Rug Buying Guide: Viscose (Art Silk) Fibre

Well, when it comes to making a decision in choosing the right rug for your home, it’s of prime importance that you are aware of the rug materials and their features. Judging on the fibre and its characteristics, your rug will have certain attributes which will make it fit for specific requirements.

Today we are going to discuss about viscose yarn and how they endow certain features to the carpets. They are one of the most expensive rug materials in the industry and they can be compared with the New Zealand wool as far as price is concerned.

It’s hard to put viscose fibre in either man-made or natural because it is equally both. Regenerating natural materials into a usable form, this is how viscose fibre is made. Created by mercerizing-wood, hemp or cotton, the fabric is non-static, plush with silk-like texture. In modern days, most of the rugs are treated to give a luxurious feel with high lustier and sheen for added visual appeal in any room.

Before moving into the detailing part and knowing the fibre closely to judge how it will be suitable for your new rug, it’s important that you should be aware about its origin and how did it come to become this popular.

First developed in France in the 1890s, Viscose Rayon was named as ‘artificial silk’. It was 1924 when it was officially adopted by the textile industry. In the same year, it was named ‘rayon’. The fabric is made from wood pulp. Wood pulp is a naturally occurring cellulose-based raw material which is why the fabrics entertain properties similar to natural fibres like cotton and linen.

The construction type is hand tufted for most of the rugs using viscose as the manufacturing material. The only downside of this amazingly superb fibre is the cost. It is on the expensive side due to the intense processes required before making it ready for the carpet industry. Some high-end viscose fibre may match the prices of New Zealand wool.

Key Characteristics

1. It offers amazing lustrous and shiny appearance to the carpets leading to the enhanced visual appeal.

2. The fabric is soft to touch. It has a similar feel to silk which is the reason why it’s called artificial silk.

3. The fabric is breathable which means it allows a fine passage for the air to pass through.

4. The fabric takes colours well and easily dyes in different colours.

5. It is abrasion resistant

6. It is insect resistant. So, if you have these tiny monsters in your home, you don’t need to worry about your carpet as they resist insects.

7. The fabric is anti-static

8. When the fabric is wet, it loses its strength

9. Poor stain resistance

Well, if you are a big silk lover, then viscose is a great choice and alternative for you without even spending the cost of the real silk. Rugs made of viscose rayon are extremely soft and luxurious and they feel like real silk. They offer amazing flickering sheen to the carpets and look stunning in the right home.

It is strongly recommended not scrub or disturbs the pile when it is wet as the fabric loses its strength when wet. You may end up causing a serious damage to your carpet. This is one of the reasons why it is extremely difficult to wash.