In Japanese culture, woven rush mats, or tatami mats, have been in use for hundreds of years. Merida's distinctive paper rugs offer a similar look in a more durable material.
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Design
Our innovative woven paper designs showcase Merida's longstanding
expertise in working with unconventional materials. With clean lines and
a comfortable feel underfoot, our 100% paper weaves pay homage to
traditional Japanese tatami mats. In addition, our blended
wool-and-paper rugs combine the simple, elegant lines of paper with the
classic beauty of wool.
Sustainability
In making our paper rugs, we use virgin wood that is obtained from
sustainable, managed forests in Canada and the Adirondacks of upstate
New York. Our suppliers are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for preventing clear-cutting and destruction of old-growth forests.
Cultivation & Production
The paper in our rugs comes from coniferous trees that are grown in
dry, cold climates and produce long, fine, dense fibers high in
cellulose — a crucial ingredient for papermaking.
Raw wood chips from the trees are soaked in water, beaten by rollers
and reduced to a pulpy solution. The pulp is poured into mesh frames
and pressed to achieve the proper thickness. Once dry, the paper is cut
into strips, which are twisted on a high-speed twister to produce firm
and strong paper cord. During the twisting, a wax coating is applied to
help the paper cord spin smoothly and enhance its toughness and water
resistance.
At our mill in Fall River, Massachusetts, we weave the finished paper
yarn on computer-programmed dobby looms that require constant human
surveillance. While the textile is being created, these machines read
our designs off of hand-punched cards indicating the position of warp
and weft. As a result, we can create an array of interesting patterns
and textures in our paper rugs.
Our patented production process results in uncommonly durable paper rugs that are smooth and soft to the touch.
