Traditional Coir Doormat, also known as coconut fibre mats, are a popular option for mats that are made from the fibrous husk of coconuts. Not only are they durable, but they are also an eco-friendly alternative to others made from synthetic materials. Here is our guide to traditional coir doormats.

Traditional Coir Doormat made to the exact size and shape you need
Traditional Coir Doormat fitted perfectly to your front door

History of Coir Doormats

The beginning of coir cottage industry in India

The first recorded coconut in India dates back to the 3rd century BC in the Ramayana period. Even in ancient times, the coir from the coconut husks proved to be a fantastic manufacturing material, being used to make ropes for ships for use as cables and rigging. 

The UK coir industry

Then in the 1800s, the coir industry started to be brought to the UK, with well-known carpet companies creating floor coverings using coir. Traditional coir doormats have been made in the UK for hundreds of years, becoming more popular as people revered coir for the ability to scrape dirt and grime easily whilst also being absorbent- the perfect material for doormats!

The evolution of traditional coir doormats

Over time, coir mats have continued to grow in popularity with many designs and shapes being created. However, the majority of these mats are now rubber-backed. Whilst these have the benefit of being able to be used outdoors and being able to be mass-produced, the art of traditional coir mats has unfortunately dramatically declined over the years. 

Saving a heritage skill at Coir Mats

The good news is that at Coir Mats, we are proud to be keeping the heritage skill of making traditional hand-stitched coir mats alive. Our family has been making mats for 30 years and whilst many companies have stopped offering hand-stitched traditional coir mats, opting for the mass production alternatives instead, we have vowed to continue producing high-quality, hand-finished products. Our workshop team is highly skilled and it is great to pass on the skills to new generations in the hope to continue the beautiful skill of creating traditional coir doormats. 

Irregular Shaped Bespoke Traditional Coir Doormat
Irregular Shaped Bespoke Handstiched Doormat

Bespoke traditional doormats

One reason why we love making traditional coir doormats is that as all the products are hand stitched, we can offer bespoke traditional coir doormats that are made specifically for our customers. Each mat can be made to fit their exact requirements, even if this means creating a doormat that is irregularly shaped.

The future of traditional coir doormats  

Not only do we take pride in offering traditional coir doormats, but we also want to ensure that this heritage skill continues in the future and is not lost over time. That is why we train our ever-growing team in the skill and offer an apprenticeship program to those that want to learn this skill.

We are proud to continue using traditional techniques to make our products. It is created to use the same techniques and skills that have been used for centuries. Not only does the additional care and attention to detail result in an amazing end product, but the process of doing the same techniques that countless generations of families have used across the world is also something special and something we don’t want to stop. To learn more about how we create our traditional coir doormats, follow our social media channels.