RUGS AND CARPET FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSIONA
SUMMER COLOR REPORT
Blooms & Blossoms
SUMMER 2023 - VOLUME XXVII - ISSUE 1
FRESH PERSPECTIVES +
In My Secret Life
First Look: Las Vegas
InANTIQUES | Blossom Designs
TRS & CCNY Return
Espressionismo Floreale
On The Cover S&H RUGS
Metropolitan Pavilion and The Altman Building
September 9-11, 2023
The annual boutique trade fair for leading handmade rug brands in Manhattan
Expanded across two neighboring venues for 2023
Anadol Rug Co. - Asia Minor Carpets - Battilossi
Bokara Rug Company - Caravan - Creative Matters
Creative Touch - Design Materials Inc.
Eliko Rug Gallery - French Accents
Harcourt Collection - Harounian Rugs International
Jaipur Living - Jan Kath NYC - Kirkit Rugs - Knots Rugs
Lapchi - New Moon - Pacific Collection - Pampas Leather
Paulig - Rebel Carpets & Rugs - Rug Icon
Rug & Kilim - Sahar - Samad - Stark Studio Rugs
Sumaq Alpaca - Tamarian - Tibet Rug Company
Tissage - Wool & Silk - Zollanvari
SUMMER 2023 – VOLUME XXVII – ISSUE 1
FRESH PERSPECTIVES
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.
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Peter Woodaman peter@ruginsider.com
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Rodney Hakim rodney@pgny.com
Brian KRobins
Jennifer Samad
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Rug Insider Magazine does not accept print advertisements from rug manufacturers.
InPERSPECTIVE
41 MY SECRET LIFE
Contributing Editor Brian Robins unmasks the alter ego of Tamarian’s Ned Baker.
CONTACT
4 Fortsalong Road
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ON
S&H RUGS
Steal home with this Bauhaus-inspired masterpiece in Dodger’s blue (plus silver, ivory and sky)! Design 74338 is from NJ powerhouse S&H Rugs. The modern borderless Peshawar rug has a cozy feel— hand-knotted in naturally-dyed high-grade wool for luxurious comfort.
InFOCUS
34 BLOOMS & BLOSSOMS
The breathtaking Dafney collection by Feizy is just one ‘stem’ in our bouquet of summer botanical beauties. These arboretum-inspired floral mosaics are tufted in wool and viscose. feizy.com
InDEPTH
27 IN LIVING COLOR
Contributing Editor Cecile Corral looks at paint and color forecasts and the fresh perspective that’s flowing into area rug design. 2023 home decor trends are inviting some upbeat energy to living spaces!
Insider’s View
23 PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT
#oldfriends are best! Peter Woodaman welcomes summer with a special savings offer to subscribers (old & new).
INSIDE MARKETS
49 FIRST LOOK: LAS VEGAS
Trend guru Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media, reveals her FIRST LOOK at area rug styles to watch for at LVMKT.
InSTYLE
54 Don’t miss our jam-packed gallery of the hottest products you’ll see at upcoming summer markets!
InANTIQUES
65 BLOSSOM DESIGNS
PGNY’s Rodney Hakim shares insight as to the origin of flowers in vintage & antique carpets.
What’s Looming
70 The Rug Show USA and COVER Connect New York fairs take place concurrently this September 9 – 11; Nourison rebrands as Nourison Home.
Index
78 Our advertisers help support the magazine. We try not to show an editorial bias as we ask you to consider purchasing from the fine companies in our summer issue.
In the SPOTLIGHT
80 A NEW LEAF
Los Angeles based Spanish creative director and artist-designer Laura Niubó distills the function of flora into joyful, abstract woven art.
Exhibiting
COVER Connect New York 2023
September 9–11
Metropolitan Pavilion
Online Exhibition
Glitched - A New Era for Gabbehs
Extended to 4th August 2023 https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/ exhibition/11014118/glitched-a-newera-for-gabbehs
Full Collection
Available Exclusively @ the Zollanvari Online-Shop www.zollanvari-onlineshop.com
COMING ‘HOME’
Nourison recently announced its rebranding as Nourison Home to better align the company’s strengths with evolving consumer needs and preferences. That’s what we call fresh perspective! Read more in Insider News, page 73. nourison.com
INSIDER’S VIEW | FROM THE PUBLISHER
#oldfriends
I want to thank all of the past subscribers that have renewed their subscriptions recently during our #oldfriends promotion to renew at last year’s rates. Our subscription department was on pause through the past year and we are back to full speed. If you value this publication and the work that our amazing staff does on a quarterly basis, you still have time to renew your subscription. We thank you in advance! The #oldfriends promotion will run through the summer.
I’m excited to announce two new writers to the staff of RUG INSIDER. Brian Robins, co-owner of Kush and Jennifer Samad of Samad have joined the our editorial team! Brian brings a wealth of experience coming from retail and will be delving into many different topics facing the rug industry today. Jennifer comes from the wholesale sector and has a fresh current take on the industry. We welcome them aboard and look forward to sharing their perspectives and editorial on the area rug industry.
As 2023 progresses, we are pleased to see a shift towards color. Contributing editor Cecile Corral talks to top manufacturers to get their take. Check out In Living Color on page 27.
I have a question to ask? How many die-hard Dickens & Ballsworth fans do we have in the rug industry? Well, this publisher certainly is one and I have the tee shirt to prove it. In this issue, Brian Robins talks to Ned Baker of Tamarian and we lear n of his passion for music and the music that influenced him throughout his life. Read In My Secret Life: Ned Baker on page 27. Ned is a rockstar!
With the Last Vegas Market fast approaching RUG INSIDER catches up with Julie Smith V incent of Nine Muses Media who curates trends in the industry. She shares her style insights in First Look: Las Vegas market on page 49.
