For more than 20 years Lorena Canals, the company and the founder by the same name, produced rugs that can be easily washed at home, in the convenience of your washing machine. Decades later, the idea of reducing waste in home textiles has expanded to a wide product line and a deep commitment to the environment, the health of the consumer and care for the artisans who handmake them.
Lorena Canals was kept away from her factory in India during the pandemic, but recently visited, alongside her product design team and her two daughters, to develop new innovations in the product line. Regardless of the new projects on deck, the center of everything Lorena Canals does is aimed at quality, attention to natural materials and giving back to the Indian community.
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As a result, the family-run business offers a wide range of rugs in all sizes, colors and shapes. A premier example of the company’s mission to put the planet first is seen in the RugCycled line, which is made from upcycled rugs. The line was originally developed for kids with a focus on natural fibers that don’t contain toxic chemicals. Completely washable, the rugs rely on leftover textiles, creating a closed, zero-waste, product circle. Plus, the process results in up to 90% water savings. Most of the rugs feature neutral, undyed prints. However, natural, non-toxic dyes are used when colors are incorporated.
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On the other hand, the newer washable rug made from wool provides another option for nearly any space in the home. The product lineup also includes poufs, pillows, cushions and other décor. All product sales fund a Lorena Canals charity, called Sakûla, that supports education in poor areas of India where children often lack access.
“It is now many years since I first traveled to India to create new collections and the impact of seeing children whose future is dictated by their families’ economic circumstances has marked me deeply,” said Lorena Canals. “Speaking to my daughters, I told them that I had to do something personally, something that would reach those who needed reaching, namely the children, to help them secure a future, and this involves giving them access to education. And it was my daughters who in 2008 suggested that I launch the Sakûla project, which thanks to all our customers and partners is now a reality.”
Images via Lorena Canals
