The Karastan Exception: Why It Defies the “Machine-Made” Rule
In the rug industry, “machine-made” is practically a synonym for disposable. Big-box store pricing. Synthetic backing. A rug that looks tired in three years and ends up in a landfill in five.
But there’s one exception — and professional restorers, auction houses, and serious collectors all know it.
Karastan is the only machine-made brand that the trade treats with the same respect as hand-knotted pieces. That reputation is rooted in technical reality, in how these rugs are actually built, and once you understand it, you’ll never look at a machine-made rug the same way again.
But here’s what most people don’t know: not every Karastan qualifies.
The exception we’re talking about is the 700 Series, also called the Original Karastan collection. If you own one, or you’re thinking about buying one, what follows is the insider knowledge that separates a rug worth caring for from one that just looks the part.
Not sure what you have — or whether your Karastan is worth restoring?
Bring it into The Rug Gallery, and we’ll tell you exactly what you’re working with.
The Kara-loc Loom: Where Machine-Made Meets Hand-Knotted Logic
In 1928, Karastan engineers developed the Kara-loc loom, and it changed what machine construction could mean.
On a standard power-loomed rug, the pile, the soft surface you walk on, is either glued into a pre-made backing or tufted through a base fabric and sealed with latex. The fringe, if there is any, is sewn or glued on afterward, serving a purely decorative role with no structural function. Over time, it rots, peels, or simply falls away.
The Kara-loc loom weaves the wool pile through the back of the rug, which means the fringe on an Original Karastan is actually part of the warp fibers — the foundational threads that hold the entire structure together. The same construction logic as a hand-knotted rug, achieved by machine.
The practical result: Original Karastan rugs don’t suffer the fringe deterioration that plagues cheaper machine-made brands. When the fringe goes on a standard tufted rug, it’s a cosmetic annoyance. When the fringe goes on a hand-knotted rug or a 700 Series Karastan, it signals a structural problem worth addressing — which is exactly why restorers take fringe repair on these pieces seriously.
Worsted Wool vs. the Rest of the Market
The other thing that separates the Original Karastan collection from virtually everything else in its price category is the fiber.
Roughly 95% of machine-made rugs sold today use polypropylene, a petroleum-based plastic engineered to mimic the look of wool. It’s cheap, colorfast, and photographs well. It also mats under foot traffic, traps odors, and creates a real problem once it gets deeply soiled: most synthetic rugs have latex backings that break down when wet, meaning professional submersion washing will destroy them. Once a synthetic rug is truly dirty, it’s largely beyond saving.
The 700 Series uses long-staple New Zealand Worsted Wool. Worsted wool is spun from longer fibers that are combed parallel before spinning, producing a denser, smoother, more durable yarn than standard wool. The fibers have natural crimp memory, compressing under a footstep and springing back — which is why a well-maintained Karastan from the 1970s still looks like a Karastan from the 1970s.
Because these rugs are wool on a woven foundation rather than a latex-backed synthetic base, they can be professionally submersion-washed. For a deeply soiled rug, that’s the difference between genuine restoration and replacement.
How It Compares: The Honest Breakdown
It helps to see where the Original Karastan collection actually sits relative to the rest of the market — including the Karastan products that don’t share this construction.
| Feature | Standard Machine-Made | The Karastan 700 Series |
| Material | Synthetic (Polypropylene) | Worsted Wool |
| Construction | Glued / Tufted | Kara-loc Woven |
| Fringe | Sewn or glued on | Integrated (woven-in warp) |
| Lifespan | 3-5 years | 50+ years |
| Resale Value | None | Moderate to High |
| Best For | Living rooms, dining rooms, primary bedrooms, heirloom spaces | Mudrooms, rentals, high-spill zones, temporary spaces |
The 700 Series occupies a real and defensible position in this market — a machine-made rug that rewards investment, responds to professional care, and holds its value in a way no comparable product does.
Thinking about having a 700 Series piece cleaned or restored?
See what professional rug care looks like at The Rug Gallery — or explore our current rug collection if you’re in the market for a piece worth keeping.
What This Means If You Own One
If you have an Original Karastan from the 700 Series, the care protocol looks more like hand-knotted care than standard rug care.
Professional submersion washing is right choice for a deeply soiled piece. The wool pile benefits from the same conditioning process that restores hand-knotted rugs. The woven construction means fringe repair, when needed, is legitimate restoration work rather than a cosmetic patch job.
For a 700 Series piece, the investment in professional care is almost always justified. These rugs were built to last, and with the right care, they do exactly that.
Not sure if your Karastan qualifies? Bring it in. We can tell you exactly what you have — and what it’s worth taking care of.
A Note on the 700 Series: The Original 700 Series is no longer in production. If you own one, it is a piece of history that deserves expert care. However, if you are looking to purchase a new rug with that same legendary durability and structural integrity, we guide our clients toward two specific categories that meet or exceed the old Karastan standard: Hand-Knotted Rugs and Premium Machine-Woven Wool Rugs.
Looking for a modern equivalent that will last a lifetime? Bring your questions to The Rug Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Karastan has a strong reputation in the rug industry, but quality varies significantly by collection. The 700 Series — also called the Original Karastan collection — is widely regarded as the exception to the machine-made rule, using Kara-loc woven construction and long-staple New Zealand Worsted Wool. These pieces are treated by professional restorers and auction houses with the same respect as mid-tier hand-knotted rugs. Newer Karastan lines use more conventional machine-made construction and do not share the same durability or resale profile. For a deeper look at what makes Karastan different, read What Are Karastan Rugs?
Original Karastan rugs from the 700 Series can be professionally submersion-washed — the same deep-clean method used on hand-knotted Oriental rugs. This is possible because they are built on a woven wool foundation rather than a latex-backed synthetic base. Standard machine-made rugs typically cannot be submersion-washed, as the latex backing breaks down when wet. If you have a 700 Series Karastan, professional cleaning is not only safe but recommended for heavily soiled pieces. Learn more about our rug cleaning and repair services.
The 700 Series, or Original Karastan collection, was produced throughout much of the 20th century and can be identified by its woven-in fringe — fringe that is structurally part of the rug’s warp fibers rather than sewn or glued on afterward. A professional rug restorer can confirm the construction by examining the back of the rug. If you’re unsure, our team can help you identify what you have — browse our rug collections or visit us in the virtual showroom to get started.
Original Karastan rugs from the 700 Series hold moderate to high resale value, particularly when well-maintained. Their Kara-loc woven construction, worsted wool pile, and 50-plus year lifespan make them a legitimate candidate for resale, estate valuation, and professional restoration — unlike standard machine-made rugs, which carry no meaningful resale value. Condition significantly affects what a piece is worth, and a professional cleaning or restoration can make a real difference. See what rug repair and restoration looks like in practice.
Not sure if your Karastan qualifies?
We can tell you exactly what you have — and what it’s worth taking care of. Visit us in the virtual showroom, browse our collection, or bring your rug in for a professional evaluation.