If you didn’t notice, the summer a larger magazine. Thank you to all new advertisers, contract advertisers and media partners for their contin ued support. Your advertising dollars are key to our success, and we love to show you off. The best is yet come!
See you in Las Vegas!
Peter Woodaman Publisher peter@ruginsider.com @ruginsiderCome Explore RUGS With Us
Showrooms: July 11–17, 2023
Temporaries: July 12–16, 2023
Color—what a concept. And by “color” we mean the shades that make the rainbow and the hues that live in between each stripe of the arc.
Nature’s neutrals invariably make sense and always feel safe. In times of uncertainty, economically and socially, it feels comforting to know we can always count on elegant whites, warm beiges and cool grays to keep us calm and collected.
But introducing pops and accents of bright and bold colors into the home décor conversation rolls out the red carpets (so to speak) for fresh perspectives, promotes positive vibes and invites new possibilities into a living space.
IN LIVING COLOR
“Over the years we have seen a progression towards warmer, more saturated color,” Hannah Yeo, Color Marketing & Development Manager at Benjamin Moore , explained to RUG INSIDER. “Fearless colors are used for self-expression, which creates one-of-akind experiences with color. However, foundational colors with longevity and versatility have been at the forefront of home design … For some, adding a saturated color into the home may be done in a small gesture of color; for others, the time has come to make a fearless color statement.”
According to paint and color forecast authority, today is the perfect time “to take a confident step forward in our color selections to truly embrace the transformative power of color and paint.”
Yeo elaborated: “For 2023, we felt the need to bring upbeat energy to the home—a quality that Raspberry Blush can surely deliver. This desire to bravely dive into color brings excitement and a new-found vitality that comes to life with Raspberry Blush and the rest of the Color Trends 2023 palette.”
Benjamin Moore’s 2023 Color Trends forecast reflects a deep dive into the impact of expressive colors.
“We looked at the ways that artists from the past and present express their feeling through color and shape and the beauty of natural changes in color,” she went on. “These influences came together with a strong need for an impactful color statement—one that pushes beyond our comfort zones and truly celebrates the dynamism of color.
Area rug companies keep neutrals steady at neutral, but rev the gas on colorRaspberry Blush paint from Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2023 palette
Each of the eight confident hues in the palette (pictured right) offers inspiration and creativity.”
As that mentality relates to area rugs, here’s a snapshot of how some key companies are translating emerging color trends onto their latest product offerings:
CAPEL RUGS
TROY, NC
Cameron Capel, President – Sales & Marketing
We’ve brought in a lot of color [this season], and I’m so excited about it. We feel people want happiness, which color brings. It makes you smile. Our new collection Verve is aptly named, as it brings enthusiasm and energy! Same with our new outdoor collection Captiva. It’s colored for easy-care performance rugs.
We introduced green a few markets ago for those customers who were looking for it, and we’re still hearing mixed reports from retailers and designers as to how important it will be. But we definitely have green in all styles.
But people definitely want to see more color. Color is cheerful, and we all want the joy and optimism color can supply. We crave happiness amid all the negativity we see today in the news with the economy and illnesses.
CREATIVE TOUCH
FAIRFIELD, NJ
Baki Ildiz, President
We are seeing a shift towards color in general. Green has been gaining popularity in many of the projects we are working on either in a more earthy tone, like a sage green, or even a more dramatic jewel tone, like an emerald green. Keeping these tones of green in mind, we are focusing on incorporating other earth tones (chestnut brown, clay, rust, lilac. etc.) and jewel tones (ruby, amethyst, amber, etc.) to create a whole palette of complimentary color options.
Seeing the shift towards accepting color in home decor has been refreshing and inspirational. Handmade rugs have historically been made using rich and lively colors, and it feels like we are seeing a resurgence in the appreciation of how beautiful color can be.
Color not only evokes emotion, but it can also be a conduit to achieve individuality. We hope that the shift towards color means consumers are looking for something unique and special as opposed to the same copycat type home decor.
(HRI) HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK, NY
Lee Harounian, President
The color trend we are seeing is definitely toward clearer, cleaner colors— fresh, coastal yellows and greens in particular, versus soft washed neutral palettes.
One of our oldest collections, Antique Heriz (a grouping of museum reproductions in classic traditional designs), is really trending right now and we believe it’s because of the deep, rich colors in every design.
Going forward, we are going to continue introducing transitional looks in these trending color palettes and in new and unique constructions while also reintroducing our existing collections of beautiful, traditional and timeless Oriental designs.
JAIPUR LIVING ACWORTH, GA
Asha Chaudhary, President
Along with the rest of the industry, we’re seeing large swings towards warmer color schemes. Our end consumer seems to be shifting away from cool grays and leaning towards creams, camels, and ochres. We’re also seeing
the advent of burgundies, rusts, and oxblood on the deeper end of the assortments as well as the ever-present love of pastels.
We try to stay ahead of these trends, so our interior design community is well-stocked to design towards these color trends and even be ahead of the curve.
For us, it’s all about enabling our interior design and retail partners to be more successful. We see that in times of economic downturn, individuals are more inclined to make their home a truer expression of themselves, rather than worrying about resale in the market. We expect to see a color-lovers market in the coming years now that housing prices are starting to plateau.
KALATY HICKSVILLE, NY
Ariel Kalaty,
Spokesperson
At Kalaty, we go to great lengths to offer a variety of colors, weaves, constructions and style genres ranging from traditional to transitional to southwester n and tribal to styles with a more moder n edge.
