GoodWeave and Odegard Rugs
Tibetan hand-knotted carpets have been in existence for centuries, but it was not until Stephanie Odegard, founder of carpetmaker Odegard, began working with exiled Tibetan carpet weavers in Nepal that they gained popularity in the West. Over twenty years ago, the designer guided the restructuring of wool trading lines and provided weavers with necessary market development and innovative designs, which helped the carpet trade become one of the leading industries in Nepal.
Odegard is also attempting to help end one of the industry’s oldest practices—illegal child labor. In South Asia, it is incorrectly believed that the fine knotting of handcrafted rugs requires small hands. According to Odegard, what it really requires is “strong hands.” Odegard was the first American company to work with the RugMark Foundation, a global nonprofit that has created an independent labor monitoring program. Carpets sold with the foundation’s GoodWeave label are assured to have been made without child labor; surprise inspections by third-party inspectors ensure factories remain compliant. The licensee’s sales support educational opportunities provided to children as part of the foundation’s mission. Odegard’s Navaratna carpet, a richly hued rug whose design depicts the nine gemstones symbolizing celestial forces in Indian culture, carries the GoodWeave label. The yarn is hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-knotted in Nepal, where the RugMark Foundation inspects seventy-five percent of Nepalese carpet factories annually and has rescued close to two thousand children. Through the production and sale of carpets, Odegard supports an ethical certification program that embodies the company’s commitment to social progress, ensuring that children are safe and educated while promoting traditional crafts as a platform for economic prosperity.
Location: nepal, united states