The journey of
our rugs.
Welcome.
Royal Rugs is a New York–based wholesaler specializing in hand-knotted Tibetan rugs, custom rug programs, and artisan-made rugs from Nepal.Gyurme Dondup is the owner. Royal Rugs serves interior designers and To The Trade, who value authentic craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and ethical production.
At Royal Rugs, our goal is simple: to work with honest, respectful, and like-minded clients who appreciate handmade rugs, meaningful design, and the stories behind traditional craftsmanship. Every rug we offer is hand-knotted using traditional Tibetan techniques, reflecting generations of skill, patience, and care passed down by master weavers.
Equally important to us are the Tibetan and Nepali artisans who create our rugs. Many of the weavers at our partner factory in Kathmandu, Nepal have worked with us for over 20 years. During my visits to the factory, I see artisans working at the looms with pride—preserving a centuries-old rug-making tradition that supports families and local communities. Ethical sourcing and long-term relationships with weavers are central to our business.
I have been involved in the Tibetan rug industry for over 27 years. I grew up in the Jawalakhel Tibetan refugee camp in Kathmandu in the 1970s. Life was difficult, resources were limited, yet those years remain some of the happiest memories of my life. That experience shaped my belief in simplicity, craftsmanship, and the idea that less is more—values that guide how we design and curate our rugs today.
Everything I am today, I learned from my parents. My father, Kalsang Choewang, was among the first Tibetan rug designers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a gifted designer, a natural salesman, and a devoted meditator. During that time, travel through the Everest region and high Himalayas often meant walking for days under difficult conditions. Our grandparents passed away when my father and his siblings were very young, shaping a life grounded in resilience, discipline, and perseverance.
Royal Rugs is more than a rug wholesaler. It is a continuation of a family legacy—connecting hand-knotted Tibetan rugs, ethical craftsmanship, and timeless design with interiors across New York City and beyond.
Tibetan Rugs
Late 1960s and early 70s were tough time. Tibetan Refugees were arriving from Tibet after Chinese Invasion, and People were desperate to survive.
Knowing Tibetan refugees were suffering and seeing their lives in peril, Swiss RED CROSS, swung in action. One thing these refugees knew Was how to make Tibetan Rugs since it is part of their culture. So RED CROSS established CTC - Carpet Trading Company. My dad was Hired as a first rug designer in the country.
My dad worked there for a few years. He was also a chef, cooking and cleaning for western diplomats working in Kathmandu. He would also run around to sell other stuffs to make a living
My dad was seated in the front row on the right side.
Mr. Dieter Mechler
Mr. Dieter Mechler from Germany
Was the first customer to start purchasing huge amounts of rugs. As Iranian rugs were banned, Tibetan rugs in Nepal started becoming popular. This must be 1980 or 1981 when rugs are packed and shipped out
Uncle Sonam, Dieter Mechler, and my dad.
Khamsung Wangdu
This was a photo taken by Steve McCurry in 2001.
Published for the month of April 2002, our Retail customers instantly recognized RoyalRugs.
Some of the rugs on the floor - Design 5755, HS-15A
Which we still sell to customers.
Quality in every step
Wool Sourcing
Our highland wool comes from Tibetan sheep indigenous to the Himalayas. Each fiber is extra thick, long, and strong. This wool is then saturated with stain-resistant lanolin.
Colorfast Dye
Our craftsmen dye the wool in small quantities, ensuring proper absorption. The lanolin creates a rich, beautiful patina as the dye soaks in, making a naturally soft and lustrous rug.
Weave, Shred, Wash
The delicately processed wool is hand knotted following a graph. The carpets are then shredded to enhance the design, washed, and given their final brushing.
Detailed work for luxury rugs
Click any of the images below to see the process for each premium quality rug