Trend and color forecasts are important for us to take note of as we plan our product launches. However, as we have said in the past, we continue to find that trends and color preferences tend to be regional in nature, especially here in the USA. For example, the colors and styles that sell best on the West
Coast are not necessarily what will sell on the East Coast. The same goes for what sells in the northern states versus what sells in the southern states. This being the case, we plan our lineups carefully to be sure that we have a range of products to cover regional style and color trends.
Today’s “new thinking” isn’t actually all that new, but it does emphasize the need to be aware of what is going on in the fashion and design world. No doubt that ours is a fashion industry, and fashion and home fashion businesses are cyclical and in constant states of change and evolution. Also, consumer attitudes are always changing due to socioeconomic and cultural variables.
KALEEN DALTON, GA Monty Rathy, Chief Operating Ofcer
We work ahead of the color trends to for mulate our own forecasting. Right now, the industry is seeing neutral palettes with hot accents of color for a fresh take. We aim to balance trends
with timeless designs, and our Luxe brand of carpets and custom rugs is the perfect example of this—based on neutrals but enlivened with pops of color.
LOLOI INC. DALLAS, TX
Austin Craley, Vice President of Sales
Loloi always strives to have products that work the best with other home furnishings. They have to work in the home environment. As far as specific color trends, colors such as green are trending up. Not as a fully green rug but rather in neutrals which whisper green. While we have been grayed over for the past 10 years, now the palette is warming up—a bit more taupe, brown, red, yellow, etc. are being added. As always, it is a slow transition. In addition, the lines in the interior space are softening. Rounding is becoming important versus hard edges. Cosmetic colors like dusty blue, soft blush, dusty sage green, and terracotta are all doing well— more desert tones, less industrial.
InDEPTH | IN LIVING COLOR
Collections like our new Sonnet lead the way by introducing fashionable colors such as terracotta, sand, lagoon, moss, apricot, and spice. Our licensed products from designer Justina Blakeney showcase this, too, including in many newer collections such as Good Morning, Optimism, Villagio and Yeshaia.
Freshness in color is always welcomed in home furnishings, and the success of the neutral palette with updated tones that will work in many spaces is what Loloi focuses on to bring better sell-ability to our products. Customers always want freshness, and it is what will entice them to spend even in difficult times.
MOHAWK HOME / KARASTAN
SUGAR VALLEY, GA
Tracy Pruitt, Vice President of Design While a large percentage of consumers tend to fall back on neutrals and safe décor options, there is a new audience for bold decorating choices. Fueled by powerhouse social media resources like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, consumers receive a world of inspiration and decorating confidence. At the same time, the populace has been confined and subdued by cloistering in their homes and repressed with political, economic, and social issues. Now they are looking for optimism in their homes in the form of brighter colors, bolder patter ns, expressive accents, hopeful and cheerful interiors.
With all of these factors in mind we have introduced a couple of new collections that we feel fill the bill—Pandora, our newest performance fiber rug featuring colors like robin’s egg, amethyst, coral, sapphire, emerald, olive, set against cream, gray, and black; and Tryst, one of our collections offering the most current in color pop accents.
NATCO HOME / CENTRAL ORIENTAL WEST
WARWICK, RI
Mark Ferullo, Executive Vice President
We are seeing a lot of playful color and design in our rug categories, and we are also seeing the influence of bold patterning in higher-end products.
IMAGES COURTESY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES.
Blooms & Blossoms
What is your floral style…traditional, with intricate scrolling motifs? Contemporary, packed with color, oversized petals and leaves? Or do your senses thrill to abstract botanical deconstructions (such as New Moon’s Laflor Tropicale)?
Wool & Silk Rug’s Wildflowers Spring (lede image) was inspired quite literally by a field of wildflowers. “Feminine, organic, and full of life, this design brings connection to our most creative selves,” says Georgia Pahl.
Sari silk and wool combine for S&H Rugs riotously colorful reinvented Sultanabad, while Safavieh’s Blossom collection features colorful updates of classic hooked rugs using large hand woven loops of 100-percent wool.
To dress your outdoor world, try the bold, swirling vines and flowers of Nourison’s Aloha all-weather rug for a pop of pattern. Or go cabana-chic with American Cover Design’s high-end waterproof indoor/outdoor Coastal 662 in 100-percent polypropylene.
No matter your taste, you’ll find the perfect bouquet in RUG INSIDER’s
InFOCUS | BLOOMS & BLOSSOMS
“The earth laughs in flowers.“
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
“I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.“
EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY
InFOCUS | BLOOMS & BLOSSOMS
Ned Baker of Tamarian is a beloved rug raconteur with an entertainer’s charm. What you may not know is that Ned is also a gigging musician with music in his blood.
orn into a family of musicians, Ned grew up surrounded by instruments. His parents played folk music and “There were guitars everywhere,” Ned reminisced. “I’d just pick them up and strum them. As soon as my hands were strong enough, I was fooling around. I don’t have any memory of not trying to play music.”
Folk music may have been the soundtrack to his childhood, but Ned’s musical tastes evolved beyond that singular genre. One of his early guitar influences was fellow Delaware resident George Thorogood. Ned was captivated by the aggressive, blues-based rock.
“After George,” relayed Ned, “I was into Van Halen, eighties hair metal, then Frank Zappa. I didn’t know anybody who liked Zappa and I heard something off the album “Apostrophe.” It was weird and seemed forbidden. That informs my musical taste, and is probably why I like odd people.”
Ned met his future bandmates in the fifth grade. “We literally learned our instruments together. We played in the school jazz band. We formed our first group in 8th grade and played all through high school.”
While his young musical tastes were budding, Ned simultaneously fell into his first rug gig through friends of his parents.
