Vegetable and hand spun Afghan rugs in traditional design
Tribal rugs in today’s color
Modern rugs
rugs
TRIPLE PLAY
RUG INSIDER Magazine is a quarterly publication which covers the rug and carpet industry with a focus on quality, design, and an eye toward the future.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
PUBLISHER/PRINT ADVERTISING
Peter Woodaman peter@ruginsider.com
C: 603 387 6477
V: 603 279 4938
DESIGNER
Cheryl Sivewright cheryl@ruginsider.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Cecile Corral cecile@cecilepr.com
Rodney Hakim rodney@pgny.com
Alex Milstein
Carol Milano
Brian K. Robins
Jennifer Samad
InPERSPECTIVE
58 DOVER RUG CELEBRATES ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Contributing editor, Rodney Hakim takes us on a threeplus-decade journey with this thriving rug retailer.
The innovative collections from “Z Studio” go way beyond Persian traditional and classical designs. Flower Power 5 is an original creation by Zollanvari Studio—a still life “detail” of blooming flowers that is bursting with color and made in the Zollanvari Super Fine Gabbeh quality. zollanvari.com
Dover Rug’s Hasan (left) and Mahmud Jafri
InFOCUS
43 LET’S TALK TEXTURE
Talk about tactile! Just waiting to be experienced is Hemma Blush from Creative Matters’ Macrame Collection. Feel the love in our photo story on page 43! creativemattersinc.com
Artisan at the loom, image courtesy of Samad
InDEPTH
35 AN ANCIENT CRAFT IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Contributing Editor Carol Milano talks with LabelSTEP, an international non-profit organization whose partnerships with wholesalers, importers, retailers and designers in the rug industry have strengthened working conditions and quality-of-life for carpet weavers for more than 30 years.
Insider’s View
25 PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT
Peter Woodaman introduces this fall’s triple play of rug events, and celebrated industry icons.
InBUSINESS
29 PEOPLE POWER
Contributing editor Brian K. Robins goes one-on-one with Eric Roth about the direction of the rug industry and the people who will power it.
InDEPTH
49 ZOLLANVARI’S DIVERSIFICATION
Zollanvari International’s exciting new programs and productions for Maison&Objet Paris, COVER Connect NY, and beyond.
INSIDE MARKETS
65 THE RUG SHOW & COVER CONNECT NY
The metro NY and NJ area is set to wow at back-to-back buying events this September.
InSTYLE
68 Our expanded product preview gallery highlights all three of this fall’s top markets.
78 HPMKT FALL ROUND-UP
See what your favorite ruggies are bringing to High Point this October.
InANTIQUES
82 PERSIAN BIDJAR CARPETS
Contributing Editor Rodney Hakim shares a wealth of knowledge on “The Iron Rug.”
INSIDER NEWS
86 WHAT’S LOOMING
People, places and events! We share your late-breaking industry headlines here and 24/7 on ruginsider.com.
Index
94 Our advertisers help support the magazine. As we rely upon them, we ask you to consider purchasing from the fine companies in this issue.
Photo by Jim Huylebroek
KEHKASHAN RUGS LLC
Taimany Collection
Naïf Collection, Zollanvari Studio, Zollanvari Super Fine Gabbeh
To market, to market…
The industry’s key players and some newcomers will fill rosters at three big events this fall. Many will showcase their newest offerings at more than one venue. Visit Momeni at COVER Connect NY and High Point Market. Contour-2 is from the company’s Contour Collection. Markets coverage begins on page 65. therugshow.com thecoverconnect.com highpointmarket.com
It’s a triple play this fall!
I’m hearing a lot of great buzz about the upcoming rug events in September. COVER Connect New York, September 14-16 in NYC is projected to be their largest event to date. The 12th annual The Rug Show , September 7-9, in Secaucus, NJ will provide buyers with a diverse selection of styles and designs. These shows provide not only excellent business environments and outstanding networking opportunities but most of all, the parties are a hoot! Read more in Inside Markets on page 65
Our Fall issue also covers the autumn High Point Market, October 26-30. Check our HPMKT Fall Round-up on page 78 for the skinny on who’s doing what at the market.
Zollanvari is set to launch collections with two designers this September, who are pushing the weavers to new heights. We had the chance to check in with Ramin Zollanvari, prior to the upcoming Cover Connect NY to see the very latest. Read more on page 49.
Can we talk Texture? We’ve had a lot of fun preparing our Infocus feature on textured designs. Several advertisers took it a step further and are showing off texture in their advertisements! We love it. See Let’s Talk Texture on page 43.
As RUG INSIDER’s editorial team expands, we are pleased to broaden our content as well. Timely articles are covering meaningful topics, including environmental challenges, weavers’ working conditions, and women in the rug industry. Contributing editor Carol Milano spoke with Reto Aschwanden , director of LabelSTEP, and STEP members Tamarian, Wool & Silk, and Samad about this international non-profit organization’s unique and valuable efforts to preserve the artisanal skills of carpet-making and enrich the lives of those who provide them. See An Ancient Craft in the 21st Century on page 35.
I remember visiting Mahmud Jafri in Dover, MA when he was just starting his rug business, it was back in the George H.W. Bush administra tion! Now 35 years later, we catch up with Dover Rug father and son team, Mahmud and Hasan Jafri on all things Dover Rug. See page 58.
We thank the new and old advertisers within our pages! Your support is vital to our mission of providing the very best trade magazine for the area rug industry.
See you at the markets!
Peter Woodaman Publisher peter@ruginsider.com
www.ruginsider.com
Follow us on social media @ruginsider
INSTANT VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
AI Powered Rug Visualization Technology
Only One on Planet Earth
Our AI-powered applet lets clients visualize rugs in their homes with just a few lines of code on your website. Improve Sales Experience!
The sole owners of IVE Technology with no competitors.
Why should you upgrade to IVE?
Eliminate guesswork to see how rugs, carpets, and other flooring products will look in their designated places.
$0.00 Setup Fee
$0.00 Development Fee
$0.00 3D Modelling Cost
$0.00 Bulk Conversion Fee
No Hidden Costs
Unlimited Products
No 3D Modelling Needed
No 3D Scanning Needed
No App Needed
Lower Product Returns!
Improve Customer Engagement!
Instant Visualization
Augmented Reality for Your Products
Statistics on Most Popular Products
Improve Sales Experience!
Android and iOS Compatible
PEOPLE POWER
In the digital era, business moves at the speed of light, or at least sound. It’s easy to get trapped behind a computer slogging through a flood of email. Under the sway of the day-to-day, it’s challenging to take a beat and think deeply about e-commerce, social media, and the evolving landscape of area rugs.
BY BRIAN K. ROBINS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
As a managing director for the venture capital firm MidOcean Partners, Eric Roth specializes in connecting the dots across market categories. Numbers and products inform his investing decisions, however in the final analysis, a company’s team holds the most weight. RUG INSIDER sat down with Eric at the Las Vegas Market to talk about where our industry is headed and the people who will power it.
RI: Your career path began as a lawyer. What drew you from law into business?
“I felt like I was missing the sales element of my professional development. I was an ok lawyer, but I didn’t love it.”
“I had a random opportunity to meet a couple guys who worked at a small boutique that focused on selling entrepreneurial businesses. I loved going to an entrepreneur and hearing about how they started their business. What was their inspiration? How do you make payroll, how do you stretch payables, how do you collect faster, how do you sell? That to me is interesting.”
“My dad was an entrepreneur. I thought that being an entrepreneur was one of the most interesting psychological things you could do. I loved meeting entrepreneurs and figuring out, do we have anything in common? You can always get to the x’s and o’s of business at some point, but someone has got to trust you.”
RI: You’ve worked with a talented roster of entrepreneurs. What are a few common denominators?
