ABC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

This month's topics are:   

MISCELLANEOUS

Great News!

RCAD-What is it?

2019 RCAD Specials

One Tree Planted-Our Donation

ORIENTAL RUGS

                              Gendje Oriental Rugs

AREA RUGS

Bamboo Area Rugs

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Bamboo Clothing 

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GREAT NEWS!

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RCAD for 2019

January 2nd through March 30th
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CARPET CLEANING 

20% Off

for ALL 3 MONTHS!

CHECK OUT OUR CARPET CLEANING ARTICLES here and here.

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JANUARY RCAD ONLY

UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE CLEANING

30% Off 

CHECK OUT OUR UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE CLEANING Articles here.

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FEBRUARY RCAD ONLY

ORIENTAL & AREA RUG CLEANING

30% Off

CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON ORIENTAL & AREA RUG CLEANING Articles here and here.
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MARCH RCAD ONLY

TILE & GROUT CLEANING

& SEALING

50% Off

CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON TILE & GROUT CLEANING Articles here.
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 MORE DISCOUNTS FOR THE NEW YEAR ALSO AVAILABLE!

Services paid with cash qualify for an EXTRA 5% off.

CALL ABC at 607-272-1566 for more information and more discounts!

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PLEASE NOTE:

• Discounts applied to services MUST be above our minimum charges and CANNOT be combined with other discounts.
• Services must be performed in the month they are offered only.

 GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS

LOCATION

Gendje oriental rugs (Ganja, Geunge, etc.) were woven in the town of Gendje in the traditional rug-weaving area of the Caucasus Mountains. The name Gendje also refers to the mountainous area surrounding the town. 

It is located on the Western shore of the Caspian Sea and is bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas to the East and West, Russia to the North, and Turkey and Iran to the South.

Gendje is situated on the main road connecting Tbilisi (Bilisi), the capital of Georgia (formerly a part of the Soviet Union and now an independent republic), and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. This location between the weaving areas of Karabagh, Kazak, and Shirvan made it the marketing center for rugs from those areas as well.

ANTIQUE GENDJE RUGS

Several different types of rugs came out of the Gendje area. They included the Ancient or Gadim Gendje, Fakhrali, Gedebey, Golkend, Cheykend,  Chayli, Chiragli, Samukh, and Shadili. 

ANCIENT or GADIM GENJE

These rugs are often called Gendje-Paisley rugs because they used the paisley pattern called Gendje-Buta (Boteh), which were often laid on the field diagonally. These rugs also contained religious symbols.

FAKHRALI

The Fakhrali rugs are prayer rugs and were woven in villages around Gendje. They were usually made in small sizes because they were used in and at religious ceremonies.
There would usually be an arc in the upper part of the field which represented the mosque architectural shape.

GEDEBEY

These rugs featured star-shaped medallions which extended vertically in the field. They usually contained simple patterned stripes. Yellow-colored rectangular patterns were also featured.
The Gedebey area also produced the Cheykend and Golbend type of Gendje oriental rugs.

CHAYLI

These rugs adopted some elements of the neighboring Shirvan rugs. An ancient figure called the Bendi-rumi can often be found. This figure is in the shape of a rhombus and is filled with geometric floral bouquets.

CHIRAGLI 

These were medium quality rugs that were widely produced in other regions as well and could often be found labeled as Kazakhcha, Gendje, Fakhrali or Samkhor rugs.

SAMUKH

These are the oldest and the most popular of the Gendje oriental rugs and they differ in design from the others. A square located in the center of the field will have medium sized star-shaped medallions located above and below.

The Samukh rugs are characteristic of Shirvan and Kuba rugs. Two basic elements found in these rugs are the val, a threshing board and the goosh, a bird.

SHADILI

These were also medium quality rugs. They were sometimes labeled as Kazak, Gendje, Caucasus, and Agstafa rugs as well.

CONSTRUCTION OF GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS

Like the Kazak rugs, the Gendje oriental rugs generally had wool warps and long, thick pile. Unlike the Kazaks, the wefts (side to side cords) were undyed cotton or pale red woolen wefts. 

Most rugs from the Caucasus Mountains use the Turkish or Symmetrical knot.

Often the warps are strongly depressed, giving the back of the rug a corrugated appearance. (Depressed warps (up and down cords) occur when the wefts (side to side cords) are pulled tightly from either side rather than put in with minimal tension. This will displace the warps into 2 levels).

DESIGN OF GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS

Gendje oriental rugs were usually long and narrow and also included runners. 

A distinctive feature of Gendje weaving was a pattern of many-colored diagonal stripes featuring small floral designs, sometimes alternating with rows of boteh figures as well as multi-colored borders with octagon shapes. These borders could contain many subtle natural hues, giving a sense of harmony and movement to the design. The crab design was frequently used as well.

Another design used for Gendje oriental rugs was a diamond-shaped medallion which would have a white outline that curved outwards and opened up on each vertical side of the medallion. Yet another of the Gendje rugs contained many x-shaped shield-type designs.

WHY HAS WEAVING STALLED IN THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAIN REGION?

To learn why and to find out much more about Gendje oriental rugs, complete with photos, please continue reading here.

BAMBOO RUGS

Bamboo rugs have been used in Asian cultures for centuries and are gaining popularity with today's consumers, especially those committed to using sustainable materials.

Generally, the rugs are woven using strips of bamboo bound with cotton, jute, or other materials.

They are cool, comfortable, and soft as well. They will actually become softer with age. They are good choices for covered outdoor areas as well as indoor decorative rugs. These rugs can provide a relaxing, natural ambiance to any living area.

 WHAT IS BAMBOO?   