Ned’s parents first connected with John and Ellen Kurtz when he was around ten years old, and when Ned was in high school, John hired him to wash rugs for his rug gallery. Ned mused, “Hand washing, a hose, a bar of ivory soap, and a squeegee on a broom handle—I spent summers washing and schlepping rugs around.”
Following high school, Ned studied Jazz at Ithaca College, and earned a teaching degree.
So how did a guitar playing teacher find his way back to the rug industry?
Right around the time Ned graduated from college, John Kurtz began producing Tibetan carpets in Nepal.
“It all weaves together!” exclaims Ned. “I was getting the band back together. I quit a perfectly good teaching job and immediately went broke. John Kurtz had started New Moon and gave me a job in the warehouse. The rest is rug history.”
W ith New Moon, Ned found a kindred spirit who encouraged his creative impulses and desire to riff until something great manifested.
“I was able to really hone that skill with John unfettered. He really embraced me just diving into learning it.”
Today, Ned’s band, Dickens & Ballsworth, has a monthly gig at the Garrett Hill Ale House in Villanova PA. Ned and his musical mates have been playing there regularly for 10 years. They have an impressive catalog, and they tailor each set to the crowd.
The following are a few of Ned’s favorite covers.
TIME
HELPLESSLY HOPING DIRTY LOVE
“I love playing “Time” by Pink Floyd. I feel really good about playing that lead. I get to play delay and there’s something really satisfying about that song.”
“I never embraced myself as a singer, but I love singing with the band. We do, “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby Stills and Nash with one guitar and sing it in harmony.”
“Zappa’s “Dirty Love.” There’s improvisational moments. I’ll emote. Turn on the distortion and let it rip!”
Let it rip may be Ned’s life motto. One of his favorite aspects of music and the rug world is the opportunity for improvising.
“Improvisation has always been a speciality, or just something I was able to do sort of more naturally,” Ned explains. “Similarly professionally, instead of being afraid of those instincts, I’m starting to really trust them more, and actually that’s what I’m bringing to the table. And there’s real value in that.”
Ned approaches the rug business like learning a song.
“I use the music analogy all the time. How to do a client visit. It’s like a chart, the chords, the notes. You gotta know the song structure, but really you’ve got to listen. If you have an ear and you can get into that groove where you're really listening. Really aware, not trying to predeter mine listen, but really listen and react. Musically and professionally that’s where I find my place.”
Listening and reacting is a valuable and transferable skill between the business and music worlds.
“As the lead guitar player,” Ned says, “you’re out in front of the sound and the mix. So I have nowhere to hide. People are listening to you. You better do something good!”
Ned is now doing something good as a key account manager and marketing guru for Tamarian.
“When I met Ryan with Tamarian, music was a thing we had in common,” Ned said. “Music had a way of connecting people in the rug industry.”
Tamarian joined forces with Dickens & Ballsworth at a legendary after hours industry party in 2019, and Ned’s rug and musical lives collided in glorious fashion. The space was an ultra hip NY loft and the music rang out into the wee hours.
Asked about his role with Tamarian, Ned replies simply, “I’m a Swiss Army knife.”
A swiss army knife that plays one mean guitar.
“Listening and reacting is a valuable and transferable skill between the business and music worlds.“
FIRST LOOK: LAS VEGAS MARKET
RUG INSIDER checks in with Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses
Media, who curates trends and educational programs—FIRST
LOOK: West at Las Vegas Market and TrendWatch at High Point Market—for International Markets Centers.
Blues are poised to dominate in the seasons ahead, as waterinspired varieties feature prominently in PANTONE®’s home forecast for 2024. The current ’90s-era denim throwbacks are worth noting as an inspiration source, too. Area rugs done up in hues that evoke favorite denim washes, rinses and finishes send immediate cues to the homeowner: comfortable, relaxed, and livable, especially in high-traffic areas.
Couristan | Siena Ombré
Siena from Couristan features two million points of yarn per square meter. Handwashed for a soft and luxurious finish, each eclectic design is machine made using a unique blend of 85% viscose and 15% shrink acrylic.
Inside MARKETS | FIRST LOOK LAS VEGAS MARKET
Abstract patterns remain so popular and useful in residential interiors. Swaths of painterly brushstrokes, landscape impressions, and designs that evoke atmospheric phenomenon or processes that occur in nature are especially timely. Here, magnification is key—these artful patterns appear to be culled from microscopic examination. Interesting material mixes catch my attention, especially varieties that elevate one or both materials. Weaves that incorporate jute and chenille, for instance, boost up jute and give it new tactility and allow for more pattern expression.
Unique Loom | Chenille Jute
Unique Loom’s medium pile polyester Chenille & Jute rug is hand braided in India. SKU #3192134 incorporates an expressive palettte of ivory, pink, navy blue, yellow and green.
Kaleen | Jara Collection
Named for the Hindu goddess of household happiness and prosperity, the Jara Collection depicts a variety of all-over linear and diamond patterns that inspire joy. These shag, all-wool floor coverings are expertly handwoven by artisan weavers. Options include area rugs in standard size and custom sizes within the parameters of 15 feet wide and 50 feet long; and Broadloom applications.
............................................................
Jean Stoffer × Loloi
The Bradbury Collection by Jean Stoffer in collaboration with Loloi has small-scale motifs that create eye-catching dimension. Power-loomed of polypropylene and polyester in Egypt and Oeko-Tex® certified.
Neutrals never fall out of favor, and what I’m drawn to minimal designs done in warm hues. Best varieties have broad applications—they suit Coastal, Lodge, Southwest, or Modern interiors, for instance, with equal ease.