“The same things that make them incredibly successful can also create blind spots. Entrepreneurs can be fickle and pessimistic in pockets, but largely there’s an overwhelming foundation of optimism, but that can create blind spots of realism.
Eric Roth, Managing Director MidOcean Partners
InBUSINESS | PEOPLE POWER
The best entrepreneurs that I know have people around them who can tell them the hard truths.”
“The last thing I’d say is that it’s the guys that follow the data. What did it tell them, were there patterns? What things should I be discerning from it and can you act on it?”
The best entrepreneurs that I know have people around them who can tell them the hard truths.
RI: Other than the obvious upside of money, what gets you excited about working with a company?
“It’s the people. I want to surround myself with, people that are intellectually curious, who have been successful, who have had challenges and overcome them. The thing that excites me is when a founder is able to assemble a team of good people around them. Because that’s really tough. Entrepreneurs can struggle with delegation. They can struggle with, “I can just do it myself.” And yes, that’s true, but it’s not scalable. As you start to scale a business, being the kind of person who can attract and retain talent says something about you. And so does the opposite. I spend sixty percent of my time thinking about the people. Not the business model, not where they can go, the people.”
RI: What trends are you seeing in e-commerce?
“The world has changed a lot. The opportunity to differentiate yourself as a brand online is harder than it’s ever been and I’m not sure that it’s ever going to get easier. It’s very crowded, there’s a lot of noise to break through. You really have to be an omni channel business. Things that were old are new. Print media works. Not necessarily the RH four hundred page catalog, but one-piece, two-piece offerings that can be tailored.”
RI: What does small business get wrong about e-com?
“E-commerce is a piece of a bigger model of a bigger ecosystem. To me it always comes down to know your customer. You’ve always got to ask yourself, what is my customer’s problem? What am I doing to solve that problem for them? Oftentimes we find that businesses think they know who their customer is in an online setting when they actually don’t. Who the founder thinks their customer is isn’t wrong, but it’s often incomplete.”
“When it’s a high touch sale, the construct has to be, what can I do to reach a broader audience to start a conversation? Not a sale. A conversation. Higher end rugs say
something about you as a person. The advantage that someone in the rug business has is there’s an artistic component to it that’s incalculable. It says something about me as a human being and a person about why I put these rugs in my home and not those. It’s a large addressable market. It’s not recession proof, but the reality is at the end of a recession rich people still end up being pretty rich.”
RI: Is it best to focus on creating content for one social media channel, or all?
“In between. I keep coming back to know the consumer. One channel is probably too few and you’re going to miss too many. All sounds daunting and inefficient. The fragmentation of social media is only going to continue. You’re going to need to understand the customer better and be focused on the right portfolio of social media pockets where you can have the most impact.”
RI: For rugs, do you nd that one channel is more important than others?
“Instagram continues to take a lot of share and the tools that they have are great. Their ability to target the right audience is getting better.”
H
ow old is your social media person and do you empower them enough? They know better than you do.
RI: How can small businesses better leverage likes into sales?
“You gotta ask yourself how old is your social media person and do you empower them enough? They know better than you do. You know your product, you have a good sense for the customer, but now they’re so fragmented you don’t know where they are. You know who they are, you know what they like, but you don’t know where they are. That twenty-five year old does.”
RI: How can business owners engage Gen Z?
“The reality is, you need to have young people in your organization. In my world, I can’t tell you how impressive our young men and women who are twenty - five to thirty are. They are so far advanced from where I was at thirty. It’s like the Flintstones versus the Jetsons.”
“What I’ve found is that if you empower them and you teach, mentor and engage with them, and allow them to make mistakes, they really appreciate it. They’ll be very loyal and go out of their way to help you. And the opposite is true too.”
“Rugs are a good category. It’s not a commodity, it’s a piece of artwork. There’s meaning, there’s a story. That’s very Gen Z appropriate.”
RI: Over the last decade there’s been huge sea changes in rugs and home goods. What are a few that you’ve observed?
“I think the speed of the supply chain, meaning the ability to get things faster is pretty incredible. There’s been a lot of bifurcation between high value, low value. I never want to be in the middle. I want to be viewed as high end, or low end volume. The middle gets crunched a lot of times. In the long run that should not be the case with high end rugs. As it relates to case goods, furniture, it’s hard to differentiate.”
RI: What’s your favorite trade show for rugs?
“I always like going to Domotex. The European aesthetic is so different. You learn things that you never even thought about. You see new things, new designs. I love to travel as much as I can, particularly internationally.”
RI: What’s your favorite home goods brand that’s rug adjacent?
“There’s a company called Perennials. It’s incredible, high end. You could spill a bottle of red wine and it’ll come right out. People love it. They communicate the value proposition. It’s almost like Intel® inside a computer in the nineties. They’re able to get premium pricing for performance and they have an incredible catalog of innovative designs.”
RI: What’s the cornerstone of your business philosophy?
“My life philosophy is to put points on the board for people and show that you’re willing to go out of your way to help them. Most people are good people, not always, but most. You never know when you’re going to have a good conversation. I’m always open to chat.”
midoceanpartners.com
lsiflooring.com/residential/padding
Satar Carpet HAMBURG
An Ancient Craft in the 21st Century
BY CAROL MILANO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
“We already have close relations with our factories,” observes Daisy Barquist of Tamarian, “but we are NOT in Nepal 24/7!” She and her colleagues want to stay up-to-date about conditions in each of their locations, to make sure all the weavers have what they need and are treated safely and fairly. Now, “There’s something very reassuring knowing that they are being monitored frequently.”
Weaver at her loom; Image courtesy of Samad
That monitoring is provided by LabelSTEP, an international non-profit organization. Creating hand-woven rugs is an ancient, admirable craft—yet a demanding occupation for many weavers. That’s why, for nearly 30 years, STEP has been strengthening working conditions and quality-of-life for carpet weavers. A major goal is enabling workers to develop pride and confidence through improvements in both their artisanal skills and lifestyles.
The foundation of STEP’s activity is partnering with wholesalers, importers, retailers and designers in the rug industry. These partnerships fund STEP’s diverse projects across Nepal, India, Afghanistan, Morocco, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan, emphasizing Fair Trade initiatives and protections. Weavers in these rug producing countries are empowered through educational programs covering topics like health, safety, and financial literacy. What they learn improves their lives, preserves centuries-old artisanal skills, and builds a
sustain able future for the handmade carpet industry. STEP’s work benefits weavers’ families and communities, too.
THE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS
In each rug-producing country, STEP selects “auditors” who are familiar with the local culture and trained to make careful assessments during frequent, unannounced visits to factories.
“What I love most about my job is the craftsmanship, which goes back thousands of years,” reflects Jennifer Samad , marketing manager at Samad . She’s made several trips to visit their factories, often small family businesses like hers. “We have a nice relationship with them—and even know their children! However, being so far abroad, we can’t know every aspect of their work. For a long time, we looked for a third party to help audit our manufacturers, so we can hold them accountable, see where the gaps are, and what we can improve.”
Samad selected STEP because, “They cover so many aspects of the manufacturing process, including whether the facility is safe, and if artisans are being paid a fair wage. STEP’s team on the ground understands the culture so well. Their auditors prepare full reports, showing where we need to improve. Then we make the improvements, sharing the news with our customers, so they can share it with theirs. We value the transparency.”
Tamarian became a certified STEP partner in 2021. Recently, Nepal set its minimum wage fairly high, reports Barquist. "In some cases, we’re meeting that minimum. In others, we’re trying to catch up from a lower rate. Nepal’s government raised the minimum age to work in a factory from 16 to 18, because of social concerns that are associated with the age when someone is considered an adult.” STEP auditors are, “Culturally prepared to observe if a factory has some 16-yearolds, which was fine two years ago but isn’t now. If local laws become more stringent, we need to meet them.”