Bamboo grows throughout the planet, especially in Central America, South America, South Africa, India, East Asia, Japan and North of Australia. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. The Anji Mountains of China is considered to be the bamboo capital.

Bamboo is actually a grass, but it has a tree-like structure and its stems are wood-like. The stems are hollow and extremely strong, getting stronger as they age.

ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO FIBER

• It minimizes carbon dioxide and can generate up to 35% more oxygen than trees.
• Bamboo provides an alternative source of timber and cellulose fiber. Thus, Bamboo planting can slow deforestation because it allows communities to construct commercial bamboo plantations and turn away from the destruction of their native forests.
• It can be grown in diverse climates because the efficiency of its water use is twice that of trees. Thus, it can handle harsh weather conditions such as drought, flood, and high temperatures.
• It helps to preserve soil and prevent soil erosion because of its extensive root system and the fact that it does not need to be uprooted to be replanted.
• It is biodegradable.
• There is no need for pesticides or fertilizers when growing bamboo.

WHY BAMBOO RUGS?

• They are fire resistant. The natural structure and oils of bamboo make it fire retardant. A fire may start on a bamboo rug but it will take a long time to spread.
• They are insect resistant. As a general rule, insects are not attracted to bamboo. It contains an antimicrobial agent that gives the plant a natural resistance to pests and fungi.
• They are allergen resistant because of their smooth and easy to clean surfaces. It is not as easy for allergens to hide as with other types of rugs.
• They do not conduct electron charges and are thus naturally anti-static.
• Bamboo is a renewable resource. The plants grow to maturity in 2 years. They regrow from their bases very quickly after cutting and can be regrown over and over again without depleting the forests. Bamboo can live in smaller spaces than traditional trees as well. Bamboo does not need to be processed in order to make it into a rug.
• Bamboo is extremely strong and durable. The plants receive special treatment after they are cleaned and cut and can retain their shape and hardness, holding up well to wear and tear.
• They can be used in any area of the home, even areas that receive high foot traffic and they make excellent entrance mats.
• Bamboo rugs come in a wide array of sizes and colors, although black and tan are the most common colors.
• They come in many patterns and with proper care can last a long time. The edges of the rugs are usually bound with a cotton binding that can come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs.
• They can be stained to fit any decor and they can also be painted.

DISADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO RUGS

• They can be louder than other rugs so it may be more prudent not to use a bamboo rug in an area with a lot of traffic.
• They will bleach in direct sunlight. Although it is possible to re-stain a sun-bleached bamboo rug, it is much easier to simply not place it in direct sunlight.

HOW TO KEEP BAMBOO RUGS CLEAN

Find out how to keep bamboo rugs clean and other information about bamboo by continuing to read here.

BAMBOO CLOTHING

Bamboo clothing, along with home products such as bamboo floors, rugs, blinds, sheets and towels, etc. have seen a surge of popularity in recent years, especially with consumers seeking to make sustainable purchases. 

Because of the diversity and unusual qualities of the bamboo plant and the many advantages it offers, manufacturers have made claims that assume certain properties of the bamboo plant can automatically be applied to the end product, especially with bamboo clothing.

If you have purchased or consider purchasing bamboo clothing in the future, be aware of manufacturer's claims of sustainability, UV protection, and antibacterial properties, among others, which have been disputed. There also appears to be some question as to whether bamboo clothing is really the ethical choice it is assumed by many to be. 

ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO CLOTHING AS PER MANUFACTURER CLAIMS

• Eco-friendly closed-loop process meaning that solvents used to process the bamboo into clothing are captured so they are not in the finished product. No harmful chemicals are retained in the fiber after processing.
• Built-in temperature control because bamboo has very high water absorbency and can take in up to three times its weight in water. For clothing, this means it will pull moisture away from the skin so that it can evaporate. It traps warm air for winter and keeps moisture at bay for hot climates. 

• It is thought to be hypoallergenic. There are no sharp spurs to irritate the skin because it is a naturally smooth and round fiber.
• It looks and feels like silk or very soft cotton.
• It is thought to have anti-microbial properties, reducing bacteria in clothing that can cause unpleasant odors. (This has been challenged).
• It is UV Resistant, though this has also been challenged since any tight fiber will provide UV protection.
• Bamboo has more elasticity than cotton.

HOW TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN BAMBOO CLOTHING AND TEXTILES 

• Wash in washing machine on gentle cycle with cold or lukewarm water.
• Line drying is recommended. Any kind of heat from machine drying may cause the fabric to lose its shape. If necessary, iron on low heat and never use steam.
• Dry clean any garments that have a tailored effect since the interfacings can lose their shape after washing.
• To prevent pilling, close all buttons and zippers and turn the garment inside out before washing.
• Sweaters and knitted accessories made from bamboo fibers should be hand washed to prevent stretching.
• For heavy soil, especially with sheets and towels, allow the items to presoak for at least 15 minutes in warm water and detergent solution in a washer before washing. Bamboo textiles will shrink in hot water.
• Chlorine bleach will weaken the fabric. If fabric needs to be whitened or brightened, use an oxygen based bleach to soak it. For disinfection, chose a pine oil.
• For specific stains, follow manufacturer recommendations. Enzyme-based stain removers are safe to use on bamboo before washing.
• Air dry the item flat on an indoor folding rack or outdoor clothesline. If quicker drying than that is needed, use the low heat cycle of the dryer and remove the fabric while still slightly damp. Then iron with a cool iron.

BAMBOO CLOTHING AND OTHER BAMBOO TEXTILES ARE THEY REALLY SUSTAINABLE CHOICES? 

Find the answer by continuing the article here.

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