{{Short description|Shaggy wool rug}} thumb|close-up of a flokati rug A '''flokati rug''' is a woven wool rug. They are shaggy in appearance, and are thick and soft. Modern wool or synthetic rugs may be purchased in a variety of colours.

== Name == The word comes from the Aromanian ''floc'', from Latin ''floccus''.<ref name="bab">Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας (Babiniotis Dictionary), (Λεξικό Μπαμπινιώτη), 1998, ''s.v.''</ref> Another name for a similar style of rug is βελέντζα /vel'endza/ < Turkish ''velense'', possibly via Albanian ''velentse''.<ref name="bab"/>

== History == thumb|Flokati are often made from wool.

Flokati were popular in the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flokati.com/history-flokati-rugs|title=History of Flokati Rugs |publisher=www.flokati.com|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref> The word first appeared in English in 1967.<ref>''American Import & Export Bulletin'' '''58-59''':[https://books.google.com/books?id=HH8gAQAAMAAJ&q=flokati+velentza 672]</ref> The term was created by the Greek Ministries of Finance, Industry, and Commerce to apply to a rug with certain specifications: hand woven in Greece, made of 100% wool (warp, weft, and pile), with total weight of at least 1800 grams of wool per square meter. The rug must also be "subjected to the water friction process" to create the unique pile.<ref name="RN">{{cite web |last1=Mazarakis |first1=Steve |title=Flokati Rugs: A Part of Greek History |url=http://www.rugnews.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=0DAB59D70A93452A92E82D8312BEFBAA&nm=News+Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=B057D339E04A4FFF99DB9FEEB9BDA02F&tier=4&id=E2D5DD7B6CFB489A8858F6EAE1415CBA |website=RugNews.com |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>

Gagalis Co. imported flokati from Greece starting in 1970 and sold them as "a new look in casual floor coverings."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Helen Gagalis, Tastemaker of Throws, Dies |date=2006|work=Home Textiles Today}}</ref>

In the October 2005 ''CosmoGirl'', designer Mark Montano suggested a flokati rug as a solution to the question, "What if my dormmate is the complete opposite of me?!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seventeen.com/|title='What if My Dormmate is the Complete Opposite of Me?!' Designer Mark Montano Solves All Your Room Problems|last=Greene|first=Lauren|date=2005|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Rugs and carpets}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flokati Rug}} Category:Rugs and carpets

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