Image from the new book “Beyond the Loom: The People who Crafted Rugs in Kathmandu,” authored by award-winning photographer Narendra Shrestha and Tamarian owner Ryan Higgins.
InDEPTH | AN ANCIENT CRAFT IN THE 21ST CENTURY
“Partnering [with LabelSTEP] was a very natural move because of their initiatives to empower the communities— not only to prevent child labor but also to create great educational programs for the weavers and families. “
GEORGIA PAHL, WOOL & SILK RUGS
In some communities, the tradition is still women weaving at home, she discovered on trips to various countries, before working in the rug industry.
“When STEP’s people from the same culture do the evaluation, they understand that cultural context.” STEP auditors made over 150 visits to Tamarian’s sites in one year, notes Barquist. “That’s significant. It’s almost like having eyes and ears there!”
Wool & Silk Rugs partnered with STEP in 2016. Owner Erbil Tezcan was visiting Nepal six times a year at that time. “We’re very involved with the mill we work with there, its workers, and their families,” says marketing director Georgia Pahl . “In the past, we’ve bought the kids shoes, and helped provide better quality of life for the families, by making sure the needs are met. On our own, we sponsor ten children each month. We always try to do whatever we can to help. We believe the weavers are true artisans, and want to make sure they’re not taken advantage of.”
At Wool & Silk, “Our values really aligned with STEP. Partnering was a very natural move because of their initiatives to empower the communities— not only to prevent child labor but also to create great educational programs for the weavers and families. That’s how you uplift communities: through education,” Pahl stresses.
THE PROGRAMS
STEP aims to maintain an ongoing, full-time handmade carpet industry, built upon Fair Trade, with the highest international labor standards. They work to prohibit child labor, develop
Images above and opposite are from Tamarian’s new book “Beyond the Loom.” The book documents how the company makes its rugs and focuses on the human interaction of the masters. Photos by Narendra Shrestha.
environmentally conscious production, and promote sustainable development for the industry.
Samad especially appreciates the specific concerns that STEP’s auditors assess. “They go in to make sure everything is up to par, such as health and safety protection of workers. Is there enough natural or artificial light, and adequate restroom facilities on site?” Auditors confirm that artisans are paid a fair wage for their country, and that there is no child labor.
“We want to make sure things are ecologically sound, and learn how we can improve those areas,” says Samad, who understands that possibilities may be limited in a small village. “Improving our environmental effects is important to us, so we added that concern. Based on an auditor’s report, we can go to our manufacturer and say, for instance, ‘You need more light in this room.’ STEP’s local people do follow-up, checking with our factory that changes are made, which is wonderful.”
“I saw children in our factories, on the floor reading or doing homework. That says to me that the air is clean, the light is good, the environment is safe.“
DAISY BARQUIST, TAMARIAN
Pahl values STEP projects that improve the water system, and educate on topics from workers’ rights to health and hygiene, including vital concerns like breast cancer detection. “These different modules are adjusted to the needs of each group of individuals. Many of them have no access to this kind of information!
“It’s not an easy job to be a weaver. You’re sitting there for eight hours,” she reflects. “The problem of generations continuing is happening all over the world; weavers in China sought better opportunities in other industries. In Nepal, a very poor country, we partner with STEP to benefit weavers and workers, so they can have the best life possible. Lots of workers are women, including young mothers with adorable kids. It’s wonderful that they can bring their children to work, where they happily go outside and play. Those kids exposed to rugs early on may go into the industry!”
With its trade partners, “STEP brings in doctors or medical professionals, and helps create disability-free workplaces where someone who can’t walk can weave,” exclaims Barquist. “They teach people financial literacy, and how to save money. They’re creating awareness so that someone who had never banked understands a system where
Wool & Silk sponsors ten children from its facilities each month. They help provide better quality-of-life for the families by making sure their needs are met. Image courtesy of Wool & Silk Rugs.
they can create a bank account! We can really support these weavers by, for example, helping them avoid unnecessary debt.”
Barquist considers STEP “a bridge, helping to bring good will to this industry. We need to be very sensitive to keeping the carpet industry robust. To continue these beautiful rugs, we have to train upcoming weavers, and pay today’s weavers well so they don’t go elsewhere to earn more money.”
THE RESULTS
Weavers are benefitting from some of the programs. For instance, Laxmi, who works at a factory in Kathmandu, Nepal, said, “Weaving has helped me become financially independent for the first time in my life. This is a skill, and I feel privileged for the opportunity to have learned it. If my children wished to learn weaving, I would encourage them to do so.”
Ramesh, also working in Kathmandu, said, “Before learning to weave, me and my other friends with hearing impairments have never had a job. I’m very happy about the opportunity. I never thought I would be working indoors, together with my friends, doing artistic weaving and earning a living for myself.”
“STEP provides its partners and their brands with greater visibility, increased name recognition, and a stronger positive image among customers and in the media,” says its director Reto Aschwanden. “STEP strengthens the relationship between trade and production and, through good working conditions and satisfied workers, yields higher product quality and meets growing customer demand.”
“It’s had a positive effect on our company image, for sure,” Samad finds. “We have so many ideas about what we hope to do, and we’re excited that we’ll soon share our involvement with STEP on our website. At trade shows, we talk to people about it so they can ask questions.”
“For a long time, we looked for a third party to help audit our manufacturers. [STEP] covers so many aspects of the manufacturing process, including whether the facility is safe, and if artisans are being paid a fair wage.“
JENNIFER SAMAD, SAMAD
Tamarian hopes that describing their partnership with STEP in their newsletters, “will give retailers information that they can put into their own newsletters. Some will, depending on what’s important to them and to their customers,” says Barquist. She’s noticed that designers are starting to be more concerned. “We’re beginning to offer ASID credit for designers to learn about Fair Trade, safety, and environmental concerns including PFAS.” Tamarian uses only natural fibers, but rugs can contain materials that are toxic.
In 2023, Tamarian invited clients to their warehouse for an event featuring their newest rugs and an educational segment. “Reto [Aschwanden] came to share what we’re doing, what LabeSTEP is all about,” recalls Barquist. Tamarian displays the LabelSTEP image on their rug tags.
This year, Tamarian published a book, “Beyond the Loom: The People who Crafted Rugs in Kathmandu,” by owner Ryan Higgins and awardwinning photographer Narendra Shrestha. “Ryan wanted to document how we make our rugs and show what’s really happening, with images that focus on the human interaction of the masters.”
In the photos, Barquist confides, “I saw children in our factories, on the floor reading or doing homework. That says to me that the air is clean, the light is good, the environment is safe. If moms are still breast-feeding, they can do that and go back to work. We want to make sure that we’re
doing good, within the cultural norm.”
“Beyond The Loom” can have varied audiences. “As the weavers see their images in the book, I hope they will feel appreciated and know that what they are doing is meaningful and beautiful,” says Higgins. “Images speak louder than words, and I want people who buy the rugs to see the life energy in the rug.”
Pahl sees consumer interest growing among Millennials. “We only want to consume products made with fair trade compliance. Awareness of where a product comes from is very much part of my generation’s conversation.” Wool & Silk didn't partner with STEP just to sell rugs, she explains, “but because it’s what we believe in, so we’ve never advertised it. Now, I think a reason to display it a little more is because others will feel good about contributing to initiatives that protect the artisans making their product." They mention their STEP partnership on social media.
“I think all of us who work in the rug business,” says Pahl, “have an opportunity to assist people who may not have the resources we take for granted—it’s a blessing that we’re in a position to offer assistance wherever possible.”
