No. Karastan's classic wool rugs are no longer made. In 2021, Mohawk Industries, which has owned Karastan since 1993, closed the production facilities in Eden, North Carolina, where Karastan rugs had been woven since 1928, and ended the brand's wool rug weaving there. The Karastan name continues on rugs and carpet made from synthetic fibers, but the worsted-wool Karastans that furnished American homes for more than ninety years are now found only on the vintage market.
| Wool Karastans made | 1928 to 2021 |
|---|---|
| Where | Leaksville (now Eden), North Carolina |
| What changed | Mohawk closed the Eden facilities in 2021 |
| Karastan today | Rugs and carpet in synthetic fibers |
| Wool Karastans now | Available only as vintage rugs |
What happened
For more than ninety years, Karastan rugs were woven on adapted Axminster looms at the mill in Eden, in worsted wool. In 2021 Mohawk closed those facilities and consolidated its textile production in Georgia, where carpet and rugs under the Karastan name are made from synthetic fibers. With that closure, the wool rugs of the Original Collection and the later wool collections came to an end. See The History of Karastan.
Why it matters
The wool rugs woven at Eden are now a fixed supply. No new #717 Panel Kirmans, #785 Red Sarouks or Garden of Eden rugs will be made, so every one on the market is a vintage rug. That is part of why well-kept wool Karastans are increasingly sought after, especially classic patterns, early editions and rare sizes. See What a Vintage Karastan Is Worth.
How to tell a wool Karastan from a newer synthetic one
- The label: wool Karastans usually state the fiber, the pattern number and that they were made in the USA.
- The feel: worsted wool is dense, smooth and slightly lustrous, and it springs back when pressed.
- The back: a classic woven Karastan shows the design clearly on the back, with fine warp threads running lengthwise.
- The pattern: Original Collection numbers in the 700s, and collections such as Garden of Eden, Williamsburg and Antique Legends, belong to the wool era.
See How to Identify and Date a Vintage Karastan.
Where to find wool Karastans
Wool Karastans now come from homes, estates and dealers who specialize in them. When buying, check the condition carefully, confirm the size, and look for the label and pattern number. A well-kept vintage Karastan can give decades more service. See Caring for a Karastan Rug.
Common questions
- Are wool Karastan rugs discontinued? Yes. Wool weaving at Eden ended in 2021.
- Is Karastan still in business? Yes, as a Mohawk brand making rugs and carpet in synthetic fibers.
- Will they make wool rugs again? We know of no plans to bring them back, and the Eden mill that wove them has closed.
- Are vintage wool Karastans worth buying? For many people, yes: they are durable, classic and no longer made. Condition is the most important thing to check.
