Handwoven or handloomed rugs are woven by hand on a loom by a team of weavers who use a long steel rod to shuttle the yarn across a foundation of vertical warp threads. These handloomed rugs can be cut pile (a soft, plush rug with fibers cut to a uniform length), looped pile (still soft, but with durable looped fibers), or a mix of cut and looped pile.

Handknotted rugs are made on a vertical loom, where an artisan hand-ties each individual piece of yarn onto a foundation of warp threads. This is the most intricate, labor-intensive rug weaving technique. The finished rug is then sheared to produce a uniform surface, hand-washed for added luster, and dried.

Flatweave rugs are handwoven on a loom by intertwining warp and weft yarns, resulting in a flat rug with no pile. These are particularly durable and good for high-traffic areas.

Soumak rugs are woven with an incredibly strong construction technique that gives the look of a braided surface.