The story behind the product
A natural fit with RAKLEV
When Paulin Machado set out to design a family of jute and wool rugs for any room, RAKLEV emerged as the enduring piece – shaped by her experience as a weaver and time spent living in India.
In 2015, Paulin was tasked with creating a family of rugs suited to different rooms and needs. Several ideas were explored, but it was RAKLEV, with its understated form and versatile size, that emerged as the enduring favourite. A decade on, it’s the one that has stood the test of time, quietly earning its place in homes around the world.
Paulin’s own experience as a weaver deeply informed the rug’s development – from material choices to an appreciation of texture and technique. “As a weaver, I love the process and really appreciate the skill that goes into every rug,” she says. “At first, we wondered if they would be too chunky, but exaggerating things brings out a sense of fun and simplicity.” That instinct to push scale while respecting craftsmanship helped define the signature look and feel of RAKLEV.
“Our supplier in India was making handmade rugs and we saw the potential directly," Paulin explains. "Using chunky jute as the basis and adding wool for the colours, RAKLEV satisfied people’s longing for more natural materials in their home.”
Paulin knew that a handmade rug like RAKLEV fitted with what IKEA was looking for in terms of Democratic Design – an approach where form, function, quality, sustainability, and low price come together. “We saw it as being durable, easy to work with, containing natural fibres, and produced using fair trade methods to offer high quality at a reasonable price.”
Playful
The idea behind RAKLEV was to explore a playful take on how a rug can shape the feel of a room: in the bedroom, by the sofa, in the hallway or even the utility room. Using wool made it fun to experiment with different colours in the rug. Originally, the colours were bold primaries – red, yellow and blue – to suit the IKEA style. Today, the tones are more muted, but the rug hasn’t lost any of its playful spirit.
Unique
Each RAKLEV rug is one of a kind and handcrafted with care by weavers who have honed their skills over the years. The textures and colours may vary depending on who wove them and which batch of jute and wool was used, especially since our materials are naturally dyed. Small imperfections not found in machine-made pieces are part of the charm, reflecting the human touch behind each rug.
Natural
Many people long to feel closer to nature and to have natural fibres in their homes. That’s why jute is such a perfect material. It’s durable, beautiful and blends effortlessly into any space. Used in Indian weaving for centuries, jute carries more than just tradition — it brings an earthy, grounded feel, evoking a sense of something nurtured and thoughtfully woven to add real, natural character to the home.
“Using chunky jute as the basis and adding wool for the colours, RAKLEV satisfied people’s longing for more natural materials in their home.”
– Paulin Machado