Each Basny rug is produced in the Hutsul ethnographic region in
a traditional technique that has been passed down for centuries.
Crafting a single rug is a time-consuming, multistage process,
which starts with wool harvesting and processing. The distinct
aspects of the landscape and the meadows where the sheep graze
contribute to shaping the qualities of the material.
Sheep are sheared once a year. The wool is washed, dried, and
carded to straighten the fibers. The combed material is rolled
into slivers and spun into yarn on wooden spindles. Thin threads
are used for the warp, while thicker ones build the rug's
surface. Weaving is done on a horizontal loom: a craftswoman
passes thick fibers between the warp rows, beats them down with
a beater, and follows a scheme to reconstruct the image. An
artisan calculates the number of rows needed to reconstruct the
image. Artistry is intertwined with mathematical accuracy.
The woven rug is treated with cold mountain water in a wooden
reservoir placed in a mountain river, where a strong stream of
water runs through it for up to eight hours. Under these
conditions, the fibers become dense and the rug tight.
Every stage — from wool collection
to finishing — is done by hand. The tools themselves, looms,
spindles, and combs, are handmade by local artisans. The craft
of rug making forms a unique ecosystem, deeply connected to
nature and sustained tradition.
