Rug weaving in Nepal was originally started by
the Tibetan refugees. Due to the political upheaval in Tibet from 1959
through the early 60's, thousands of Tibetans settled in the Kathmandu
Valley after having made the long trek through the Himalayan Mountains.
For centuries, Tibetans have been weaving and using rugs as bedding,
saddle blankets and meditation mats in monasteries. As a means to making a
living in a new land, we Tibetans received the support of the Swiss
government and began a cottage industry of rug weaving. The rest is
history.
This industry was intended to sell rugs to the growing tourist trade in
Nepal. During this period, most of the rugs produced were traditional
designs in small sizes. The rug trade has come a long way since then, now
this is the largest exported product of Nepal.
In the late 70's, floor-covering buyers from Germany came to Nepal and
began purchasing plain field (border only) designs in larger sizes. within
a short period, the German market became the hub of distribution
throughout Europe. Due to the high demand of European buyers during the
1980's, Tibetan rug production in Nepal became the nation's leading
industry. During this time, a few American importers began the importation
of Tibetan rugs made in Nepal, with specific design and coloration ideas
for the American decorative market. To this day, Tibetan rugs have become
a leading commodity, within the hand-made floor covering market, in both
Europe and North America and continue to grow in popularity
internationally.