For our rainbow carpet, we took inspiration from the flag of Cusco. In most of the world, a rainbow flag is symbolic of LGBTQ+ social movements. It takes on all the rainbow colors, with each stripe and color representing a different identity in the gay community. It has become an international symbol of gay pride, inclusion, and diversity. However, in Peru, the rainbow flag tells a different story. Flying high in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco and from buildings around the country, the flag is linked with Cusco’s history. It has become a symbol of the city and acts as a source of pride, not for the gay community. Instead, it symbolizes pride for the indigenous population and Inca history.
In Peru, there is persistent prejudice towards indigenous people, specifically Incans. However, within Peruvian society, these communities account for a vast number of the country’s inhabitants. Estimates suggest indigenous people make up 40% of the population. Within this bracket, the majority identify as Quechua, descendants of the Incas. The constant discrimination has drastically threatened their way of life. The rainbow flag is a symbolic representation of solidarity and unity for these communities. Just as the LGBTQ+ flag symbolizes gay identities, the Cusco flag gives indigenous people hope amongst oppression.
We took the Cusco flag as inspiration for our rainbow carpet. Officially, the rainbow flag became a symbol of Cusco in 1978. This was around the time that the LGBTQ+ flag became a symbol of gay pride in the US. At first glance, the two look the same, but one subtle difference is the number of stripes. While the LGBTQ+ flag has six stripes, the Cusco flag has seven. Between the green and dark blue stripes is the addition of a light blue strip. However, for our rainbow carpet, we removed this lighter blue tone. Instead, we stuck with the six red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple colors. For a bold and vibrant carpet, these six tones are more than enough.
Furthermore, when creating our rainbow carpet, we wanted to generate a feeling of fluidity in the design. This represents the movement of the flags blowing in the wind as they hang from Cusco’s buildings. To achieve this, the stripes of the carpet adopt a slight curvature rather than being straight linear lines. The morphing of the rainbow stripes is only minimal. We didn’t want too much else going on in the carpet pattern with such bold and extravagant colors.
We love creating custom designs like our rainbow carpet to up-level your interior project. If you’re looking for a custom carpet, don’t hesitate to contact our team. Working with your design vision, our talented team of designers will create a personalized pattern that matches your needs. Once happy, your custom carpetn sample will be sent out within seven working days. All our carpets can be optionally made from ECONYL yarn, an eco-friendly material that aims to reduce waste. Moreover, we donate one percent of all custom carpet sales to DIFFA to help fight against HIV and AIDs. For more information or to start designing your ideal carpet, contact our team today.
