As Britain’s oldest and most famous carpet designer and manufacturer, there’s over 250 years of craftsmanship and tradition woven into every Axminster carpet. A genuine Axminster carpet is the epitome of luxury, having graced the floors of royal residences, stately homes, and the finest hotels around the world. In 1790, a specially commissioned Axminster carpet was produced for the newly established US Senate. King George III and Queen Charlotte bought many of the original Axminster carpets, and they were also fitted in Chatsworth House and Brighton Pavilion. Because of their durability and exceptional quality, Axminster carpets are the carpet of choice when furnishing various commercial spaces such as the Royal Albert Hall, prestigious global airlines like British Airways and Virgin, and UK train carriages including the iconic Belmond British Pullman.
The Axminster story begins in 1755, when Devonshire weaver Thomas Whitty decided to recreate an expensive Turkish carpet he saw on a trip to London - at a fraction of the cost. Axminster Carpets was born and became renowned for its incredible designs and high-quality carpets. A fire destroyed the factory in 1828, stopping production of Axminster carpets in the town until 1937, when carpet manufacturer Harry Dutfield relocated his company to the eponymous town and revived Axminster Carpets. Today, Axminster is the only manufacturer to purchase, wash, card, spin and dye its own yarn, as well as weave the carpet itself.
How is an Axminster carpet made?
Today’s carpet weaving method used to make an Axminster carpet is almost identical to the original process, although the looms are more technologically advanced, and the designs are more modern. Whilst Axminster is a brand, it’s also the name for a type of woven carpet. A woven carpet is made by weaving the yarn all the way through the backing fibres. When the woven carpet is removed from the loom, the back is coated with latex to fix the tufted fibres in place. To make an Axminster carpet, each individually coloured yarn is selected by the loom, cut into U-shaped tufts, then inserted where it’s needed. The Axminster weaving method allows for infinite colour choices and incredibly detailed designs. It takes around 8 hours to make one roll of Axminster carpet, compared to only one hour for a tufted carpet – something that’s reflected in the cost of a woven carpet.
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