Terra 203 FAQ: Fique Rugs, Trade, Custom Sizes and Care

Terra 203 is a trade-only importer in Wellington, Florida of handwoven natural fiber rugs made by Colombian artisans. Our core fiber is fique, the Colombian sisal, alongside wool, baby alpaca, bouclé and metal accents, and every rug is woven to order in any size. The answers below are grouped by topic. If your question is not here, call or text (561) 222-1548, email [email protected], or use the contact page and we usually reply within one business day.

About fique and materials

What is fique?

Fique is a leaf fiber from an agave plant grown in the Colombian Andes, hand-processed and handwoven into rugs. Think of it as the Colombian sisal: the same clean, natural look with a softer hand and a warmer tone. Our fique explainer in the journal goes into the plant, the processing and how it compares with other natural fibers. Read the fique explainer.

How is fique different from sisal?

Both are agave-family leaf fibers, so they look alike and wear alike. Fique is grown and processed in Colombia, usually by hand, and tends to feel softer underfoot than machine-spun sisal. If a client wants the sisal look but finds sisal scratchy, fique is the alternative we suggest first. Sisal versus fique.

What other fibers do you weave?

Wool, alone or blended with fique for warmth and a softer footfall; baby alpaca for low-traffic rooms where sheen and softness matter; bouclé for a looped, textured surface; and copper or stainless-steel threads woven into the fiber as a metal accent. Every fiber is chosen for the room it will live in. Natural fiber area rugs.

Are the rugs handmade?

Yes. Each rug is handwoven to order by artisan weavers in the Andean region of Colombia, then finished and inspected before it ships. Small variations in tone and weave are part of a handmade piece and are one of the reasons designers specify them over machine-made sisal. How the rugs are made.

Ordering and custom sizes

Can I order a custom size?

Yes, and most orders are custom. Because every rug is woven to order, any width and length is possible: oversized living room rugs, long hallway and stair runners, rounds, squares and pairs of bedside rugs. Send the dimensions in inches, width by length, and we confirm the size and the quote in writing. Custom size area rugs.

Do you make standard sizes like 8 x 10 and 9 x 12?

Of course. The standard American sizes are simply the most common custom dimensions we receive, and 8 x 10 and 9 x 12 have their own pages showing current weaves. If your room sits between two standard sizes, specify the exact dimension instead; there is no penalty for an unusual format. Rug size guide.

Can I choose the colors and the pattern?

Yes. You can specify a natural fique tone, a dyed color from the current palette, or a combination in a stripe, diamond, check or herringbone layout. Share paint names or a fabric photo and we will suggest a direction. For a specific custom shade, ask about a strike-off sample before the full rug is woven. How to choose rug colors.

Is there a minimum order?

Not for the designer trade program. A single rug for one project is a normal first order, and trade pricing applies from the first piece. Wholesale accounts for retailers are structured around an opening assortment, which we discuss with each store individually. The trade program.

Trade program and pricing

Do you sell to homeowners?

No. Terra 203 is a trade-only importer. We work with interior designers, architects, decorators, home stagers and retailers with a resale certificate. If you are a homeowner, we would be glad to work with you through your designer, who can request samples and place the order on your behalf. Who qualifies.

How do I get trade pricing?

Write to us through the contact page or by email, call or text, and tell us about your firm and the project. We reply with the catalog and trade pricing for the fibers and constructions you are considering. Pricing is shared privately on request; we do not publish it on the site. Contact us.

What is the difference between trade and wholesale?

The trade program serves designers specifying one rug at a time for a project. Wholesale serves stores, showrooms and online retailers who stock and resell, so it is built around assortment and volume with its own pricing structure. A design studio with a retail storefront can do both; tell us and we will set you up accordingly. Wholesale for retailers.

Can you help me present rugs to a client?

Yes. We supply fiber information sheets, a printable care card, plain-language notes on construction and origin, and product photography you can drop into a presentation. We will also tell you frankly if a weave is wrong for a room or a color will read differently in strong Florida light. Presenting rugs to clients.

Samples and showroom

Can I get samples before I order?

Yes. Trade customers can request a sample set with fiber swatches in fique, wool, baby alpaca and bouclé, weave cuttings in flatweave, basketweave, herringbone and twill, and metal-accent samples. Tell us the room and the palette and we assemble a set that fits rather than sending everything. The samples program.

Where is the showroom and how do I visit?

In Wellington, Florida, in western Palm Beach County, open by appointment for designers and retailers who want to see full-size rugs and handle the fibers. Book through the contact page or by phone. We also bring samples to studios and job sites in Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca Raton and Miami. Showroom by appointment.

Do I need to return the samples?

In most cases you keep the swatches for your studio library. A few larger or specially woven pieces may be sent on loan. We confirm the sample terms when you request a set so you know up front which pieces to keep and which to send back. How samples work.

Care and durability

How do I clean a fique or natural fiber rug?

Vacuum weekly with suction only or the brush roll on high. For spills, scrape solids, blot with dry white towels, dab with a barely damp cloth and a drop of mild soap, blot dry and dry quickly with a fan. Never soak, scrub, steam or bleach. The care guide has the full protocol and a printable care card. Rug care guide.

Are natural fiber rugs good for homes with pets?

Tight flatweaves and basketweaves in mid-tone, two-color patterns handle dogs and cats well: hair vacuums off a hard fiber easily and the pattern hides everyday marks. Avoid loops and bouclé where cats scratch, and act fast on accidents. The journal has detailed guides on pets, dog hair and cats. Natural fiber rugs and pets.

Do fique rugs hold up to Florida humidity?

Yes, in an air-conditioned home. Natural fiber takes on moisture from the air, so problems only start in closed-up seasonal homes, screened porches and bathrooms. Keep the AC or a dehumidifier running, use a breathable pad, and keep rugs under a roof and away from rain. Humidity and mildew in South Florida.

Can I use a fique rug outdoors or on a patio?

Only in a fully covered space with no rain exposure, such as a roofed lanai or covered patio. Natural fiber should never sit on an open deck, by a pool or anywhere it can get wet. For indoor rooms with heavy traffic, fique is one of the more durable options. Sisal rugs on covered patios.

Shipping and lead times

How long does a custom rug take?

Lead times depend on the season, the fiber and the construction, and they change through the year, so we do not quote a fixed number online. Ask for current lead times when you request a quote, and tell us if you have an installation date; we will confirm the timing in writing before weaving begins. Ask for current lead times.

Do you ship outside Florida?

Yes. We are based in Wellington, Florida and deliver across Palm Beach County and South Florida, and we ship across the United States for projects anywhere in the country. Ask for a shipping quote with your order and we will include it with the rug quote. Delivery and the trade program.

How does the rug arrive and do I need a pad?

Rugs ship rolled and wrapped, ready to unroll, with a care card. We recommend a felt-and-rubber pad under every natural fiber rug, especially on Florida tile, to stop creeping, cushion the fiber and let air move underneath. The journal covers pad choices in detail. Rug pads for natural fiber rugs.

Still have a question?

Read about the fiber and the weavers on the our story page, browse the rug collection, or write to us. A short note about your project is enough to start.