Oyyo: cotton dhurries with contemporary cool

An online cache of handwoven Indian rugs with serious Scandi panache

Simple yet bold prints and patterns are the hallmark of Oyyo, a Stockholm-based design studio that produces beautiful cotton dhurries for its eponymous e-shop. And while the carpets are handcrafted in India using centuries-old techniques and locally sourced vegetable dyes, each has a thoroughly modern sensibility that is expressed through contemporary hues and minimalist designs.

Founded in 2011 by Lina Zedig and Marcus Ahrén, Oyyo’s graphic rugs are handwoven near Jodhpur, and as such, are subject to slight variations in size (be prepared for 2cm to 5cm differences from the dimensions ordered) and colour (due to the plant dyes that can fade over time). In short, each dhurrie is a work of art – so slight imperfections are to be expected and even celebrated.

The website features a tightly edited selection of rugs with ethereal names such as Never Ending Story, Labyrinth and Noto, which have been photographed in dramatic desert settings, and are also shown in close up so that the interested buyer can examine details – knots, edging, construction, finishes – that are particular to each style.

Brick (available in four sizes; €520-€1,890, first picture) recalls traditional Indian textiles, but is infused with a Scandinavian sensibility. A soft colour palette – dusty pink, light tangerine and muted cream tones – make this rug a neutral piece, while the boldly graphic Noto (second picture) features vibrant-azure and sapphire-blue tones. This style is perhaps the most eye-catching on the site and is available in five standard sizes ranging from 80cm x 140cm (€520) to 200cm x 300 cm (€2,790), but it can also be custom ordered in other dimensions.

Oyyo’s flat-weave designs are both chic and entirely practical, and each is meant for everyday use, which means they are washable, too.