Rug Insider Magazine, Winter 2024

RUGS AND CARPETS FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSIONAL

WINTER 2024 - VOLUME XXVIII - ISSUE 3

RING IN THE NEW + Dealer to Dealer

InFOCUS | GoGEO

Winter Markets Roundup Creative Matters New Leadership

The Knotty Issue of Rug Appraisals DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR KALATY Turns 45

On The Cover | FEIZY

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InBusiness

29 DEALER TO DEALER Contributing editor, Brian Robins launches a series of dealer interviews to spark the mind.

First up: Augusto Fine Rugs and Black Sheep Unique.

WINTER 2024 – VOLUME XXVIII – ISSUE 3 RING IN THE NEW 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.

CONTACT 4 Fortsalong Road Meredith, NH 03253 USA 603 279 4938 | ruginsider.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-Year $44 | 2-Year $80 (USD) subscriptions@ruginsider.com ruginsider.com/subscribe

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 Leslie Atiyeh Brian K .Robins Jennifer Samad

ON THE COVER FEIZY Experience the fashion-forward elegance of Revolution by Feizy, an avant-garde designer-driven program. Our winter cover spotlights the Killian Collection—design 6970 in black/green—which offers bold, traditional designs with a distinctive sense of character. Each piece is handmade with natural, vegetable dyes, creating unique color variations that speak to the collection´s artisanal quality. feizy.com

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Featured collection: Silk Shadows. See more styles at nourison.com.

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InFOCUS

39 GO GEO Solid blocks of color in seemingly random placement create this stunning abstract ‘city’ in by Zollanvari. The glitch effect creates a sense of three-dimensionality, while extensive use of abrash generates palpable textures.

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Brooklyn Heights, NYC residence featuring a custom hand-tufted matka silk and wool rug; interior designer Emma Montgomery/CMI Designer Mengting Shen.

InDEPTH

34 CREATIVE MATTERS TAKES IT 2.0 Contributing Editor Cecile Corral talks with Canadian custom carpet house Creative Matters’ Managing Partners Ana Cunningham and Ali McMurter. The company celebrates its 35th anniversary by going nextlevel in many ways.

Insider’s View

25 PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT Join Peter Woodaman as he rings in 2024—grateful and optimistic for continued industry growth.

InHONOR

27 FEIZY: FIFTY & FABULOUS RUG INSIDER is pleased to celebrate Feizy’s golden milestone in this tribute to 50 years of service.

Congratulations!

InPERSPECTIVE

45 A CHANGING WORLD Industry veteran Leslie Atiyeh shares her observations from her recent experience attending DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR.

INSIDE MARKETS

49 ANDMORE MARKET ROUNDUP A curated selection of what’s on tap for winter’s Vegas and Atlanta Markets.

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InSTYLE

56 Don’t miss our knock-out gallery of the coolest products just launched!

InANTIQUES

65 THE KNOTTY ISSUE OF RUG APPRAISALS PGNY’s antique rug expert Rodney Hakim let’s us in on the what, how, and where of rug appraisals.

What’s Looming

70 In Memorium: Jesse Smith Capel, Kalaty Turns 45; COVER Connect returns to Las Vegas.

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 winter issue.

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INSIDER’S VIEW | FROM THE PUBLISHER

Happy New Year Everyone!

Our winter issue is jam-packed with informative articles, market previews, trends and new products. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did creating it.

I speak a lot about business relationships. In business, new relationships are extremely critical but I cherish my long-time relationships with our advertisers, media partners, trade shows, and rug retailers across the globe. It’s much more than business as we have all grown together in this special industry. Honestly, I even enjoy the business relationships with our competing trade publications!

With this issue, I’ve been reflecting on the legacy and longevity of some companies we featured inside this issue.

For the first time in our history, we have a person on the front cover of RUG INSIDER Magazine! John Feizy is celebrating his 50 years in the rug industry and we are delighted to honor him on our front cover. See more on page 27.

Alex Peykar of Nourison was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, during the past fall High Point Market. On behalf of RUG INSIDER magazine, Congratulations on this fitting award. See the story on page 74.

Kalaty Rug Corp. is celebrating its 45th anniversary and is launching a new anniversary-edition catalog. Kudos to Kalaty and I can’t wait to see the catalog in Las Vegas at winter market. Get the details on page 71.

We catch up with Toronto based Creative Matters’ new owners Ali McMurter and Ana Cunningham on their plans for the future. By the way, Creative Matters is celebrating 35 years in business. Read more on page 34.

I sincerely thank ALL of our RUG INSIDER advertisers. You see the importance of a trade magazine representing the very best that the industry has to offer. You support a small business that has longevity—and without you we can’t do what we love to do. I encourage any and all wholesale companies to consider advertising in RUG INSIDER magazine. The benefits will be amazing.

Cheers!

LIVE LONG & PROSPER

Kalaty Rug Corp. is in good company in our winter isssue as an area rug industry stalwart— celebrating 45 years in business.

