Berbers
General berber information
Berbers are always popular with the carpet buying public. The style is one of loops formed by the yarn that makes up berbers construction. Berbers are perceived to be a wool carpet, being somehow inherently aesthetically suited to natural textiles.
Whilst the carpet construction is attributed to "Berbers", a nomadic tribe idigenous to north Africa, this is not strictly true! Berber carpets as made by "Berbers" were more like multi-coloured axminsters.
Berbers by Victoria, Penthouse and Gaskells (Apokria 6 ply)
Man made berbers
Berbers are made from man made fibres as well as wool. Polypropylene is the main textile because it simulates woolen colours much more accurately than nylon (more popular Stateside).
This brings the price of berbers right down. Polypropylene berbers look and feel somewhat contrived and "caustic" unless they have some wool mixed in with them (at least 20%). Polypropylene berbers are more suitable for letting properties and offices where feel is less important than practicality.
Berber loop pile tufting allows berbers to be constructed using two ply yarns. This compensates for polypropylenes tendency to flatten. There are so many two ply man made berbers available for comparitive prices, I wouldn't bother buying single ply.
Wool berber construction
By contrast it is now common to see three, four, five and six ply yarns in wool berber carpets such as Apokria by Gaskells (pictured above). If you want wool, then you are obviously looking for the carpet to last so get the best you can afford, and get British or New Zealand wool.
Soiling and staining
There is much talk about the soiling of berber and industry pundits claim it must be professionally cleaned once a year or soiling is reputed to get trapped in the loop construction. I have a berber carpet at home and would agree when something gets spilt on it, it can be a problem to remove easily.
However it helps when you don't spill a jar of olive oil thingys over it and just get a handy bloke with a carpet cleaning machine to do it (like I did). A good quality heavy domestic berber carpet as made by the likes of Penthouse Carpets, Gaskells and Cormar should perform (more than) admirably for most domestic users.
Brands to watch out for
Brands like Westex (3 ply berbers), Woodward Grosvenor and Axminster will be deemed to make top flight berbers but it is questionable whether they are any better than Penthouse (ever seen one delaminate?).
Victoria Carpets make a successful range called Natural Companions, which I think may contain a high percentage of New Zealand wool. It most definetly sells very well seeming to capture the publics attention. It must get a special point for this.
Creative berber weaves by Crucial Trading (middle one has 30% goats hair!)
Budget berbers
If you're looking for a budget berber, you would do well to consider Wool Craft by the Wool Company. It will cost you between £15 and £17 a metre and is made from Portugese wool in a two ply yarn format. It is a cord in construction and finds favour with people looking for a finer style.
Telenzo make a range of berbers from subtle small knots to larger, luxury knots, using wools other than British or New Zealand. Many are better priced but don't be mesmerized by them if you want a better quality carpet (my guess is they're Portugese wool).
Top end berber class
Should you want something very ritzy, try wool berbers from Crucial (above) or Alternative. They will have sumptuous weaves but will carry a sumptuous price tag with it. Great if you are loaded!
Look out for names like Kersaint Cobb, Godfrey Hurst (New Zealand wools), and Keyford. Keyford do a fine corded berber that comes in single and three ply yarns. I like this one but it is in the higher £20's to low £30's.
This will give you a brief guide to some of the better buys, and reasonable buys - remember carpets don't really wear out - price often reflects what brand owners think about themselves. Look for real features like wool origin and construction (ply) to secure a carpet that will retain its looks for longer.
Will cover some brands in more depth on the blog.
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