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Words by: ICFF March 18, 2025

Since beginning operations in the mid 20th century, the Portuguese luxury rug producer has been at the forefront of merging long-perfected craft techniques with the latest innovations and sustainable strategies, maintaining its position as one of the most sought-after design brands of its category.  

Established in 1946, Ferreira de Sá Rugs has grown to lead the charge in the development of high-craft products achieved through the deft amalgamation of harnessed age-old artisanal traditions and the periodic introduction of new innovative production methods and materials. From the coastal town of Silvalde, Espinho—just south of Porto—the boutique brand has gained international recognition, becoming the go-to resource for the outfit of high-end residential, hospitality, and even retail spaces. While holding close to the tenets of authenticity, tradition, savoir faire but also modernity, design, and sustainability, Ferreira de Sá Rugs trades in a diverse range of both artistically expressive and more widely appealing offerings. COO Ana Granados shares more about what sets it apart.  

How has the company evolved over the past half century?

Ana Granados: Ferreira de Sá Rugs began as a small workshop dedicated to handwoven rugs and the Portuguese Knot (hand-knotted technique). Deeply rooted in craftsmanship and community, the company provided skilled jobs and ensured the longevity of Portuguese rug-making traditions.

As demand grew, the company expanded beyond Portugal, introducing hand-tufting and broadening its design capabilities while maintaining its artisanal expertise. Today, Ferreira de Sá Rugs is one of Europe’s leading rug manufacturers, combining heritage with innovation. Our production in Silvalde continues to evolve, integrating sustainable materials and advanced techniques, while staying true to the quality and craftsmanship that define our brand. 

Image courtesy of Ferreira de Sá

Take us through the rug-making techniques in which the company specializes. 

A.G.: We excel in a range of rug-making techniques, combining heritage craftsmanship with modern innovations to create unique, high-quality rugs. Hand-Knotted – The most intricate and labor-intensive method, where each knot is tied by hand onto a loom. We master several knotting practices, including the Portuguese Knot (Nó Português), a tradition deeply rooted in our heritage, and Saudade, a unique technique that combines hand-woven and hand-knotted elements for added texture and depth.

The hand-woven approach is a traditional weaving method where warp and weft threads are carefully interlaced on a loom. This technique produces flat, lightweight, and reversible rugs, ideal for geometric and minimalist designs. Flatweave is a variation of hand-weaving incorporating pile-less structures, making them highly durable and ideal for high-traffic and outdoor settings. These products are created using a machine-assisted process, ensuring precise weaving, structural integrity, and consistency, while still incorporating hand-finishing techniques to maintain quality. 

Hand-tufting is a modern and highly versatile practice in which yarn is inserted into a fabric backing using a hand-held tufting gun. This allows for plush textures, sculpted reliefs, and intricate custom designs. Hand-finishing is also implemented as a finishing touch. Robot tufting complements our hand-tufting expertise and enhances the design precision and efficiency.

Image courtesy of Ferreira de Sá

How have these artisanal traditions been innovated upon over time? 

A.G.: At Ferreira de Sá, we are committed to preserving Portuguese rug-making traditions while continuously innovating in techniques, materials, and production processes. Our approach ensures that traditional craftsmanship remains relevant in modern design. We achieve this through a set of clearly identified strategies. 

With new pattern development, we continuously cultivate newly configured flatweave and hand-woven techniques, expanding the possibilities of texture, structure, and design. By combining techniques, we’re able to blend hand-woven elements with the Portuguese knot (hand-knotted method), creating rugs. This engenders unique depth and dimension. Our adherence to precision and customization allows us to integrate robot-tufting alongside hand-tufting, ensuring detailed designs with efficiency while maintaining a handcrafted quality. 

Color is something we take seriously. Our in-house spectrophotometer technology guarantees accurate tone matching and consistency across collections, which in turn allows for seamless customization and makes for rich, nuanced palettes. 

Our exclusively blended polypropylene ropes are intricately braided using a specialized technique, resulting in a structure that is both strong and refined. These elements are crafted with personalized blends of color and pattern, creating unique textures that add depth and individuality to each rug; rendering them both resilient and weather-resistant but also visually harmonious. 

Our continuous exploration and introduction of new sustainable material solutions centers on the incorporation of regenerated nylon ECONYL and Botanical Silk; both are viable  eco-conscious alternatives that don’t compromise on quality. The machine-assisted flatweave method ensures precision weaving and structural consistency, expanding our ability to offer durable and high-performance flatweave rugs. Our facility includes an in-house wastewater treatment plant (ETAR), ensuring responsible water use and reducing environmental impact. We use non-toxic, water-based glues to avoid harmful chemicals and improve indoor air quality. 

We’re also able to offer customization at scale; executing both one-of-a-kind bespoke projects and large-scale luxury installations while still meeting the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Image courtesy of Ferreira de Sá

What sets Ferreira de Sá apart in the international rug industry?

A.G.: What truly sets Ferreira de Sá Rugs apart is our ability to cohere heritage with innovation while maintaining a strong focus on craftsmanship, customization, and sustainability. With over 75 years of expertise, we uphold Portuguese weaving traditions, imbuing each rug with the legacy of artisanal skill. Every rug can be fully customized in size, shape, color, texture, and material, making each result bespoke. Ferreira de Sá Rugs is a pioneer in eco-conscious manufacturing, using recycled materials, sustainable processes, and advanced production techniques. Our rugs are found in luxury hotels, flagship retail stores, private residences, and cultural institutions worldwide, reinforcing our reputation for excellence.

The U.S. is a key market for us due to its strong demand for luxury, custom-designed rugs in high-end residential and hospitality sectors. American clients, including top interior designers, architects, and hotel developers, value high-quality: bespoke pieces that bring individuality to their spaces. 

What will you be launching at ICFF 2025?

A.G.: Yes, something new is coming. Echoes In/Outdoor is a collection designed to be seen, touched, and experienced. It invites closer exploration. Inspired by Portugal’s geological formations, the twelve rugs—demonstrating three distinct techniques—brings natural depth into rug-making, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside application.

Image courtesy of Ferreira de Sá

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