Samad concurs. “It’s a very positive experience for our artisans, our manufacturers, and for us. I feel like everyone is getting something out of this relationship!”
label-step.org
“The
ERBIL TEZCAN, WOOL & SILK RUGS
5. Reside by Creative Matters | creativematters.com
10. Spalted White Taupe from Tamarian | tamarian.com
11. Nourison’s Graceful GRU03 Blue | nourison.com
TEXTURE TALK
by Ned Baker, Tamarian
Textures used for visual effect have become more ubiquitous in rug design, particularly in contemporary Tibetan designs. Unlike the bolder, overt design of the early aughts, these subtle techniques allow for understated design that functions harmoniously in an interior. Textures have also influenced colors and the use of color in design. Visually, texture is variations of the reflective qualities of the fiber, which changes how we see its color
At a microscopic level, note how finer wool on the left is ‘scaly’ as opposed to the poly fiber on the right. The scaly fiber reflects light in many directions, more randomly than the even light reflection of the poly fiber. This is a what we sometimes refer to as visual movement in a rug—it looks alive—where most poly carpet has a flat, even look, no matter the angle or light.
Tamarian’s Spalted White Taupe design appeals with simple texture surrounded by fresh, open space that adds understated beauty without demanding much else (detail shown above).
BROAD FINE ALPACA CASHMERE SILK LINEN COTTON POLYESTER WOOL WOOL
BE MORE GROUNDED
BE MORE GROUNDED FALL MARKET
FALL MARKET
September 16–18, 2024
September 16–18, 2024
Fall Market is the perfect event to finalize Q4 purchasing, spend one-on-one time with showroom reps, and start buying for 2025. Don’t let this mid-season buying opportunity fall through your fingers.
Fall Market is the perfect event to finalize Q4 purchasing, spend one-on-one time with showroom reps, and start buying for 2025. Don’t let this mid-season buying opportunity fall through your fingers.
Z ollanvari’s Diversification
BY ALEX MILSTEIN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Zollanvari International returns to the Maison&Objet Paris, September 5 – 9, 2024. Located on one of the main red-carpet aisles in the prestigious FOREVER sector of the fair, the company will present an entirely new stand concept, with a featured artist presentation and the debut of its new Zollanvari International Contract Collection. RUG INSIDER spoke with Ramin Zollanvari just ahead of COVER Connect NY about this exciting and diverse production.
Tulip Meadow 1, Flower Meadow Collection, Zollanvari Studio, Zollanvari Super Fine Gabbeh. Inset: Ramin Zollanvari.
RI: Tell us about the new production you are working on—specifically, the construction, color trends and textures used and why?
RZ: We have started working with two new designers who are pushing us and our weavers to reach new heights! The first carpet created by Lőrincz V. Gabi, a hungarian designer/artist, will be shown at the September edition of Maison&Objet Paris.
Launching two exciting new designs by Francesco Roggero of the original Designer’s Studio 6R5 Network (who produced the captivating Ombra del Leone for our 75th anniversary) are now in production.
And we are about to launch our first Contract Collection in Paris—Zollanvari International Contract —with a carefully curated selection of rugs and samples geared towards the hospitality and contract markets.
Zollanvari International Contract’s launch designs are inspired by the award-winning Couture Collection originally conceived by SoFarSoNear Studio Milan x Zollanvari’s Kundan Silk line. These carpets are available in custom and bespoke colors and designs, with optimum delivery times.
RI: COVER Connect New York (CCNY) is right around the corner—what are your thoughts, plans, and expectations of the show now that it has many more exhibitors?
RZ: I am very positive and excited. At CCNY we’ll continue to show new colorways of existing designs, plus a few surprises. It’s an opportunity to get in touch with new clients.
RI: How will you set yourself apart at Cover Connect and beyond?
RZ: Through color and our unique home décor collection!
RI: What are some company goals you have this year that you can share with the industry?
Ombra del Leone 1B, Studio Original Designers 6R5 Network Milan, Zollanvari Super Fine Gabbeh, designed by Francesco Roggero for Zollanvari’s 75th anniversary
“We
are working very hard to improve our internal working processes. We plan to use 21st-century digital technology much more to our advantage.“
RAMIN ZOLLANVARI, ZOLLANVARI
Tulis, Zollanvari Super Fine Gabbeh quality (above) is one of two designs by Francesco Roggero of Studio Original Designers 6R5 Network Milan for Zollanvari which will debut at Maison&Objet Paris.
Glass Window (left) is by featured designer Lőrincz V. Gabi x Zollanvari.
“I am passionate about my profession ... it fills me with excitement as a design is born from the threads under my hands,” says Gabi.
maison-objet.com
InDEPTH | ZOLLANVARI’S DIVERSIFICATION
Left: Zollanvari will show a variety of runners in new designs at Maison&Objet Paris. The power house Squares & Lozanges 1, is from the Squares Revisited/Gabbehs Geometric Collection.
Herringbone Couture (above) is part of the new Zollanvari International Contract Collection.
RZ: We are working very hard to improve our internal working processes. We plan to use 21st century digital technology much more to our advantage … to set us apart from other producers and keep us ahead of our competitors. Plans are underway for a state-of-the-art website to be launched late in 2025, and of course there is no end to our innovative approach to turning classical tribal designs from all weaving traditions into contempoary classics for the future.
RI: What trends do you see taking shape in the industry? Any trends slowing down or falling off altogether?
RZ:There is a lot of uncertainty around the world because of conflicts and politics. Therefore, consumption in almost any field has decreased. People have less money to spend. So, we don’t think that they will continue to spend a lot of money only for design. People start to pay more and more attention to quality. This is where our products come into play.
RI: What other international events will you be participating in this year?
RZ: We are very excited to participate at Maison&Objet in September as well as the January 2025 edition in this new stand setup.
In October, we will invite Ghashgha’i nomads to Switzerland and hold events in locations and showrooms of lots of diverse Zollanvari representatives.
And we have a very exciting in-house event this year with many interesting guests and speakers.
RI: What do you see for the future of Zollanvari?
RZ: The big word would be: diversification. With the introduction of our new line, we believe we will be able to target a new clientele. We are planning several exciting events and are constantly working on how we can extend our brand and how we present our new designs. Since we firmly believe that our story makes us unique.
zollanvari.com
BAZAR RUGS,
Your source for handmade carpets and kilims from inside Afghanistan. Designs like Chobrang, Qazaq, Aqcha, Farha, Maimana Kilim, Modern Kilim and Khodrang Kilim plus many more. Carpets are mostly manufactured in various designs and qualities, based on customers’ orders and preferences (except Aqcha Carpets, which are produced for stock). Kilims are produced regularly for stock and are sold to customers when demanded. Proudly, Afghan Bazaar Rug’s services are highly ranked by the market; specially the carpets washing and restoration service.
National Furniture Mart • Hamilton Properties • IHFC Floors 2 - 5 • INTERHALL • C&D Discover the latest trends in rugs and floor coverings with dozens of exhibitors.
Market Square & Suites • Salon • Plaza Suites • Showplace
October 26 – 30, 2024
Unique Loom
Trans-Ocean Import
KAS Rugs & Home
Dover Rug Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary
Dover Rug and Home is one of the select few area rug companies that has been around for over three decades and has grown from one store into multiple stores. Spanning several generations, this community-oriented and philanthropic company has also expanded into—sports and fitness.
The Dover Rug story began in 1989 in the garage of its founder, Mahmud Jafri, in Dover, Massachussets. After a career in real estate that was suddenly derailed by a market crash, Mahmud Jafri had to find a new career path. A family friend offered to send him a shipment of hand-knotted area rugs from Pakistan, with a time limit of six months in which the rugs would need to be sold or returned. The rugs arrived soon thereafter and were kept in Jafri’s garage, from where he would show them to friends and neighbors.
The rugs were an instant hit, and Mahmud Jafri realized that he needed more space and more rugs. He took on a 200-square-foot space in Dover in 1991, which he soon outgrew. He subsequently moved to a 2,700-squarefoot space in Wellesley, MA, where his operation and his client base grew.