Lastly, favor for traditional patterns and design elements is growing. Older Millennials have likely purchased the home they plan to own for the foreseeable future, and this commitment to home stirs up emotion and desire for stability. Incorporating traditional patterns and motifs—with a light hand—is one way to create certainty and convey commitment. The Summer 2023 edition of Las Vegas Market runs July 30 – August 2, at World Market Center Las Vegas.
lasvegasmarket.com
Facebook.com/lvmarket | #LVMKT
@lasvegasmarket | #LVMKT
ninemusesmedia.com
ODR | orientaldesignerrugs.net
ZOLLANVARI | zollanvari.com
STARK STUDIO RUGS | starkstudiorugs.com
Las Vegas Market
July 30-August 3
lasvegasmarket.com
SAFAVIEH | safavieh.com
This issue of RUG INSIDER explores Blooms and Blossoms in moder n and contemporary rug styles. To better understand how these motifs are articulated in today’s area rugs, let us look back at their origins in antique Persian carpets, and examine some of the most prominent forms of those blossoms, including Paisley, Boteh, and Saraband designs.
FLORAL AND GEOMETRIC CATEGORIES IN ANTIQUE RUGS
Before we delve into the specific types of blooms and blossoms seen in antique rugs, let us pull our focus back and establish a broader understanding of major style categories. Most area rugs fall into one of two broad categories, either floral or geometric in design.
At one end of the spectrum are floral rugs, which typically have design elements that are more directly visually representative of flowers, and that are curvilinear in their execution.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are geometric rugs, which often have more rudimentary shapes and designs, and if having floral motifs, the flowers are executed in a more abstract or stylized way.
Generally speaking, floral rugs were woven in cities, in which the weavers were working in larger and more organized workshops, had better looms to work with, and were making more complex and sophisticated weavings.
In contrast, geometric rugs were mostly woven in villages and tribes, with smaller family units or nomadic tribal collectives producing simpler rugs with less intricate designs, often on basic or portable looms.
InANTIQUES | BLOSSOM DESIGNS
Blossom Designs in Vintage & Antique Carpets
The Beauty of Traditional Paisley, Boteh, and Saraband Rugs
BY RODNEY HAKIM CONTRIBUTING EDITORSUB-CATEGORIES OF ANTIQUE FLORAL RUGS
Within the larger category of floral rugs, which were woven in various city centers, there are numerous sub-categories and classifications of rugs, depending on their design aesthetic, weave, and the city or geographic region in which they were woven.
In previous InAntiques articles, we have discussed some of those specific sub-categories, with investigations into Kerman and Lavar carpets, Tabriz carpets, and Sarouk carpets, among others, and delved into the weavings of those specific city centers.
While there are definite aesthetic differences from one region’s weaving style to that of another region, there are also certain floral motifs that recur from place to place, and appear in slightly different forms in the antique rugs from various locations.
Some of the most popular of these recurring floral motifs are the aforementioned blossom designs, as the rug weavings depicting flowers would frequently want to exhibit those floral elements in the more exciting blossom phase, and would often do so in the forms of Paisley, Boteh, or Saraband motifs.
PAISLEY DESIGNS IN ANTIQUE RUGS
Paisley designs have been around for centuries, having their origins in the ancient textiles and other artistic expressions of the Mughal and Indian cultures. It can be argued that the paisley motif rose to its greatest prominence, however, via its depiction in antique Persian carpets, and particularly those woven in the mid to late 1800s.
InANTIQUES | BLOSSOM DESIGNS
In that period, Persian rug weaving started to become more oriented to Western tastes and sensibilities, while retaining cultural cues and connections to the Persian weavers who were creating them, and became increasingly integral to the Persian social expression in many ways.
The paisley motif has visual connections to floral blossoms, pine cones, and cypress trees, all popular floral elements in their own rights, but in addition to that, also has additional connections to almonds, beauty, eyes, tears, fertility, and parenthood. All of this rich symbolism gave the simple paisley design many layers of meaning in the Persian culture from which they regularly were being woven.
A variant of the paisley design that exhibits the latter references to parenthood and fertility are the “mother and child” designs, in which a smaller paisley element is embedded within a larger paisley element. These “mother and child” rugs are particularly prized by rug collectors, both for their rich cultural significance, and for the manual dexterity required by the weavers to articulate these motifs in their masterful hand woven creations.
BOTEH DESIGNS IN ANTIQUE RUGS
Earlier, we discussed the difference between floral and geometric rugs, with floral rugs being more sophisticated and curvilinear, and being woven in cities, and geometric rugs being more simple and rudimentary, and being woven in villages and tribes.
The Paisley designs we reviewed above have different variations in the way they were rendered, depending on which part of Persia they were being woven in.
InANTIQUES | BLOSSOM DESIGNS
In the city centers that were famous for rug weaving, the paisley motifs were executed in a more formal and curvilinear way, such as in the Tabriz Hadji Jalili rug shown above, whereas in the villages and tribes, the paisley motif would be rendered in a simpler and cruder way, such as in the Malayer rug seen left.
The Farsi (Persian) word for paisley is boteh or butah, and as a general rule of thumb within the rug trade, the city versions of Paisley rugs are referred to as such, while the rugs with paisley designs woven in a more geometric format are referred to as “Boteh” designs. It is the same design as the paisley, but just executed in a more stylized or rudimentary way.
Like their paisley design counterparts from the more organized rug weaving workshops in the larger cities, these simpler boteh design rugs also reflect the rich cultural meaning of this particular blossom motif, but tend to do so with a smaller design scale and with more repetition of pattern from one end of the rug to the other, as opposed to the larger scale and more finely articulated renderings of the similar rugs from the more sophisticated Persian cities.
InANTIQUES | BLOSSOM DESIGNS
SARABAND RUGS
One Persian weaving region that is well known for its unique version of the Boteh design is the Wester n Persian village of Saraband, which is famous for its eponymous Saraband carpets.
