Q: Are natural rugs hard to clean?

Not at all. Natural fibers like wool, linen and silk are inherently resistant to stains and easy to clean. In fact, a mixture of mild soap and water will get out 90% of typical household stains. See our Care & Cleaning Guide for simple tips on how to maintain your natural rug for years to come.

Q: My client has pets and kids. Can they afford NOT to buy a natural rug?

The dirty truth is that for decades we’ve let sleeping dogs lie on plastic rugs without a thought to their well-being, or ours. Plastics break down over time and with exposure to sunlight, exposing the home environment to harmful airborne particles. The average dog spends most of its life on the floor, and if you’re living with synthetic rugs your pet is likely inhaling a steady trickle of toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing process. That goes double for the kids’ room.

A natural rug is an investment in your family’s wellbeing and the health of your home. Merida uses only natural fibers from rapidly renewable natural sources, and our manufacturing process minimizes waste, treading lightly on the planet. Your clients and their families will breathe easier knowing their rugs are 100% natural—and environmentally smart.

Q: How does Merida's mission support sustainability?

What could be more sustainable than a product of beauty and originality that is made to last? Merida was founded on a commitment to using only natural materials, and that has been the hallmark of our products for more than 40 years. But sustainability is meaningless without extending that equation to the people who make those products. Our Apprentice to Master Weaver program is designed to give craftspeople access to the training and opportunities they need to practice and develop technique, gain the confidence to innovate, and experience joy as makers. By creating viable career paths for craftspeople we are ensuring a future where beauty and originality are valued above all, and the joy and pleasure of the maker fuels a more sustainable planet.

Q: Is it actually possible to create something original in textiles? What does that translate to for my clients?

Since we launched our first Atelier Collection in 2018, we’ve learned that bringing original textiles to market is a collaborative endeavor that takes patience, persistence and practice. Because our workshop is fully integrated our design team works alongside our craftsmen, and we spend months of research and development before bringing a collection to market. It begins with the yarns, the natural materials that will define the textural palette for each collection. The colors spring from the design inspiration – the story behind the collection – and because every yarn takes color differently the palette expands exponentially once colors are introduced. On the surface, the originality is the inspiration, yarns, colors, and the weaving techniques, all of which we are continually evolving. But the true originality stems from the practice of our craftspeople working hand-in-hand with our design team to create one-of-a-kind rugs of enduring beauty.

Q: What makes American-made products a good purchase?

To manufacture anything in the U.S. it has to be extraordinary. The market is flooded with cheap, disposable products made overseas by workers who are not paid a fair wage – the cost savings extracted from joyless labor. An American-made product has to be made to the highest standards to justify the investment. It’s the difference between fast food and a farm-to-table dinner prepared by an expert chef; the difference is in the details, from where the ingredients are sourced to how they’re prepared to the spirit of the people at every step. For Merida it’s the things you won’t find on a spec sheet – the choice of materials, the hours of practice, and the joy of making a one-of-a-kind rug – that translates to a transformative experience for you, your clients, and everyone in the process.