Rugmark Publishes Socially Responsible Rug Buying Guide

Furniture World Magazine

RugMark announced that their recently released How to Buy a Rug guide makes it easier for individuals to buy handmade rugs that are both visually beautiful and ethically made. The guide, which distills the often daunting process of purchasing a handmade rug into five steps, stresses the importance of selecting a carpet that is made by skilled adult artisans. “A handmade carpet woven by children is ugly no matter what it looks like,” said Nina Smith, Executive Director of RugMark USA. Nearly 300,000 children are illegally exploited as child labor in the carpet industry in South Asia and many of these carpets end up in American homes. Smith continued, “Consumers can avoid goods made by underage workers and learn about how to select a quality carpet by following the recommendations in How to Buy a Rug and demanding child-labor-free rugs.” Established in 1994, RugMark works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry in South Asia through loom and factory monitoring and certification, consumer labeling, and by offering education to former child weavers. Rugs from weaving facilities that have been inspected and certified child-labor-free by independent inspectors are marked with the RugMark® label, the best possible assurance that children were not employed in the making of a rug. RugMark is working to completely eliminate child labor from South Asia’s handmade rug industry by 2012 by raising consumer and industry awareness and increasing the market share of RugMark certified rugs. This is the goal of RugMark’s national consumer awareness campaign, The Most Beautiful Rug, which educates people to make humanitarian purchasing choices. The How to Buy a Rug guide is an informative new tool for individuals and industry members alike. Copies of How to Buy a Rug are available at www.RugMark.org or by requesting a copy at info@RugMark.org. About RugMark RugMark is an international nonprofit organization working to end exploitative child labor in the carpet industry and give educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal and Pakistan. The RugMark label offers the best assurance that no illegal child labor was used in the manufacture of a carpet or rug. A list of importers and retailers that sell RugMark certified rugs is available at www.RugMark.org.