Saskatoon,Canada
The Twice Woven Rug collection represents a fresh interpretation of one of the world’s oldest textile-making techniques, transforming the traditional flat-woven rug into a contemporary design statement.
Developed through a collaboration between MOS Architects and Urban Fabric Rugs, the collection combines architectural thinking with skilled craftsmanship to create rugs that are, quite literally, woven twice.
A Twice Woven Rug by won a 2025 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies.
The project began with a simple goal: to create a collection that reflected the distinctive design philosophy of MOS Architects while exploring the creative possibilities of rug making.
What followed was more than four years of research, experimentation, and refinement, during which the design team explored hand-knotted, tufted, and woven techniques, as well as a variety of natural and recycled fibers.
After extensive testing, the designers returned to the timeless appeal of the flat weave.
Valued for its durability, understated character, and handcrafted quality, the traditional weaving method offered the perfect foundation for innovation.
The visible irregularities created by natural materials and artisan techniques became an essential part of the collection’s aesthetic, celebrating craftsmanship rather than concealing it.
The breakthrough came through a series of simple paper models. By cutting paper into strips and weaving them together in different arrangements, MOS Architects explored ideas of pattern, scale, layering, and composition.
These playful experiments gradually evolved into a new production method in which narrow, modular strips of flat-woven rugs are themselves woven together to create larger, richly textured surfaces.
Each strip functions like an oversized warp or weft thread, echoing the construction of a conventional woven textile while introducing a second level of craftsmanship.
Rather than producing a finished rug in a single weaving process, the modular components are assembled into larger compositions, creating visual depth and subtle irregularity that distinguish every piece.
Developing the construction method required extensive experimentation.
Early prototypes featured tightly interwoven modules secured by hand stitching, but the design evolved toward a looser assembly that intentionally incorporates spacing and variation between the woven strips.
The result is a collection that balances precision with spontaneity, producing rugs that feel both structured and expressive.
Every rug in the collection is handcrafted from 100% New Zealand wool, a renewable and biodegradable natural material recognized for its durability and environmental benefits.
Wool naturally absorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs), helping improve indoor air quality, while its hypoallergenic, dust-resistant, and moisture-wicking properties make it well suited for residential and commercial interiors alike.
The collection is also produced under GoodWeave certification, ensuring rugs are made by adult artisans working in certified facilities under fair labor conditions.
The program also supports education and community development initiatives in weaving communities.
By combining centuries-old weaving traditions with an inventive production process, the Twice Woven Rug collection demonstrates how thoughtful design can reinterpret familiar materials and techniques in unexpected ways.
The result is a collection that bridges architecture, craftsmanship, and sustainability while offering a fresh perspective on the enduring art of weaving.
Project: A Twice Woven Rug
Designers: Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample, MOS Architects, New York, USA and Andrei Zerebecky, Urban Fabric Rugs
Manufacturer: Urban Fabric Rugs
