What is a Flokati Rug? Everything You Need to Know
The first time you step onto a flokati rug barefoot, you understand immediately why people have loved them for centuries. They are impossibly soft — thick, deeply shaggy, and warm in a way that only natural wool can be. But most people who discover them have the same first question: what exactly is a flokati rug, and where does it come from?
Here is everything worth knowing.
What is a Flokati Rug?
A flokati rug is a hand-woven wool rug with a long, shaggy pile, originating from the mountainous regions of Greece. The word comes from the Greek flokata, referring to a thick woven cloak traditionally worn by shepherds in the mountains — and that heritage shows in every fibre. These were made to be warm, durable, and naturally weather-resistant, because the people who made them needed them to be.
Traditional flokati rugs are made from 100% natural, undyed sheep's wool. The raw wool is woven into a base and then finished through a process of washing in fast-running water — traditionally mountain streams — which causes the wool fibres to bloom and separate into the characteristic thick, fluffy pile. The result is something that looks and feels like a soft cloud on your floor.
The History of the Flokati Rug
Flokati rugs have been made in Greece for over a thousand years, with some accounts placing their origin in the 5th century AD. They were originally functional items — heavy wool cloaks and floor coverings used by shepherds and mountain communities to survive harsh Balkan winters.
By the mid-20th century, the natural wool rug had found its way into homes across Europe and North America as a design statement. The 1960s and 70s saw flokati rugs everywhere — draped over furniture, covering entire floors, appearing in some of the most iconic interior photography of the era. They became synonymous with a certain kind of bohemian, natural, slow-living aesthetic that has never really gone away.
Today, a well-made flokati rug is appreciated for the same reasons it always was: it is natural, it is beautiful, and it lasts.
What Makes a Good Flokati Rug?
Not all flokati rugs are created equal. The quality of a flokati rug is measured primarily by its GSM — grams per square metre — which tells you how dense and heavy the pile is.
A low-GSM flokati (under 800 GSM) will look thin and sparse, and will flatten quickly under foot traffic. A high-quality natural wool rug starts at around 1,100 GSM and goes up to 2,000 GSM or more. At that weight, the pile is thick enough to stay fluffy, resilient enough to bounce back after use, and substantial enough to feel genuinely luxurious.
The flokati rugs we carry in our shop are 1,100–2,000 GSM — the top of the range. We chose this specification deliberately because anything less simply does not have the same feel underfoot, and does not hold up the same way over years of use.
The other thing to look for is natural, undyed wool. Many modern rugs sold as flokati are made from synthetic fibres or chemically treated wool. A genuine natural wool rug will have a slight natural warmth to the colour — pure brilliant white is usually a sign of bleaching, which weakens the fibres. Undyed wool keeps its lanolin, which gives it natural water resistance and that distinctive soft, slightly earthy warmth that synthetic fibres simply cannot replicate.
Where to Use a Flokati Rug
A flokati rug works beautifully in almost any room — but here are the places where it really shines:
Living room — as a centrepiece under a coffee table, or layered over a larger flat-weave rug for texture and warmth. The shaggy pile adds instant cosiness to any seating area.
Bedroom — placed beside the bed so the first thing your feet touch in the morning is something impossibly soft. A natural wool rug in the bedroom also adds acoustic warmth, reducing echo and making the room feel quieter and more intimate.
Nursery — natural, undyed wool is hypoallergenic and free from synthetic chemicals, making it one of the safest floor coverings for babies and young children. The soft pile is gentle on small hands and knees.
Reading corner or meditation space — anywhere you want to create a sense of calm and natural warmth, a flokati rug delivers effortlessly.
Our Handmade Flokati Rugs
In our workshop, we have worked with flokati rugs for years. We source wool carefully, choosing only natural undyed fleece at the highest GSM available. Every rug is checked by hand before it leaves us.
We offer flokati rugs in both rectangular and round formats, in a range of sizes from small bath mat to large living room statement piece. Custom sizes are available on request — if you have a specific space in mind, just send us a message and we will work something out together.
👉 Shop our handmade natural wool flokati rugs
If you have questions about which size or style would suit your space, we are always happy to help — just reach out through our contact page and Gintare will get back to you personally.
