Viscose rugs have become increasingly popular in recent years for their soft, silky texture and ability to mimic the look of a high-end silk rug at a more affordable price point.
But with their rise in popularity has also come rising costs – leading many shoppers to wonder, why exactly are viscose rugs so expensive?
Reasons Why Viscose Rugs So Expensive
- The Manufacturing Process Behind Viscose Rugs Drives Up Costs
The reason behind the hefty price tags on viscose rugs largely boils down to the extensive manufacturing process required to produce them.
Viscose rugs are made from viscose fibers, which are derived from wood pulp or cotton. To transform these plant-based materials into a soft, silk-like fiber suitable for weaving rugs, they must go through an intensive multi-step process:
- The wood pulp or cotton must first be treated with chemicals like sodium hydroxide to separate the cellulose fibers.
- The separated cellulose is then turned into viscose through additional chemical reactions with carbon disulfide.
- The viscose solution is forced through tiny holes to create long strands of fiber.
- The fibers are washed, bleached, dried, and further treated to improve luster, strength, and stability.
- Only then can the viscose fibers be spun into yarns and woven into the plush, luxurious rugs that viscose is prized for.
As you can imagine, this complex manufacturing process requires extensive chemical inputs, energy, labor, and specialized equipment – especially when compared to more natural fibers like wool or cotton. The costs accumulate at each production stage, which translates into higher retail costs for finished viscose rugs.
- Limited Supply and High Demand Drives Up Viscose Costs
In addition to the production costs, the high price of viscose rugs is also tied to the limited global supply of viscose fibers versus rising market demand.
Viscose production is concentrated in a few countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Austria. With luxury viscose rugs growing in popularity worldwide, scale has not yet increased enough to meet demand. When a desirable product is produced in limited quantities, costs inevitably go up.
Brands and retailers know that consumers are willing to pay premium prices for the soft, silky feel and drape of natural-looking viscose rugs. So with demand outpacing supply for these on-trend rugs, manufacturers and retailers can charge higher prices in an effort to maximize profits while viscose fiber production catches up.
- Viscose Rug Construction Is Slow and Labor-Intensive
The construction process for high-quality viscose rugs also contributes to their lofty costs. While machine-made viscose rugs exist, the highest quality and most expensive viscose rugs are woven by hand.
Producing intricate, dense viscose pile rugs requires highly skilled artisans and many labor hours to complete a single rug. Hand-knotted viscose rugs can take several months up to a year for weavers to knot each individual tuft of viscose yarn into the rug backing.
The time, skill, and labor required for handmade production translates into higher per-square-foot costs for the completed rugs. Large area rugs woven from viscose can retail for over $10,000 USD given the slow handcrafting methods.
- Unique Viscose Rug Designs and Patterns Also Add Cost
Another contributor to the lofty price tags of viscose rugs is that they frequently incorporate ornate, one-of-a-kind designs.
The natural sheen and color clarity of viscose fibers allows them to show off intricate motifs, patterns, and abrash effects that add artistic value.
As these rugs become true statement pieces and works of art for the floor, their desirability rises – and so does their retail pricing.
Brands also collaborate with designers to release limited-run viscose collections with unique patterns and colorways. The exclusivity of these special designs drives demand above regular production rugs, which lets brands charge higher prices.
- Viscose Rug Fiber Blends Can Increase Materials Costs
Some high-end viscose rugs also incorporate other luxury fibers like silk, linen, or wool into the viscose pile. While the blends can provide benefits like improved durability or texture, they also raise the cost of materials for producers.
For example, silk is one of the most expensive rug fibers. Blending just 20% silk into 80% viscose fibers results in a more costly yarn than pure viscose. With higher materials expenses, these special blended rugs are priced higher when they reach retail markets.
- Brand Reputation and Markups Add Cost On Top of Production
Last but not least, the brand name and retailers behind viscose rugs also influence their retail prices.
High-end designer brands spend heavily on advertising to promote the exclusivity of their rugs. Even if the underlying construction is comparable, association with a luxury brand results in pricing a rug far above the basic production costs.
Big box stores and rug retailers also apply their own markups on top of wholesale rug costs. It’s common for retailers to double or even triple the manufacturer’s price before listing the rug.