These Saraband rugs take the Boteh design, which are already smaller and more stylized versions of the Paisley motif, and shrinks them down to an even smaller scale and into a greater repetition of pattern from one end of the rug to the other.
The Saraband rugs are distinguished not only by their visual style, but also by the sizes in which they were woven. More often that not, Saraband rugs were woven in “kaleghi” (gallery) sizes, with long and narrow rugs that would be oriented toward use in a long corridor or in a space between other rooms.
While the Saraband rugs carry over the cultural meaning behind the Paisley and Boteh rugs, they also bring with them some additional meaning. The name “Saraband”, while coming from the town of the same name in which the rugs
were woven, is also a homonym for the words “sarreh band”, which loosely translated from Farsi, mean “busy head”, or could also mean being kept occupied or being entertained. As such, it can be said that the dizzyingly small scale and fine execution of the miniature Boteh designs within these Saraband rugs not only carries the cultural connotation of blooming and blossoming flowers, as well as of beauty and fertility, but also keeps you so dazzled and entertained when looking at them, that you want to keep looking at them indefinitely, and to the point where the rug style and the weavers who make them will carry on from generation to generation.
Ultimately, that is the goal of any good rug, to keep the people who have them (and who make them!) dazzled, entertained, and admiring of the rugs’ beauty for as long as possibly, and hopefully, for many generations into the future.
All of the rug styles discussed in this article remain popular in the United States and around the world, and many wonderful examples of each style can be found in a variety of sizes and designs at www.pgny.com.
THE COUNTDOWN TO FALL MARKETS BEGINS
BY JENNIFER SAMAD CONTRIBUTING EDITORWith fall just around the corner, buzz surrounding the year’s two biggest industry events is starting to spread among rug insiders. Attracting the top high-end rug brands, both The Rug Show and COVER Connect New York (CCNY) draw crowds of discerning buyers seeking out innovation in the rug industry. Both shows will be held September 9 – 11, with The Rug Show at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey and CCNY returning to both NYC’s Metropolitan Pavilion and The Altman Building. With attendees flocking from around the country and globe, both shows are expected to have strong turn out this year—and for good reason. With CCNY’s vendor expansion and the addition of the exclusive Antique Pavilion at The Rug Show, these growing fall markets are not to be missed.
CCNY: What to Expect?
With its third edition on the horizon, the annual COVER Connect New York show is scaling up this fall. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this year's show is the expansion to the Metropolitan Pavilion and the Altman Building. These two neighboring and connected venues have enabled the number of curated exhibitors to grow within one easily accessible location.
“This will allow us to add over 10 great brands who offer something new and exciting to our existing list of stellar exhibitors,” states CCNY organizer, David Young.
Returning CCNY exhibitor Ramin Zollanvari predicts that the show’s expansion will likely result in a greater turn out with a strong buyer presence.
“COVER Connect has managed to really build the show in a positive, controlled way. For those serious about rug retailing, you won’t find such an excellent variety at any other US tradeshows … and truthfully, it would be tough to find this level anywhere in Europe either!”
Embracing both positive and constructive feedback from past shows, Zollanvari has developed over 30 new exceptional rug designs that he is excited to be showcasing at this year’s market.
“We took a huge leap of faith moving ahead with the show two years ago during the latter part of the pandemic,” reflects CCNY veteran David Samad. Since then, he has watched the CCNY double in size to become one of the leading destinations for sourcing high-end rugs. “We place the September COVER Connect show as the highlight of our calendar year. We are delighted and proud to be surrounded by some of the most talented importers exhibiting the best of their imagination and vision.”
This year, Samad has increased their offerings of highly textural, mid-priced rugs that can be easily customized with shorter lead times, including the Nordic and BoHo Plus Collections.
CCNY is the spot to really feel the pulse of the rug industry. Exhibitor Ned Baker of Tamarian calls COVER Connect the quintessential trade show for hand-knotted rugs.
“I expect everyone who considers themselves relevant in the market will be there. In addition to selecting new products for their showrooms, you get a snapshot of the product in the market as a whole; what your competitors are buying, what importers are focused on, etc.”
Other show highlights include a prize draw for all registrants and, of course, the highly anticipated show afterparty sponsored by Label STEP, which will commence on the evening of September 10 with drinks and canapes. Details of the venue will be shared with visitors to the show, so stay tuned.
The Rug Show: What to Expect?
As a meeting ground for the world’s premier buyers and the most sought-after rug producers for over a decade, The Rug Show needs no introduction. Featuring over two dozen high-end brands from around the globe, this fall market consistently delivers an exquisite rug selection. This year’s show will be held at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
“It's an amazing venue that I never knew existed,” states The Rug Show organizer Peter Woodaman. With Manhattan just minutes away, buyers will find a diverse variety of products which The Rug Show is known for, along with great deals on hotels within a short walk from the venue. “We encourage all area rug retailers and buyers who have not yet experienced The Rug Show to come and see for yourself.”
Rug Show exhibitor Ori Wilbush from S&H Rugs is most looking forward to connecting with old friends and making new ones in the process.
“The product in our industry is constantly changing and evolving. As far as color, design and texture, it’s important for anyone in the field to keep updating and discovering new trends.”
What better place to experience the pulse of the industry
“CCNY is the spot to really feel the pulse of the rug industry. COVER Connect is the quintessential trade show for hand-knotted rugs.“
NED BAKER, TAMARIANOri Wilbush of S&H Rugs returns to exhibit at The Rug Show 2023
then at one of the oldest and most recognized industry events—The Rug Show.
