Guendalina PerelliWith workshops in Nepal, Thailand, India, and Morocco, Jan Kath is one of the world’s most in-demand designers of hand-knotted carpets
Jan Kath is one of the world’s most in-demand designers of hand-knotted carpets. He purposely breaks with conventional styles and throws strict design rules overboard.
The man from Bochum doesn’t shy away from combining classic elements from the oriental carpet with contemporary, minimalist design. Another major theme of his current work involves the interpretation of photorealistic motifs in textile art, which Kath perfects together with his carpet weavers in the workshops in Kathmandu (Nepal).
Inspired by numerous trips to vibrant cities and not least by his native Ruhr region with its archaic industrial culture, Jan Kath quickly developed his distinctive signature which is absolutely style-defining.
His carpets have won many awards (Red Dot, Carpet Design Award, and many more) and are often exhibited in art and design museums (including the Museum für angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, Art Museum Riga Bourse, and the Beijing International Design Triennial).
Unique natural materials combined with handmade production techniques give each carpet its own character. The main material is wool from the Tibetan highlands, one of the highest quality and most robust. The carpets are knotted by hand in the workshops according to centuries-old traditions. More than 2,500 weavers work for JK around the world.
There are between 100 and 450 knots in every 6.45 square centimetres (one square inch). The main material used in the collections made in Asia is wool from the Tibetan highlands, one of the highest quality and most robust of all materials. Herdsmen use yaks to bring the wool from the mountains to the base station where it is then washed in the river and subsequently carded (combed) and spun by hand.
The yarns made from wool, silk, and nettle fibres are available in more than 1,200 colours. While the designs are conceived using a computer at the creative centre in Bochum and sent via the Internet to the workshops in Nepal, Thailand, India, and Morocco, Jan Kath is uncompromising when it comes to producing his modern designs and he insists on using old production methods.
For 2025, Jan Kath presents different collections:
Cyprinus
The rugs from the Cyprinus collection take you to the magical world of the oceans. Inspired by the flowing movements and shimmering reflections beneath the surface of the water, iridescent colors and gentle transitions merge into a design that radiates serenity and calm.
The collection, which Jan Kath designed together with his son Sanchir, is hand-knotted in Nepal, knot by knot, 100 knots per square inch, over a period of several months. The use of Tibetan highland wool, Nepalese nettle, and the finest Chinese silk gives the pieces an incomparable texture and a subtle sheen that emphasizes the depth of the design.
Cyprinus rugs are not just floor coverings, but transformative works of art that turn any room into an oasis of calm. As each piece is made to order – in individual sizes and colour nuances to suit your needs and desires, all sizes are possible.
Spectrum Supreme
The Spectrum Supreme collection is an homage to nature and the art of craftsmanship. Inspired by the shimmering northern lights in the skies over Siberia, Jan Kath created the Spectrum collection. In the latest designs of this series, he combines the fascinating, iridescent play of light with classical ornaments. These are elegantly framed, grounding the fleeting light reflections in a stylistic way. The collection is appropriately named “Supreme”, emphasizing the exceptional quality and expressive power of these rugs.
The rugs are meticulously handcrafted in renowned workshops in Kathmandu. Every parameter –ranging from size and shape to pile height– can be individually tailored to meet customer preferences. The intricate color gradients and detailed patterns of this collection demand the highest level of skill from the artisans. Only the most experienced craftsmen and women are capable of translating the challenging design templates of the Bochum-based artist into reality, knot by knot.
The unmatched depth and distinctive radiance of these rugs are attributed to the exquisite materials used in their production. By combining hand-combed Tibetan highland wool with the finest Chinese silk, a captivating three-dimensional effect is achieved – one that is not only visually stunning but also offers an extraordinary tactile experience.
Tuareg
The rugs from the Tuareg collection are made by Kath’s local partners in small manufactories in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The carpets, which nomadic Berbers once used to insulate their tents, are woven using traditional techniques in double layers. The double layering makes the rugs particularly robust and gives them a unique tactile feel. While a flat weave, known as a kilim, is woven horizontally, a second kilim is simultaneously embroidered on the other side in a vertical direction.
For dyeing the highland wool, the artisans use natural colours obtained from plants and minerals found in their surroundings. Various shades of brown are made from boiled acorns and tree bark. Pollen yields a bright yellow, henna produces a rich orange, and a radiant, dark red is obtained from the shells of pomegranates.
“These are the colours of the desert that bring the warmth of Africa into our living room,” explains Jan Kath. Each carpet ordered has a design template as a basis, “however since our hand-carded and spun wool is very individual and vibrant, it absorbs the pigments slightly differently, and even the sizes can vary,” says Kath. “But it is precisely these uncertainties that make each piece a very special and unique item.”
