FREE worldwide shipping from Armenia
and FREE custom designs for flat weavesÂ
Frequently
Asked Questions
You have rug questions,
we have rug answers.
All our rugs are made using 100% natural wool and cotton threads. Wool is used for the weft threads, which are the threads you see and make up the majority of threads used in our rugs. The wool is sourced from local shepherds in the Syunik and Shirak provinces of Armenia and processed locally. Cotton is used to make the warp threads, which give the rugs their structure. Cotton is no longer grown in Armenia, unfortunately, so the raw material is imported and then processed locally in the Shirak province. All our rugs are woven or knotted by hand.
Once the local wool is thoroughly washed, dried, and spun by hand into thread, it is either dyed in small batches by hand using organic, plant-based materials by our trusted partners at Woolway Armenia, or left with its natural hues of cream, brown, gray, and black. Only two colors used in our rugs are dyed using imported materials – shades of blue and certain shades of red. The indigo plant, which is used to derive blue, does not grow in Armenia, and has always been imported from India historically, a tradition Woolway continues today. The brilliant shades of red that Armenian rugs were historically revered for are derived from the Armenian cochineal (Porphyrophora hamelii), a scale insect native to the Ararat Plain and the Araks River Valley in Armenia. Today the Armenian cochineal is at risk of extinction in Armenia, officially listed in the Red Book of endangered species. For that reason, Woolway imports Mexican cochineal to derive certain shades of red. All remaining colors are derived from local plants sourced in Armenia.
All our rugs are made outside Yerevan in various locations around the country. Part of our mission is to provide meaningful employment to rural weavers in Armenia, no matter how far they are from the capital city, so that the art of weaving does not disappear from the country’s villages. Some rugs are made in the dedicated workshops of our rural partners, while others are made by weavers, or coders as we like to call them, at home. Weaving from home gives many coders the flexibility they need to attend to other responsibilities like child rearing, and is very much how local people made their own rugs for personal use historically in Armenia.
Our rugs are made from 100% natural wool and cotton. All natural fiber rugs will shed slightly, especially in the beginning. Don't worry! Nothing is wrong with your rug. It's simply the nature of the material and the construction. Regular vacuuming in the first couple of weeks will help to quickly reduce shedding.
The answer comes down to our values, our process, and our materials. Unlike other rug retailers in Armenia, like many of those found at the popular Vernissage market in Yerevan, we guarantee 100% made in Armenia products. We can and will tell you exactly where your rug was made and by whom. Unfortunately, many rugs at the Vernissage market are not Armenian or handmade. They’re bought from other countries, where it’s less expensive to produce rugs, and re-sold as “Armenian.” Each of our rugs is made using only local wool that’s dyed naturally, and cotton that’s processed in Armenia. Using imported wool or synthetic threads would lower the cost of our rugs, but we value local and are committed to delivering truly made in Armenia products to our customers, supporting dozens of artisans and their families in rural Armenia with meaningful employment in the process, from the shepherds whose sheep give us the wool that is hand spun into thread, to the weavers who weave that thread into our rugs.
We do not offer warranties on our rugs. Please follow our care instructions to ensure a long life for your new heirloom.
We’re a made-to-order online shop, meaning we don’t mass produce our rugs, maintain stock, or have a brick-and-mortar store. If you’re in Yerevan, you can see some of our samples at Decant Wine Shop on Saryan Street. If you’d like to see more samples while in Yerevan, please reach out to us at hello@therugcode.com and we’d be happy to arrange a meeting to show you our latest samples.
In a word, no. Each rug is made completely by hand from 100% natural wool and cotton threads that are dyed by hand using organic, plant-based materials. Small batch hand dyeing means that no batch of threads are ever exactly the same color. Natural and beautiful variations are part of the magic of a handmade rug. The final size of your rug may vary by 4% from the original size ordered, and because all our colored threads are dyed in small batches by hand, there will be lovely variation in hues. Each of our rugs are perfectly imperfect, which is part of what makes each one so special – it was made just for you.
After placing an order, you have 24 hours to cancel or change your order. If you wish to cancel or change your order, please write to hello@therugcode.com with your order number. Orders cannot be canceled or refunded after the 24 hour window.
After placing an order, you have 24 hours to cancel and get your full money back. If you wish to cancel or change your order, please write to hello@therugcode.com with your order number. Orders cannot be canceled or refunded after the 24 hour window.
All orders are final and we cannot accept returns. Please ensure all the details of your order are correct before checking out.
You will be charged the total cost for your order, including shipping, upon check out.
With pleasure! Kindly reach out to us at hello@therugcode.com and let us know what you have in mind.
New orders are processed within 24 hours, and then sent straight to our rural partners so they can begin making them. The entire process – from setting up a loom and dyeing new threads if needed, to weaving, washing, and drying your rug can take 12-16 weeks, depending on the size. While your rug is being made, you will receive email updates with photos from our team. If you need a rug sooner, please reach out to hello@therugcode.com and we’ll gladly see what we can do.
We offer free worldwide shipping from Armenia on all orders. If you have a specific question about shipping, kindly write to us at hello@therugcode.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
We're happy to offer free worldwide shipping from Armenia on all orders. Please note that additional duties and taxes may apply, depending on your delivery destination. The Rug Code is not responsible for any additional duties, taxes, or fees in your delivery destination.
As soon as your rug goes out for shipping in Armenia, we'll send you a tracking number to follow its journey.
Standard worldwide shipping is realized by Haypost, Armenia's national postal service. For questions regarding shipping and your order, please reach out to us at hello@therugcode.com with your order number.
We're very happy to offer free worldwide shipping from Armenia. Please note that there may be additional local state sales taxes and/or fees where applicable, for which The Rug Code is not responsible. It is your responsibility as the customer to report any purchases of tangible personal property that have not been taxed by The Rug Code pay use tax, unless exempt under local state law.
You’ll receive periodic updates with photos via email on the status of your order from our team. If you have any questions during the process, kindly write to us at hello@therugcode.com with your order number and we'll get back to you within 1-2 days with a status update.
We certainly hope that never happens! We're here to answer any questions you may have before you place an order to ensure you're 100% happy with your one-of-a-kind handmade piece.