Rafi Amirian regards The Rug Show as an integral part of his business, Shalom Brothers.
“In our industry, multisensory experiences such as touch, feel and the likes are essential.” The Rug Show is a space that facilitates meaningful and interactive encounters with the product. “As new designs, colors and trends can change quickly, it's important for buyers to stay up to date in order to remain competitive in their market,” says Rafi. “Missing out on The Rug Show can potentially result in lost
sales to competitors who do attend.”
The non-profit organization’s main incentive has always been to strengthen the rug industry for the benefit of all involved. Exhibitor Jack Simantob of Art Resources is most looking forward to witnessing new talent and innovation from young and new rug producers, in addition to connecting with old friends.
“Since the role of retailers has shifted from a stockist to that of a service provider, knowledge of where to source the ever-varied styles, sizes and prices can only be had at trade shows and where better than The Rug Show.” With a curated selection of new and seasoned vendors all under one roof, this creates an undeniable feeling of community. “And of course, we can’t forget our party night with entertainment,” Jack shares, about arguably everyone’s favorite Rug Show moment. More details regarding this year's party will be announced nearer the show.
Registration is now open for both fall markets and can be submitted through their respective websites.
coverconnectny.com therugshow.com
“The Rug Show is an integral part of our business. In our industry, multisensory experiences such as touch and feel are essential.”“
RAFI AMIRIAN, SHALOM BROTHERSArt Resources’ Jack Simantob (right) shares a moment with Thilo Horstmann, Senior Project Director Deutsche Messe at The Rug Show 2022.
Nourison, a leading manufacturer of floor coverings and home accents, has rebranded to Nourison Home As the new parent for Nourison’s portfolio of products, this change aims to better align the company's strengths with evolving consumer needs and preferences. Over the past 40+ years, Nourison’s passion for innovation allowed it to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. Today, the company has one of the largest product catalogs and in-house inventories in the industry, offering a wide range of products including rugs, carpets, home accessories, bedding, lighting, and custom items.
To prepare for the next 40 years, Nourison conducted extensive consumer and product research while evaluating their strengths as a company. The result is a new brand that encapsulates Nourison's strengths while appealing to modern consumers.
“It’s not enough for us to just offer well-made products” said Andrew Peykar, president of Nourison. “It’s about that something extra, whether its richer texture, better materials, or design that offers more value to our customers. We are also focusing more on decreasing environmental impact and producing more sustainable products. Our products need to inspire joy and both look and feel good. That’s what Nourison Home is all about.”
To capture the essence of the company and its various product lines, the new brand adds “home” to the Nourison name. This addition adds depth and meaning. Home can mean many different things to people, such as comfort, self-expression, and security. Ultimately, home is a space that connects people with what they love.
Nourison Home will have updated visuals and messaging to help introduce the brand to new and existing customers. New digital tools will also be launched throughout the year to help make shopping for Nourison Home products easier and reduce friction across all channels. The company wants to create more connections with today’s consumer to help drive more pull-through with their retail partners.
Overall, the rebranding of Nourison to Nourison Home reflects the company’s commitment to meeting the needs of modern businesses and consumers, while also preserving the company’s passion for the history and traditions. nourison.com
Summer 2023 Atlanta Market Features Education & Events
ON-TREND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Educational seminars and workshops allow Atlanta Market buyers to hear from trendsetters and experts as they prepare for the busy fourth-quarter season.
Building 3 » Floor 2, Atrium
• Trend Pendulum: Staying Ahead of the Curve—Timothy Corrigan; Wednesday, July 12, 1 p.m.
• Real Talk: Mark-Ups—discussion moderated by Dennis Scully with designers Wesley Moon, Max Humphrey, Leah Alexander, and Ashley Malone, Thursday, July 13, 1 p.m.
• Engage and Inspire: Crafting A Visual Story with Artful Displays & Visual Merchandising—Becky Hillis and Toni Dammicci, Friday, July 14, 1 p.m.
Seminar Space – Building 1 » Floor 14
Atlanta Market combines education and celebration with daily programming to offer market exploration, industry insights and networking opportunities during the Summer 2023 edition, July 11 – 17, 2023, at AmericasMart Atlanta.
“A full slate of Atlanta Market events will inspire, educate and entertain buyers this summer,” said Karen Olson, IMC executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
• Outdoor Living with Vern Yip—what’s trending in casual fur nishings and outdoor living spaces trends, Tuesday, July 11, 2:30 p.m.
• Atlanta Market buyers also have the opportunity to shop the new Casual Furnishings collection in Building 1, Floors 2-7, on both the day before & opening day of the Market.
• Buyer Tour: Casual/Outdoor Furnishings—Paula Eller-Cox, IMC marketing manager, Monday, July 10 and Tuesday, July 11, 10 a.m.
• Prioritizing Project Profitability and Publicity—Traci Connell, Wednesday, July 12,2:30 p.m.
• It’s Your Time to Shine Online!—Crystal Vilkaitis, Thursday, July 13, 2:30 p.m.
• HAT Retail Stars Panel—Home Accents Today Editor in Chief Allison Zisko with a panel of independent brick-andmortar retailers, Friday, July 14, 2:30 p.m.
Designer Workspace – Building 1 » Floor 15
• Buyer Q&A: All Things Home—Caroline Russell, IMC design services manager, Wednesday, July 12, 10 a.m.
• Social Media Audit with Crystal Media Co., series of free 20-minute personalized coaching sessions, Friday, July 14, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
GOURMET DEMONSTRATIONS
The JURA Demonstration Kitchen in Building 2, Floor 8 Three days of interactive cooking demonstrations that celebrate the summer season. All sessions kick-off at 2:30 p.m.