With the clientele expanding, so did the need for a supply of fresh and exciting area rugs. To facilitate this, Mahmud Jafri would have client meetings early in the morning on certain days of the week, and on other days, leave Massaschussets at 4 a.m. to head to New York City, where he would source additional rugs from the Manhattan wholesale Oriental rug district.
The Dover Rug operation, staff, and client list would all continue to grow exponentially over the ensuing years, and in 2003, they opened a second location on the South Shore, with a showroom in Hanover, Massachusetts. They had once again outgrown their primary location in Wellesley, and moved into a larger 28,000-squarefoot facility a few blocks away on Route 9.
BY RODNEY HAKIM, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Mahmud Jafri
The next several years would see continued growth and expansion, leading to the Hanover location being combined into a newer, larger, 36,000square-foot, state-of-the-art location in Natick, MA. This new, centralized location would combine the multiple prior facilities and the company’s needsunder one roof, with a rug showroom, a warehouse, and a cleaning facility all together in one massive space. Throughout the years, and through all the expansion and growth of Dover Rug, Mahmud Jafri maintained a love and dedication to playing squash. In a rare instance of an area rug company combining work and play into the same facility, Jafri took a portion of the new 36,000-square-foot space in Natick, MA, and developed it into a Squash and Fitness facility! Thus was born Dover Squash and Fitness , with three fully functional squash courts and with a full fitness center.
How many area rug veterans can claim to not only frequent a gym and maintain regular dedication to sports, but also have a gym and a squash court onsite along with their rug store, and make that part of their offering to their colleagues and clients? This surely sets the Jafri family apart as a truly unique and visionary family within the rug world!
Something else that sets the Jafri family apart, and which has helped them to grow even further in the past decade, has been the arrival in the business of Mahmud Jafri’s youngest son, Hasan. After graduating Bentley University in 2014, Hasan Jafri joined his father Mahmud at Dover Rug, and immediately made an impact. Shortly after his addition to the team, Dover opened a third location in Boston’s highly desirable Back Bay sector!
The Dover Rug location in Boston’s Back Bay area has become a key addition to the Dover portfolio, as it has become a hub in which clients and designers living in the metropolitan city area are able to come in and make rug selections, plan their designs, and coordinate between them all. It runs in coordination with the larger facility in Natick, which hosts Dover Squash and Fitness.
The Jafri family did not stop there, finding that they could also serve their clientele to the North of Boston, and even into New Hampshire and Maine. This led to the development of Dover’s third location in 2016, with a new showroom in Burlington, MA.
Across 35 years, multiple stores, multiple locations, thousands of clients, and countless rugs, there have been a few constants for Mahmud Jafri and family.
These have included working hard, being honest, doing right by their clients and their staff, and treating others the way they would like to be treated themselves. This simple recipe has led to tremendous success, and with their three locations all running strong, and providing great rugs and great service to Dover’s clientele.
Hasan Jafri
Dover Rug & Home’s 36,000-square-foot location in Natick, MA with its squash and fitness center combines work and play in the same facility.
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.“
MAHMUD JAFRI, DOVER RUG
Beyond these simple strategies and family ethos, the Jafri family puts a great deal of time and dedication into making sure that the rugs they bring in for their clients are the best that they can be. The Jafri family regularly works with their rug industry partners and manufacturers to develop top-quality rugs, with colors, styles and materials that are on-trend and high quality.
The dedication to providing high-level rugs and consistent customer care has been a successful formula for the Jafri clan, who have seen multiple generations of not just their own family at Dover Rug, but also multiple generations of their clientele. Many of the clients who were with Dover early on have sent their children and grandchildren to Mahmud and Hasan Jafri over the years, keeping the continuity going through several decades. This deep connection with the clients and their families speaks volumes about the level of commitment the Jafri family has to their community, and to how well they have established themselves and their value as high-level rug vendors and as esteemed community leaders.
This community connection and high level of customer care have led to many awards and recognitions for the Jafri clan. Mahmud Jafri received the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award in 2013, and was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to his Advisory Council on Immigrants and Refugees. Mahmud Jafri is also a member of several industry groups, including ASID (the American Society of Interior Designers), IFDA (the International Furniture and Design Association), and the WFCA (World Floor Covering Association). He is a recipient of the Best of Boston Home Award, and the CNC Reader’s Choice Award.
Dover Rug is also involved in philanthropy, regularly supporting over 50 top charitable organizations. Of these, Mahmud Jafri sits on the Corporate Executive Council of the WGH, as well as serving on the Board of the Boston chapter of the Citizens Foundation, a
non-profit organization that builds schools for underprivileged children in Pakistan. The Jafri family opened a school in Pakistan in the name of Mahmud's late parents, Abida and Syed Mohammad Jafari. This multi-generational family business has earned additional accolades, including being named the Massachusetts Family Business of the Year, courtesy of the Family Business Administration.
Mahmud’s son Hasan has followed in his father’s footsteps and has been instrumental in developing a new generation of clients and designers for Dover Rug. Along the way, he has also received accolades and awards, including being a Trustee and the Chair of the Leadership Council for his alma mater, The Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, MA. Hasan Jafri also serves on the Young Leadership Council for SquashBusters, and additionally served as the Finance Chair for the New England Chapter of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers).
The multi-generational family behind the success of Dover Rugs is also family-oriented behind the scenes, with Hasan living in Boston with his wife, Ailya, and recently welcoming their first child, their son Husain. Hasan’s father, Mahmud lives with his wife, Zeba, in the very same original house where Dover Rugs was started decades ago. While this house was the birth of the business,
it is also the central destination of Mahmud and Zeba's grandchildren who are in Boston, California, and Washington D.C. Despite his passions for rugs, squash, community, and his clientele, Mahmud has found a new passion that might top them all; being a grandfather!
When asked if there was a single sentence that summarizes their outlook on life, both the elder and younger members of the Jafri clan didn’t hesitate to put forward pithy statements that pack a lot of meaning into just a few words.
Mahmud says, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Hasan followed that with an equally pithy response, saying, “Our best today, better tomorrow.” They are clearly a hard-working and forward-thinking family, and Hasan hopes that his son, young Husain, will carry the family forward someday into yet another generation, another decade, and another level of growth and achievement, for the long running and high-achieving Dover Rug family.
doverrug.com
Dover Rug & Home’s locations in Boston (left) and Burlington, MA.
Father and son, Mahmud and Hasan Jafri.
New Designs. New Colors. Fresh Merchandise for the Season. Featuring our modern Oushak, Khotan, Moroccan, & Afghani Serapi Rugs. We also do White, Silver and Chemical Wash.
Last year, our rugs stole the spotlight, becoming the unexpected ”front runners“ of The Rug Show. See you in September!
Bringing people and artistry together for a dozen years, The Rug Show 2024 takes place September 7-9, at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, NJ.
The 2024 edition of the ‘original area rug industry show’ is back. This classic to-thetrade event showcases traditional, contemporary, antique, and one-of-a-kind designs from some of the industry’s most renowned producers and wholesalers.
For the third straight year, the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ will set the stage for the event showcasing several exhibitors.
“This is the only show for hand-made rugs organized by the rug industry for the rug industry,” says Max Moussavi, Art Resources. “2024 buyers will find ample hunting ground to see and source from the most abundant and amazing collection of products in one location—and our exhibitor list is still growing.“
SY MAHFUZ
“The Rug Show is a unique opportunity in North America for us to showcase our artisans’ work to an international audience. The intimate format of the three-day show allows us to demonstrate the quality of our carpets first-hand,” says Alison Grey, Turquoise Mountain.
The Retirement of a Titan of the
Area Rug Industry
ALPINE RUGS
ANDKHUY RUGS
ANWAR RUGS
ART RESOURCES
FARSHCHI INC.
NEMAN INT’L
SATAR RUG
TURKISH RUG CO.
TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN
PRE-REGISTER – therugshow.com
Though not essential, pre-registration ensures buyers will save time at the door, be first to learn of event details, as well as RSVP for the kick-off party.
ATTEND
Meadowlands Exposition Center 355 Plaza Drive Secaucus, NJ mecexpo.com
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Monday, September 9
SOCIALIZE
GALA OPENING RECEPTION Date and Venue TBA.
MORNING TEA & BAKLAVA
Served daily.
AFGHAN BAZAR
KEHKASHAN RUGS
EXHIBITORS *at time of publication; BOLD denotes Rug Insider Advertisers
Turquoise Mountain’s Tiger in a Mughal Garden, detail
CONNECT NEW YORK
The fourth edition of Cover Connect New York will take place at the joint venue of the Metropolitan Pavilion and the Altman Building, NYC from September 14-16, 2024.
COVER Connect New York is back this fall in its popular Chelsea location hosting over forty international brands on September 14–16, 2024, in central Manhattan. The show promotes the extraordinary and timeless potential of woven flooring, from the traditional Persian or Turkish rug to ultra-modern art pieces and everything in between.
The mid-September dates have been selected to avoid religious and bank holidays. They also coincide with New York Home Fashion Market Week, September 16–19 and New York Textile Month, September 1–30 to offer visitors crossover shopping opportunities. Admission is free and open to industry professionals only. Register at thecoverconnect.com/ccny24-register.
Participating brands have been carefully selected to present the widest possible variety of production and styles. Offering bespoke options for the residential and commercial sectors, CCNY exhibitors bring experience, knowledge, and passion for handmade rugs, weaving, design, and innovation.
“Overall it will be our largest show with the same dynamic buzz of past editions,” says David Young, Sales and Marketing Director COVER
“We have more exciting new exhibitors—still at the highest caliber. We have also extended show hours on the last day by two hours—until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 16.”
CCNY is the ideal place to shop for the ultimate rug solutions. Expect to discover new collections, the latest designs and technical developments, plus a huge range of custom rug options, in an inspiring and supportive environment.
PRE-REGISTER at thecoverconnect.com
Though not essential, pre-registration ensures buyers will receive exclusive previews to collections that will be launched at the show and priority access to the event.
ATTEND
Metropolitan Pavilion and The Altman Building
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Saturday and Sunday, September 14-15
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Monday, September 16
SOCIALIZE
CCNY PARTY - September 15, 7-9 p.m.; sponsored by Heimtextil. Venue TBA.
PRE-PARTY - September 13, 12 p.m., 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. by appointment only; 2025 Fine Weave Collection Preview, hosted by exhibitor Rug & Kilim
‘WOVEN DREAMS: A TIBETAN RUG ART COMPETITION’
Awards Ceremony hosted by exhibitor Bespoke Tibetan Carpets at Tibet House US, September 14, 6 p.m.
COFFEE LOUNGE
Complimentary water, tea and barista coffee will be served daily, sponsored by Label STEP.
RSVP for all events upon registering to attend the show at thecoverconnect.com.
Our rug & flooring management software is designed to make running your business a breeze. Manage leads, inventory, scheduling, payments, and more— all in one place.
Meet designer Anne-Marie Barton in High Point at Eliko Rugs by David Ariel
ELIKO RUGS BY DAVID ARIEL
Showroom: 108 S. Lindsay Street elikorugsbydavidariel.com
EVENTS – Luxury rug collection
launch: Anne-Marie Barton x Eliko Rugs by David Ariel. An educational presentation by Barton prior to the launch party is open to interior design professionals only.
FEIZY
Showroom: 309 N. Hamilton Street feizy.com
NEW – Thom Filicia’s new indoor and easy care lines.
RELAX – Expanded bar and entertainment areas.
EVENTS – Tour de Thom, a campaign in collaboration with Thom Filicia and his partners. Virtual Showhouse popup on the showroom’s second floor.
TREND BUZZ – Green and more saturated colors popping into home.
New Thom Filicia for Feizy Rugs, Limerick T8022 Brown
RUG INSIDER takes a look at fall happenings in High Point with a few of your market favorites! October 26 – 30, 2024.
KAS RUGS
Showroom: IHFC, G-270 kasrugs.com
NEW – Showcasing the Tuscany and Solana collections. Tuscany features hand-tufted cut loop wool rugs with viscose accents while Solana is machine-woven soft plush polypropylene & shrink polyester.
NEW – Westernized ‘Bird’ design featuring sparrows, Oushaks, and more—plus an expanded showroom.
PEOPLE – Say hello to S&H Rugs’ new brand Ambassador, Emily Cupo TREND BUZZ – Greens and browns coming back strong, while gray is quietly leaving. Blues are still steady.
EXQUISITE RUGS
Showroom: IHFC, H-204 exquisiterugs.com
NEW – Twelve new collections of transitional and contemporary rugs. Completely remodeled showroom to celebrate the company’s 84th market.
RELAX – Morning coffee/tea; refreshments and beverages throughout the day
TREND BUZZ – A surge towards earthy tones and innovative textures.
Opposite: Exquisite Rugs’ Castine L13
HRI’s elegant new hand-knotted Nepali collection
HRI [Harounian Rugs International]
Showroom: IHFC, D-431; hrirugs.com
NEW – Fall intros include the Nepali and Retro collections and more; plus additions and colorations to bestselling series. The colorful, abstract Spectrum collection is hand-knotted in wool and silk—made-to-order only.
French Accents’ ML445B
FRENCH ACCENTS
Showroom: 200 Steele, Floor 1, Space 112 farugs.com
NEW – New Mid-Century Modern Collection, as well as Oushak, Khotan, Nepalese, Highland, and more.
RELAX – Daily cocktail hours.
TREND BUZZ – A resurgence in interest in modern rugs that are colorful yet simple.
NEW – Ember, charcoal; Nimbus, silver; Cadmus, silver/blue and indigo colorways;; Sono, graphite; Mamba, charcoal; Kristal, stone; Plumage, slate
EVENTS – Designer Spotlight (TBA)
TREND BUZZ – Texture!
Ember Charcoal from New Moon is hand-knotted Tibetan wool, Chinese silk and natural nettle fibers;
Inside MARKETS | HPMKT FALL ROUND-UP
Lavin Rugs’ N2005
LAVIN RUGS
Showroom: IHFC, C-212 lavinrugs.net
NEW – Everything! Fort Worth, TXbased Lavin Rugs will launch in High Point with a showroom grand opening, Saturday, Oct. 26 at 10:30 AM. Over 330 designs will debut.
ART RESOURCES
Showroom: Market Square, 278 artresources.us
NEW – Showroom has doubled in size! Look for several intros across all styles, plus Art Resources’ all-new customizable Exotic Fibers program geared to high-end retailers.
NEW – An ever-changing inventory of premium hand-woven Turkish rugs, from gorgeous Oushaks to modern Tulu, antique looks, kilims, vintage, Anatolian, and more.
TAMARIAN
Showroom: Center Pointe on Russell 401 East Russell Ave.. Suite 112; tamarian.com
NEW – Additions to the company’s made-to-order Curated Custom quickship collection plus programmed rugs.
RELAX – Tamarian’s famed “Terrace” will be open daily.
PEOPLE – Say hello to Fred Lomas who is the consummate host in High Point
EVENTS – The new Curated Custom line demos are interactive, informative, and fun! Try your hand at coloring one of the 42+ designs offered in the collection.
TREND BUZZ – Traditional motifs in more updated colors continue to trend well along with subtle textured looks in modern designs.
Tamarian’s Curated Custom Kiosk
Nourison Prismatic
NOURISON
Showroom: IHFC, IH-101; nourison.com
NEW – Fall intros include dramatic designs in the best-selling, handmade Prismatic Area Rug Collection.
