Verso, designed by Gill Thorpe, woven in Afghanistan.

Revealing the raw nature of rug making through unusual compositions, Verso is a new collection designed by Gill Thorpe.

The name Verso relates to how the craftsmanship behind the making of each rug is revealed from the back, telling the story of both maker and process.

Woven as part of a partnership with a local NGO, with the objective of maintaining a steady workflow and to support the weavers who are predominantly female through education and health services whilst preserving the craft of weaving.

Verso Pleat, Photography by Felix Speller, Styled by Hannah Franklin.

Verso from versus, meaning turned or changed, also directly links to how designer Gill Thorpe began to notice unusually placed urban ‘manhole’ covers around East London, many being placed back to front. Spotting them became part of the designers daily routine, so why stop there?

Gill transformed these unusual urban details into compositional rug designs; Overlay, Quad, Pleat and Inset are a direct translation of this. The designs feature tactile motifs such as dots, intersecting lines and brickwork, each handmade in a range of complementary colours using hand-dyed Ghanzi wool.

Verso Rugs

Verso Overlay

Gill Thorpe

Verso Overlay

£2,850.00

Verso Inset

Gill Thorpe

Verso Inset

£3,525.00

Verso Pleat

Gill Thorpe

Verso Pleat

£3,525.00

Verso Quad

Gill Thorpe

Verso Quad

£3,525.00

Verso Inset, Photography by Felix Speller, Styled by Hannah Franklin.

The use of Ghanzi wool provides a textural effect as the dye is only absorbed by parts of the curled wool, creating an overall texture similar to abrash textiles. This graininess is perfect for illustrating the nature of the East London landscape, adding character and depth.

The production of each rug in this collection is certified byLabel Step, a Swiss non-profit who ensures a comprehensive set of fair-trade standards are met, including good working conditions and the prohibition of child labour.