• Fresh Sunday Supper—Chef and author Elizabeth Heiskell, Wednesday, July 12.
• Signature Lump Crab Salad—Chef Mark Alba of Kimpton Shane Hotel in Atlanta, Thursday, July 13.
• Sugar Shane’s Cookie Secrets—Shane Quillin, Friday, July 14.
SUMMER MARKET FUN
Atlanta Market also offers multiple opportunities for buyers and brands to connect, share ideas and enjoy the Atlanta Market experience.
• Market Kickoff Party—featuring complimentary drinks and live entertainment by the band The Big Beyond, July 12, 6 p.m., Atrium of Building 3.
• A Designer Workspace Soiree—complimentary cocktails and light bites, Thursday, July 13, 4 p.m., Building 1, Floor 15
• Afternoon Beats—gives attendees a chance to mix and mingle with music provided by DJ Ree De La Vega and complimentary beverages, Building 3 Atrium, Thursday, July 13 - Saturday, July 17, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Events are open to all Atlanta Market attendees, with additional pop-up bars and buffets, photo-ops and more taking place throughout Atlanta Market. View the full Summer 2023 Atlanta Market events calendar at: AtlantaMarket.com/Attend/Events.
PROFESSIONAL SALES CONSULTANT FOR HIGH-END RUG GALLERY
Azadi Fine Rugs of Scottsdale, AZ, a very high-end rug gallery, is looking for an experienced top professional, positive, sales consultant to join our family.
Passionate about dealing with high-net-worth clients and designers in a luxury rug gallery, with superior social networking skills, computer savvy, charming, an eye for color, home interior design experience, and fashion a plus.
Qualied applicants, please send resume to kate@azadinerugs.com.
FIBER-SHIELD RELEASES PROFESSIONAL-GRADE FAST-KLEEN FOAM FOR FABRICS
Fiber-Shield Industries Inc., a leading business-to-business supplier of specialty water, soil, stain repellency and cleaning products, has officially released its brand new professional grade Fast-Kleen Foam Cleaner for fabrics. Created for interior design and furniture professionals, this proven, made-in-the-U.S.A. waterbased spot cleaner is ideal for water-safe fabrics (W, WS codes).
Riding on the heels of the company’s popular Fast-Kleen Spot Remover for rugs and carpets released four years ago, longtime customers of Fiber-Shield have been eagerly awaiting the release of a version capable of the same cleaning power for furniture. Those who tested Fast-Kleen Foam Cleaner for fabrics were very pleased at the performance of this product which removes difficult stains such as pet stains, red wine, motor oil, coffee, and mustard among many others. Professionals were extremely satisfied that using Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc.’s products assured them that it is an environmentally safe option that contains no PFAAS, PFOS, PFOA, no solvents, no VOCs, and no 1,4 Dioxane. This puts Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc. many steps ahead of the competition.
According to Manny Vickers, president of Fiber-Shield Industries Inc., “This is a real deal product! It is easy to use, extremely effective and cost efficient!”
The Fast-Kleen line, and the company's full-range of water, soil, and stain repellency and cleaning products, including KARPET
CRYL® soil and stain repellent (available for both the increasingly popular viscose, sisal, and other hard to seal carpets) represents a new opportunity for distributors here and abroad. Our California compliant products are also registered with the California DTSC.
Fast-Kleen is sold on a “satisfaction guaranteed-money-back” basis by Fiber-Shield Industries Inc. to the professional community. For information visit fiber-shield.com or call 631-345-0240.
Fiber-Shield®
fast penetrating formula effectively and easily removes tough stains that include (but not limited to) fresh pet stains, red wine, blood, lipstick, motor oil, coffee, and even mustard from furniture fabrics.
PERSIAN GALLERY NEW YORK (PGNY) NEW SUMMER ARRIVALS
Persian Gallery New York is sizzling this Summer season with a variety of red hot product acquisitions including numerous rugs, tapestries and pillows newly posted at PGNY.com. The New Arrivals section features hundreds of recently added vintage and antique items, including antique decorative rugs and carpets, vintage pillows, and fine European tapestries. Browse the recently introduced assortment of modern and contemporary rugs in different sizes and styles plus an expanded Buy-It-Now section—all with enhanced advanced search function. For special requests contact info@pgny.com or call 212-683-2699.
TELL THEM I MADE IT
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 factor y 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.
goodweave.org
Design: tabakdesign.com Photo: The Studio_M – thestudiom.comA New Leaf
Espressionismo Floreale by designer Laura Niubó is about the rebirth of life through flowers. Using colors and geometric shapes, each artwork captures one natural reproductive part of a flower in its most abstract form. The result is a series of fine art prints, a collection of rugs and a selection of flora inspired lamps, yet to be produced.
Niubó presented the rug collection for the first time at Milan Design Week with her design Leaf The installation shown at Alcova 2023 was a collaboration with Studio Nueve in Barcelona (@nuevestudio_/).
The design of each textile artwork is a study of color and for m that generates a sensation of a sinuous, elegant and forceful movement as these flowers own by nature. A powerful color expression follows and elevates the viewer’s imagination to a world in which color floods everything bringing an uplifting energy and perception to its audience.
Niubó dedicates her work to future generations as a reminder that nature continues offering its beauty and support and a chance to feel joy.
“It is the emotional superpower of color that unlocks vibrant living,” she says.
Enjoy our spotlight on Niubó’s Leaf rug—for more flower power including Petal, Stamen, Anther and Carpel, visit: LAURANIUBO.COM
Los Angeles based Spanish creative director and artist-designer Laura Niubó launches her first rug collection: ESPRESSIONISMO FLOREALE.PHOTO CREDIT: DANNY DURAN / @_DANNY.DURAN
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.