TREND BUZZ – Warm neutrals: shades like beige, taupe, and warm grays. Textured rugs, such as high-low pile designs and shaggy or looped textures, are in demand.
InANTIQUES | PERSIAN BIDJAR CARPETS
Antique Persian Bidjar Carpets
The Iron Rug Explained
BY RODNEY HAKIM, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
When people ask for an explanation of the differences between antique rugs and contemporary rugs, one of the answers that is frequently given is that antique rugs were made to last as heirloom pieces to be passed down from generation to generation, whereas new rugs tend to have a more limited life expectancy. Antique rugs were woven to be long-lasting and durable, with certain types of rugs being more resistant to wear than others. Perhaps the single most wear-resistant, and long-lasting type of antique Persian rug is the Bidjar, which is so tough and durable that it is often referred to as The Iron Rug!
WHAT IS AN ANTIQUE PERSIAN BIDJAR CARPET
The antique Persian Bidjar carpet comes from the northwestern Persian region of the same name. The region of Bidjar (or Bijar), which some would refer to as a city and some as a town of approximately 20,000 people at the turn of the
twentieth century, was a part of the Kurdish region of Iran, carrying with it the traditions and weaving techniques of the ancient tribes of Kurdistan. The Kurds had a territory that traversed the borders of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, with the Kurds in Bidjar being in “Eastern Kurdistan.”
THE BIDJAR CARPET AS “THE IRON RUG”
The rugs woven by these Kurdish weavers in the region of Bidjar were hand-knotted with wool, but unlike most other Persian rugs, were woven with upward wool pile on a wool foundation, and not a cotton foundation. A cotton foundation is finer and more flexible than a wool foundation and is easier to pass the wool threads through. The Bidjar rugs opted for a wool foundation instead, resulting in a much more rigid foundation through which the numerous rows of wool thread would run.
This doubling of wool, in both the upward pile and the foundation, for a thicker and sturdier rug than in the cotton foundation counterparts. What makes the Bidjar rugs supremely thick and sturdy, is the type of wool that is used, and the manner in which it is utilized.
The wool coming from the native sheep of the Bidjar region is, in and of itself, a longer, thicker and denser grade of wool than in some other areas of Iran, due to the type of sheep that are prevalent in that area. That wool would be sheared and processed, and then used in the hand-knotting process in a unique way. The wool wefts would be dampened with water before being passed through the thick and rigid wool foundation, sometimes with a single layer and other times with two layers between each row.
The level of rigidity of the wool foundation necessitated the softening of the wool passing through it, and the dampening with water would achieve that effect long enough for the weavers to pull the wool through the foundational grid. Once the dampened upward wool pile would be pulled into place through the rigid wool foundation, it would be packed
Antique Persian Bidjar – 25’7” x 14’9”, circa 1910, #27683
InANTIQUES | PERSIAN BIDJAR CARPETS
tightly into place with metal combs, after which it would gradually dry and stiffen, creating a triple thick final product with an unmatched level of density, durability, and resistance to wear.
These dense, tightly packed Persian Bidjar rugs, with their wool foundations, and long, thick upward wool pile, would become so well-known over the last 100 years for their longevity and durability, that they became known colloquially as “The Iron Rug.”
POPULAR BIDJAR RUG DESIGNS
The antique Persian Bidjar carpet was woven with a number of different rug designs. Being hand-knotted by the tribal Kurdish weavers, many Bidjar carpets had more rudimentary designs, with larger, simpler geometric shapes, and more relaxed spacing between elements. On the other end of the spectrum, there are Halvai Bidjar carpets, which represent the finest level of weaving and design articulation from the weavers of the area. Let us explore each of these styles.
THE GHEROUS DESIGN BIDJAR
Antique Persian Bidjar – 20’5” x 11’8”, circa 1900, #26086
The Gherous (or Garrus) design is a unique rug design that is associated only with Persian Bidjar rugs. The Gherous style features a repeating series of simple shapes, usually geometric in format, typically on a dark navy blue central field. These rudimentary shapes are reflective of the culture of the Kurdish tribes that populated the region of Bidjar, and their simple design aesthetic.
Beyond reflecting the simple design motifs utilized by the Kurdish tribes in Bidjar, the Gherous design also testifies to the difficulty of creating more complex designs with the thick, dense wool pile and rigid wool foundation utilized for antique Bidjar rugs. The thick wool would be very difficult to pull through the rigid wool foundation into an intricate design for all but the highest caliber of rug weavers.
THE HERATI DESIGN BIDJAR
The Herati design is one of the most popular designs throughout all Persian rug styles. It is recognized by its pattern of a repeating series of diamond looking geometric elements, with a small floral element at their center, and with a stylized leaf extending out of each of the four corners. This design is found in all types of Persian rugs, from Ferahan rugs to Sultanabad rugs to Tabriz rugs, and more. It takes on a special resonance when appearing in Bidjar rugs, perhaps more so than anywhere else.
Antique Persian
Bidjar – 17’3” x 12’2”, circa 1910, #31619
As mentioned previously, the Gherous design is unique to the Bidjar rug, due to it being a cultural heritage of the town’s weavers, and a testament to the difficulty of weaving complex designs with the thick and rigid wool from the region.
In the cases of Bidjar rugs having Herati designs, it is clear that the weavers of these rugs had a higher level of expertise and manual dexterity, to be able to not only execute such a complex and intricate pattern with the thick and rigid wool of the Bidjar rugs, but to do it in a repeating format, where each Herati motif looks almost identical to the next one. In a hand-knotted rug, this is very difficult to do.
Savonnerie Rugs Larger than 9 x 12
Round Aubusson & Savonnerie Rugs Savonnerie 9 x 12 and Smaller
Aubusson Rugs 10 x 14 and Larger
Aubusson Rugs 9 x 12, 8 x 10
Aubusson Rugs 6 x 9 and Smaller
Vertical Tapestry
Square(ish)
Horizontal Tapestry
InANTIQUES | PERSIAN BIDJAR CARPETS
In a Bidjar rug, unless you have a mastery of technique, it is almost impossible.
Antique Persian Bidjar – 27’5” x 15’0”, circa 1900, #23682
In some exceptional cases, the weavers of these Herati design Bidjar rugs were so masterful and so dexterous, that they would not only be able to execute the Herati motifs in clean repeating lines, but would also have them arranged in layers of central medallions, cascading outward, with each medallion layer having a different color. This represents a mind-boggling level of physical control, and an outsanding achievement of what is possible with the hand-knotting of an oriental rug.
THE FLORAL DESIGN BIDJAR
Antique Persian Bidjar –18’0” x 12’2”, circa 1900, #27494
With the Herati design Bidjar rugs representing the limits of how complex the repeating geometric designs of handknotted carpets of the region could be, they are matched in complexity, if not exceeded, by the Floral design Bidjar carpets.
Floral design Bidjar rugs took the same repetition of a series of smaller scale design elements as the Herati rugs, but added a further level of weaving complexity in having the design elements look more curvilinear, and more reminiscent of real flowers.
Curvilinear floral designs are usually the territory of “city rugs,” as rugs woven in city centers with more organized weaving ateliers and more established weavers being able to execute these highly complex designs.
In the case of Floral design Bidjar rugs, the rugs still have some visual reminder of the tribal, geometric origins of the Kurdish weavers of Bidjar, but then display a dazzling level of weaving complexity and articulation in the central field.
THE HALVAI DESIGN BIDJAR
Antique Persian Bidjar – 21’9” x 12’6”, circa 1910, #28011
At the highest end of the Bidjar rug design spectrum is the Halvai Bidjar, from the finest weavers of the region in that era.
The Halvai Bidjar rugs go even further than a Floral design Bidjar rug, in the sense that the rendering of the curvilinear floral elements is so fine and articulated with such dexterity and acuity, that one almost forgets that the weavers were hand-knotting these rugs with the dense, rigid wool that makes these rugs the “iron rugs” in the first place.
