Jan Kath - Back to the Carpet
When Jan Kath, in his early twenties, packed his backpack and set off from his home in Germany to India, he had no concrete plans. The only thing he was certain about was that he would not take over his parents' carpet business. A year and many adventures later, he found himself in Kathmandu. There, in the bustling district of Boudha, he happened to meet a friend of his father's, Martin. This friend invited him for a coffee. "At that time, coffee was a rare delicacy in Nepal, so I gladly accepted," Jan Kath recalls today. "And then one thing led to another."
The friend, a German carpet producer, was tired of travelling and offered Jan the opportunity to take over quality control in one of his weaving workshops. For the young man, whose travel funds were depleted but whose wanderlust remained strong, this was a tempting offer, and he immediately accepted. Quality control was easy for him. "After all, I practically grew up on carpets. My father and grandfather travelled the souks of the world, bringing back the finest carpets for their clients in Germany. So I knew the ropes," Kath says. "It didn't take long before the friend offered me the chance to take over his entire production. Through a roundabout way, I found my way back to carpets, but this time in a new role—transitioning from carpet dealer to carpet designer."
Today, Jan Kath is one of the most important designers of contemporary carpets, with his designs in high demand worldwide—from Paris, London, and Berlin to New York, Vancouver, and Sydney. Despite his success, quality remains the most crucial aspect of his work. In terms of design, he has radically broken with traditional visual conventions and consistently developed his own style. However, when it comes to materials and production, he remains true to old traditions. Jan Kath uniquely combines traditional craftsmanship with modern, often avant-garde designs. His carpets are not just functional items but true works of art that set new standards in quality and attention to detail.
A central element of his work is the hand-spun wool, which mainly comes from the highlands of Tibet. This wool is distinguished by its exceptional fineness and durability, giving the carpets their unparalleled texture and longevity. In addition, Kath uses nettle fibres from Nepal, prized for their robustness and environmental friendliness, as well as the finest silk, which gives the carpets a luxurious sheen. These materials are processed in elaborate procedures and dyed with natural colours that maintain their depth and brilliance for decades.
The weaving workshops where Jan Kath's carpets are made are located in Nepal and India. There, highly skilled artisans work using centuries-old techniques passed down from generation to generation. The creation of a carpet is an extremely time-consuming process, with each knot being tied by hand. Depending on the size and complexity of a carpet, its completion can take months or even years. Jan Kath places great importance on preserving and further developing these traditions. At the same time, he ensures that the working conditions in the workshops are fair and that the artisans are paid appropriately—this is monitored by the independent Swiss label STEP.
By combining traditional craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and innovative design, Jan Kath has established himself as one of the world's leading carpet designers. His works are exhibited in renowned galleries and museums and are highly valued by art lovers and collectors worldwide. For Jan Kath, a carpet is more than just a floor covering. "It's my way of expressing myself. Others paint with brushes and colours; I think in tens of thousands of knots made of wool and silk," he says. "And to realise my visions, I rely on the best weavers in the world to work for me."
Text by Gaby Herzog
Jan Kath - The Book is out now. Find out more and buy your copy:
shop.jan-kath.de
The friend, a German carpet producer, was tired of travelling and offered Jan the opportunity to take over quality control in one of his weaving workshops. For the young man, whose travel funds were depleted but whose wanderlust remained strong, this was a tempting offer, and he immediately accepted. Quality control was easy for him. "After all, I practically grew up on carpets. My father and grandfather travelled the souks of the world, bringing back the finest carpets for their clients in Germany. So I knew the ropes," Kath says. "It didn't take long before the friend offered me the chance to take over his entire production. Through a roundabout way, I found my way back to carpets, but this time in a new role—transitioning from carpet dealer to carpet designer."
Today, Jan Kath is one of the most important designers of contemporary carpets, with his designs in high demand worldwide—from Paris, London, and Berlin to New York, Vancouver, and Sydney. Despite his success, quality remains the most crucial aspect of his work. In terms of design, he has radically broken with traditional visual conventions and consistently developed his own style. However, when it comes to materials and production, he remains true to old traditions. Jan Kath uniquely combines traditional craftsmanship with modern, often avant-garde designs. His carpets are not just functional items but true works of art that set new standards in quality and attention to detail.
A central element of his work is the hand-spun wool, which mainly comes from the highlands of Tibet. This wool is distinguished by its exceptional fineness and durability, giving the carpets their unparalleled texture and longevity. In addition, Kath uses nettle fibres from Nepal, prized for their robustness and environmental friendliness, as well as the finest silk, which gives the carpets a luxurious sheen. These materials are processed in elaborate procedures and dyed with natural colours that maintain their depth and brilliance for decades.
The weaving workshops where Jan Kath's carpets are made are located in Nepal and India. There, highly skilled artisans work using centuries-old techniques passed down from generation to generation. The creation of a carpet is an extremely time-consuming process, with each knot being tied by hand. Depending on the size and complexity of a carpet, its completion can take months or even years. Jan Kath places great importance on preserving and further developing these traditions. At the same time, he ensures that the working conditions in the workshops are fair and that the artisans are paid appropriately—this is monitored by the independent Swiss label STEP.
By combining traditional craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and innovative design, Jan Kath has established himself as one of the world's leading carpet designers. His works are exhibited in renowned galleries and museums and are highly valued by art lovers and collectors worldwide. For Jan Kath, a carpet is more than just a floor covering. "It's my way of expressing myself. Others paint with brushes and colours; I think in tens of thousands of knots made of wool and silk," he says. "And to realise my visions, I rely on the best weavers in the world to work for me."
Text by Gaby Herzog
Jan Kath - The Book is out now. Find out more and buy your copy:
shop.jan-kath.de