dyes became replaced by cheap, Western, synthetic dyes. Most experts agree, this began the steady decline of rug weaving, which has only recently recovered. Early synthetic dyes tend to bleed when they get wet, the colors lack the natural depth and beauty of natural "vegetable" dyes, and they fade over time.

In the past 10 years, there has been a renaissance in carpet weaving, pushing many companies to return to natural sources. These dyes, along with hand-spun wool, are being used to weave rugs with the same quality and integrity of those woven 100 years ago.