Frequently
Asked Questions
At Retorra, our design process begins with the weave and materials. To create the best yarns possible, we combine fibers such as wool, sunpat, linen, and silk in novel ways that give our rugs depth and allow our designs to be more than just applied decoration. All of our pattern work and much of the manufacturing are done in-house. This gives Retorra a unique, hands-on perspective and enables us to make highly specialized custom rugs.
Retorra rugs are available to interior design trade professionals only. Please contact your designer for details about ordering.
Creating a custom rug is such a rewarding experience. Every piece is a commissioned work crafted to fit the space where it will live. Each carpet is a unique expression of the needs and personality of the area. Retorra’s customized rug creator tool enables designers to conveniently generate quality renderings and corresponding proposals. Click here to get started
Retorra’s design process is thorough, and all pieces are crafted with care. We employ many different weaving processes and with that, comes a range of lead times based on the characteristics of each rug. When making a rug with our overseas mills, we minimize lead times as much as possible. All orders are shipped via air to expedite the delivery process. Transparency is our goal. We will keep you advised of the progress of your piece and notify you of all shipping updates.
When spot-cleaning a carpet, we recommend using water only. Place a towel under the stain to catch any extra water. Then, saturate the stain with water to loosen it. Next, use a clean cloth to blot the stain. Do not rub the stain, as the rubbing action will “polish” the surface and leave a shiny spot. Repeat these steps as needed. After treatment, run a small fan over the rug to assist in drying. For professional cleaning, always contact a qualified oriental rug cleaner. Our new rugs are made using the same time-honored weaving processes and materials as antique pieces. An experienced rug cleaner can clean a Retorra rug using the same methods as traditional oriental rugs.
We can apply Scotch Guard treatment to any of our carpets for an additional charge. The natural wool, sunpat and silk used in our rugs are easily cleaned. However, we recognize that at times customers would like to have an extra layer of protection. Please contact your showroom for details.
At Retorra, we take every step to ensure that your finished custom rug looks as much like the approved sample as possible. The dye houses that we work with custom match each order by sight to the approved sample. Because of this, it is necessary to have the sample on hand to ensure accuracy during the finishing process. Retorra’s rugs are dyed, woven and finished entirely by hand; the result is that each custom rug is a unique statement. If necessary we can cut a sample, leaving a piece for the designer to continue using for material selections while the other half is sent back to the mill for color matching.
Silk wears differently than wool and tends to crush, while wool is more inclined to bounce back to shape under pressure. Additionally, because of the lanolin content in wool, stains will usually repel from the surface of a wool rug easier and not settle as quickly. Silk is also more challenging to clean and doing so should be entrusted to an experienced oriental rug cleaner. However, silk is a stronger fiber than wool. Its high tensile strength makes it difficult to pull apart even with very thin silk yarns. We often use silk as the foundation material in our densely-woven carpets, allowing us to use much thinner yarns for weaving more intricate designs.
Sunpat is a plant that grows wild in the Himalayan valley of Nepal. It has a long staple fiber and is spun into a fine yarn that we use when weaving many of our carpets. Sunpat can be dyed to create beautiful stone-like hues and has a slightly coarse hand when woven. We often spin sunpat yarn with wool, as it helps the thread resist being crushed underfoot, does not pill and can be wet cleaned just like wool.