Wool is the most common fiber in handmade rugs, used across hand-knotted, hand-tufted, and flatweave constructions alike. It is prized for its natural resilience — wool fibers can be bent thousands of times without breaking, which is why a wool rug springs back from foot traffic rather than crushing permanently.
Why it matters to a buyer
Wool is naturally stain- and soil-resistant due to its outer layer of overlapping scales, takes dye richly and evenly, and is naturally flame-retardant. It is the default choice for hand-knotted and most hand-tufted programs, and the fiber against which most other materials are compared.