Between the motorcycles piled high with yarn to the rug shops on every corner, it’s easy to see why Bhadohi is known as the “Carpet Belt” in India. From start-to-finish, they are the true experts in every step of the hand-knotting process to make rugs.

Our visit kicked off with a stop at the dye house. Here’s where the skeins of yarn are spun together, then dipped in dye vats, and finally hung to dry in rows and rows of grey, rust, and brilliant turquoise.

From there, we followed the yarn’s trek to a remote village where it’s woven together. To make these large rugs (we’re talking 10 feet wide…), three to five male weavers tag team one rug, all weaving in unison, following the same pattern and technique.

The saying “it takes a village” had never felt truer. We left with a newfound respect for each part of the process, grateful we get to play a small part in it all.