Exposure to different cultures through travel enhances our capacity to empathise with others and creates social bridges of understanding. Discovering the world, or simply different parts of one’s own country, increases appreciation for the unique qualities of different places and people. The perspective of distance that travel provides also helps us to better know ourselves.

Discovery and experiencing different traditions through living and voyaging around the world are lifelong passions of Kristiina Lassus’s, and a strong influence on her rug designs. She first visited Kathmandu, where her rugs are manufactured, in 2006 and since then returns regularly to meet makers and learn about production methods. ‘What I most like about Nepal is the cordiality of the people,’ Lassus says. ‘Even though Kathmandu is a busy city there’s a deep sense of calm’.

Both Oyo and Onoko (pictured below) were among the first designs of Rugs Kristiina Lassus and are now classics of the collection. The same pattern features on both rugs, but in two different configurations. The natural linen and Tibetan wool rug is available in two colour-ways: orange and light beige or dark grey and light beige. Further information

Onoko is a striped version of the full-patterned Oyo rug (pictured above). Its pattern was inspired by the shadows of a carved marble window in Rajasthan reflected on the floor, but the design also echoes the small ‘X’ stitches of cross-stitch embroidery. Further information

© Photos Credits l Photo 2 @Glorian Koti l Photo 5 @Geco Interiors