The magic of the Halvai Bidjar rugs is not just in the beauty and articulation of the curvilinear floral motifs, but also in the scale of design, with the repeating designs being executed in a small scale, and yet, still finely rendered, visually distinct, and absolutely outstanding in the final result.
All of the Bidjar rug styles enumerated in this article are still popular in the United States, Europe, and beyond. The world’s largest selection of these rugs can be found at Persian Gallery New York pgny.com
Oriental Weavers Names Mandi Williams VP of Product Development & Design
Mandi Williams, whose career with Oriental Weavers USA began in 2004 as the inaugural area rug Designer in the USA, has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Product Development & Design. Her journey from Designer to Director of Design in 2006 underscores her remarkable contributions to the company’s creative and strategic growth.
In her new capacity Williams will spearhead the development and sourcing of innovative product lines across the rug and home categories. Her role will also encompass the management of the design and product development team in the USA. Mandi’s deep expertise in trend research and resource analysis will continue to be a cornerstone of her contributions, ensuring that Oriental Weavers remains at the forefront of industry advancements.
“Mandi’s unparalleled talent in design and trend, coupled with her creative skillfulness, has been instrumental in our journey,” said Andy Brumlow, Chief Commercial Officer of Oriental Weavers USA. “Her visionary approach, dedication, and passion promise to elevate our product offerings and exceed the expectations of our valued customers.” owrugs.com
Registration Open for Fall High Point Market
High Point Market Authority (HPMA) has opened online registration for the Fall edition of its biannual trade-only event, scheduled for October 26-30, 2024
Registration to attend High Point Market is available to U.S. and international buyers, including retailers, residential and commercial interior designers; press, industry professionals, exhibitor personnel, and students.
Qualifying registrants will be issued a Market pass, which is required to enter buildings and showrooms across the 13-block Market District. Guests who register before October 11 (or September 27 for international attendees), will receive their Market pass in the mail at no charge. Registration assistance is available at (336) 869-1000, or by email: registration@highpointmarket.org. Online registration will remain open until 5 pm ET on October 23, also at no charge. After this date, onsite registrations made during the event will incur a $30 processing fee.
Market guests are encouraged to register early, contact the HPMAsanctioned Market Concierge service by Travel Quest, Inc., receive assistance for booking overnight accommodations and flights, and make other long-distance transportation arrangements.
“Planning is a great start to optimizing your Market experience,” says Tammy Covington Nagem, HPMA president and CEO. “I always encourage guests to take advantage of our complimentary concierge service so they can secure the best options for accommodations and flights.
highpointmarket.org
Image courtesy of High Point Market
Mandi Williams
Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING
ANDMORE Updates & Programming for Fall 2024 HPMKT
ANDMORE’s 17 Downtown High Point properties will showcase 1,100+ permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits and bring educational and networking opportunities to the five-day buying event.
“ANDMORESM at High Point Market is setting the stage for unprecedented discovery and industry collaboration,” said Jon Pertchik, ANDMORE CEO. Highlights include:
• Nearly 70 new, expanded & relocated resources across all major categories at seven destinations.
• 500 temporary exhibits at four locations.
• 350+ temporary exhibits at Suites at Market Square will open on Friday, October 25, one day prior to the Market’s official opening.
• Shoppe Object – High Point, ANDMORE’s elevated and artisanal tradeshow with 100+ designdriven home brands runs Oct. 26-30, on the third floor of Historic Market Square.
• Dynamic programming with nearly 15 events emphasizing trends and design.
• Buyer amenities at select market locations with floor bars, breakfast and afternoon treats, drinks, daily afternoon specialty cocktails, and more.
• The ( A ) List returns with industry influencers highlighting the best in design across the Fall Market.
• ANDMORE's Market Snapshot program.
ANDMOREHighPointMarket.com
Image courtesy of ANDMORE
Lucy Tupu Launches Te Aro Collection
Lucy Tupu Studio , with locations in both New York and New Zealand, is excited to launch its newest rug collection Te Aro—named after Lucy’s hometown, in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The Te Aro collection takes inspiration from retro interiors, celebrated for their linear and bold geometric graphics, and updates them with a modern aesthetic. It features distinctive designs with colorways that capture the vintage essence of the era. Each design is named after a street in Wellington where Lucy grew up, adding a personal and nostalgic touch to the collection.
“Returning to NZ after 30 odd years has been a journey of rediscovery, and this rug collection, in a heartfelt way, expresses my renewed love for this city and its memories,” says Tupu.
Hand tufted in 100% New Zealand Wool, these designs can be customized to suit any color, size or shape depending on the client’s specifications. lucytupu.com
Men on the Move: New York/New Jersey Rug Trade Stalwarts Take Up New Spaces
The New York-New Jersey area rug industry is gearing up for the fall market season with the return of The Rug Show in Secaucus and COVER Connect NY in Manhattan. While many moves are being made to prepare exhibition spaces and individual displays for these two trade shows, those are not the only moves happening in town. Many rug industry stalwarts have been relocating to new spaces in recent months. Here are some notable location changes.
J&D ORIENTAL RUGS — Ilan & Rodney Zabihi 15 East 32nd Street, 2nd Floor, New York; 212-695-0880; sales@jdorientalrugs.com
RUG & KILIM CARPET — Josh Nazmiyal 25-18 40th Avenue, Long Island City, New York; 212-829-9797; info@rugandkilim.com
BAZAR ORIENTAL RUGS
(aka Metropolitan Carpet) — Jacob Galar 115 West 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York; 212-529-2200; metcarpet@gmail.com
SYMOURGH INTERNATIONAL INC. — David Zadeh 115 West 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York; 212-686-3756; symourgh2000@yahoo.com
AVIRAM AZIZ RUGS INC. — Avi Aziz 115 West 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York; 646-489-6418; aviramrugs@gmail.com
J. LIVI RUG CO. — Josef Livi; 115 West 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York; 212-532-4170; jndl83@aol.com
BEN NEMAT ANTIQUE RUGS
115 West 29th Street, 7th Floor, New York; 212-213-2626; dzrugs@gmail.com
Tepp Team USA
3901 Liberty Avenue, North Bergen, NJ; 201-863-8888; info@teppteamusa.com
HAKIM ORIENTAL RUGS — Debora Hakim 3901 Liberty Avenue; North Bergen, NJ; 201-558-0777; hakimrugs@aol.com
Note: this list primarily focuses on members of the antique rug trade. While many vendors are still concentrated in similar areas, rug vendors are stretching the rug district into new corners of the NY/NJ area, including Long Island City, Long Island, and beyond.
115 West 29th Street is home to Metropolitan Carpet, Symourgh International Inc., Aviram Aziz Rugs Inc., J. Livi Rug Co., and Ben Nemat Antique Rugs
If you met 16-year-old Gulafsa as she appears in this picture –wearing a dress she made herself – you would encounter a bubbly high school student with a dream to be a fashion designer or a doctor. But Gulafsa almost missed her chance to go to school. When she was just 11 years old, GoodWeave found her working in a carpet factory in India. GoodWeave helped transition Gulafsa back to school and is providing support to continue her education. Gulafsa can now make her dreams come true. You can help other children make it in life too. Look for the GoodWeave® label on carpet and home textile products –your best assurance no child labor was used.
Tough Stains Have Met Their Match
Here is a proven, made-in-the-USA, water-based spot cleaner, ideal for water-safe carpeting.
FAST-KLEEN removes the toughest water- and oil-based spots and stains, without solvents or VOCs. Motor oil, soy sauce, pet messes, coffee—bring it on!
And it is available in two convenient platforms: a dependable squirt bottle and bag-on-valve spray.
Carpet and rug professionals: here is a 100-percent green, professional-strength spot and stain remover that works fast on the toughest stains.