So while the bulk of a viscose rug’s price comes from its involved production process, these additional costs and profit margins tacked on by brands and retailers take the retail prices even higher.
Are the High Costs of Viscose Rugs Worth It?
Given all the factors that go into pricing high-quality viscose rugs, it’s understandable why their retail costs run so high. But are those thousands of dollars ultimately worthwhile for shoppers?
Here are some things to consider if debating a pricey viscose rug investment:
Durability
- Properly woven viscose rugs can last 10+ years with average use and care. More durable than other plant-based fibers.
Easy Maintenance
- Viscose rugs clean up nicely with regular vacuuming. Occasional professional cleaning when soiled.
Luxurious Appearance
- Viscose mimics silk’s soft shine and elegant drape. Provides a lavish look for less cost than silk.
Comfort Underfoot
- Dense, plush viscose pile feels heavenly under bare feet. Softer than coarser sisal or jute rugs.
Sound Absorption
- Viscose absorbs sound well to reduce echo and ambient noise in a room.
Strong Investment Piece
- Quality viscose rugs hold value and can be resold later. Price per use decreases over time.
Environmental Impact
- Viscose production does involve high chemical use. But rugs last many years.
Ultimately, a high-end viscose rug may be worth the splurge for buyers wanting long-lasting beauty, comfort underfoot, noise reduction, and resilient value over time – provided they choose quality construction and buy from reputable brands.
FAQ About Viscose Rugs
The main downsides of viscose rugs include:
1. Expensive – Handmade viscose rugs are some of the priciest on the market.
2. Potential pilling – Viscose fibers can pill with friction over time. This is minimized with tight weaves.
3. Stain-prone – Viscose requires more frequent professional cleaning for spills vs. synthetic or wool rugs.
4. Limited supply – High market demand coupled with finite global production keeps costs high.
5. Chemical-heavy production – Viscose fiber manufacturing involves extensive use of chemicals like carbon disulfide.
Yes, viscose is an excellent fiber for rugs when properly woven. Benefits include:
1. Soft, silky texture – Mimics silk for a luxurious feel and sheen.
2. Durable material – Lasts for years with reasonable care. More resilient than other plant-based rug fibers.
3. Color clarity – Viscose fibers take dye exceptionally well for vivid hues and patterns.
4. Sound absorption – Viscose dampens noise and echo when used in dense, plush rugs.
5. Insulating abilities – Viscose provides warmth, but not as insulating as wool.
6. Versatile fiber – Viscose blends well with wool, cotton, linen, silk, and other rug fibers.
Viscose rugs are relatively easy to care for with regular upkeep:
1. Vacuum 1-2 times per week to prevent dirt buildup and maintain the pile. Use a soft brush head on low suction.
2. Professional deep cleaning every 1-2 years is ideal to revitalize colors and remove set-in stains.
3. Spot clean spills immediately with a gentle rug cleaner and blotting. Avoid excessive rubbing.
4. Rotate or flip the rug occasionally to distribute wear evenly across the pile.
5. Add rug pads beneath high-traffic areas to prevent excess friction and pilling.
With routine care, viscose rugs should maintain their beauty and not require excessive maintenance compared to other natural fiber rugs.
Viscose rugs are not inherently difficult to clean, but they do require gentle care:
1. Stick to light, regular vacuuming to remove surface dirt without abrading viscose fibers.
2. Clean spills quickly by blotting gently and using small amounts of a natural fiber rug shampoo.
3. For deeper periodic cleaning, hire a professional rug cleaner familiar with viscose. Avoid overly wet 4. DIY washing that can damage fibers.
5. Wash spills and treat stains soon after they occur. Viscose becomes harder to clean over time as spills set in.
6. Check the rug’s care instructions. Heat, harsh chemicals, and heavy scrubbing can damage viscose fibers.
With the proper methods, viscose rugs can be maintained easily at home. But their delicate nature does require more precaution than casual cleaning methods for sturdier synthetics, cotton, or wool rugs.
In Conclusion
The manufacturing complexity, limited supply, intricate designs, handmade processes, and brand markups of high-end viscose rugs all contribute to their steep price tags.
While definitely an investment, quality viscose rugs provide lasting beauty and luxury underfoot for decades when properly cared for.
For buyers seeking next-level comfort, sound absorption, and natural sheen, viscose rugs may be worth their lofty costs.