Oriental rugs of today

The inferior rugs arrive in New York with a dull shaggy pile and in a glaring brick red color.

They are washed in a strong chlorine bath to soften the color and give the pile a high shine. But the chemical is so strong that practically all the color is washed away, so they must be painted with a concentrated dye.

This applied color never penetrates to the roots of the pile.

The more expensive rugs are made with better, faster dyes in more subtle colors. They are given a lighter wash and often require little or no painting.