Shown here at the 2023 edition of The Rug Show, you’ll find Kalaty in Las Vegas Jan. 28 – Feb.1 at World Market Center, B455. See more, page 71. kalaty.com

Peter Woodaman Publisher peter@ruginsider.com www.ruginsider.com

Follow us on social media @ruginsider

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InHONOR | FEIZY’S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

Feizy: Fifty & Fabulous!

John Feizy, founder of Feizy Rugs and our cover star in this issue, has been in the business since 1973. He’s supported RUG INSIDER from our start, and we thank him for everything he’s done for the rug industry by sharing the story behind his booming business.

Founded in Dallas, Texas, Feizy began as a small retail store, and John’s loyal clients prompted him to open an 800 square-foot space in the Dallas Market Center, focusing on selling exclusively to the trade. The business originated from John’s aspiration to make handmade and hand-knotted rugs more accessible.

What began as a small operation has expanded to become one of the top three suppliers for most major furniture chains across the country, consistently gaining market share and striving to secure the number one position in every region.

One remarkable capability of Feizy is its ability to serve high-fashion customers and designers with hand-knotted goods while also offering affordable fashion from its factory in Turkey. Today, Feizy is still the only American rug company with a whollyowned factory in Turkey.

The company manages three permanent showrooms in High Point, Dallas, and Las Vegas. On top of that, the family behind the brand maintains a deep commitment— ingrained in the Feizy DNA—to its local and global communities.

The rug industry has undergone significant changes over the years, with the most notable being the shift toward e-commerce during the pandemic. Through it all, Feizy has remained dedicated to evolving alongside the industry and has made substantial investments in cutting-edge technology to stay competitive.

And Feizy isn’t all business all the time. In collaboration with the Child Care Foundation (CCF), the company is celebrating 21 years of sponsoring a school in Attock, Pakistan with the aim to combat child labor and provide education to underserved communities. The school, funded by Feizy, addresses the needs of refugees from Afghanistan in the weaving town. Feizy emphasizes preventing child labor by offering educational opportunities.

Over two decades, the school has evolved from a boys-only program to a co-ed institution and community center, now catering to nearly 200 students. The nonformal curriculum includes basic subjects, preparing students for formal studies.

Despite regional challenges, the school remains successful, with Feizy hailed by CCF. From investments in virtual showrooms to supporting weavers around the world and gaining celebrity partners like Thom Filicia, Feizy has come a long way in a short time thanks to the hard work of John and his team.

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InBUSINESS | DEALER TO DEALER

DEALER TO DEALER

BY BRIAN ROBINS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

M

acro world events such as COVID cut across all industries, however the rug profession also presents unique challenges that a trusted colleague may help unravel. Candid conversations spark the mind, and sharing the journey with colleagues strengthens our profession. In the best of circumstances, positive industry relationships enrich our personal lives as well.

It’s in this spirit of sharing that RUG INSIDER launches a series of dealer interviews between Brian Robins, co-owner with Rebecca Lurie of Kush Rugs, Portland, Oregon and premier showrooms across the country.

We begin with Anna Grace Augusto, the owner of Augusto Fine Rugs in Boise Idaho.

You’re a rst generation dealer and chose to be in this business. How did you get your start?

I grew up in a really small town in Idaho and always wanted to be an interior designer. Right after high school I moved to San Francisco and went to the Academy of Art. I studied interior architecture and then worked for architectural firms, but I’m a social creature and there was something about it I wasn’t connecting to. In my late twenties, I moved back to Boise thinking I would re-evaluate. I needed a job and Macy’s was hiring.

They put me in the basement selling rugs and mattresses.

Anna Augusto

So, it was kismet?

It was, but initially it felt like a huge demotion because I was in the basement in this old department store. I am glad I was able to look past that, because it led to an awesome career.

How did you make the jump in your mind from the basement at Macy’s to, “I want to be an entrepreneur, I want to control my own destiny and be in the rug business.”

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InBUSINESS | DEALER TO DEALER I enjoyed working for Macy’s. It gave me a good corporate background. I worked for them for two years and then I managed another rug showroom in Boise for about eight years. I had a lot of autonomy running that business. I did everything but sign the checks.

I grew up in an entrepreneurial family.

My dad was a mortician and we always owned our own businesses. I had business ingrained in my spirit.

Over the years, what’s a significant change you’ve experienced?

When I started in the industry, people in general made their buying decisions inside the showroom. It’s inverted now. Before people come into our showroom they already have an idea of what they want. Trying to make your inventory fit what people want isn’t always ideal. I consider myself almost like a rug broker. A client comes in with their wants and needs for a project, and I’m editing through all the available vendors, lead times, and of the factors that will make their project successful and presenting the best fit.

I love your Instagram posts featuring shoes paired with rugs. Your personality really comes through.

It looks like you’re having fun!

Thank you. I got the idea from Kathleen Mayers of KPM Flooring. We’re in the fashion business and it’s a great way to integrate fashion with rugs.

I’ve always loved clothes and shoes.

Last May we did an event with designers and had them bring all of their shoes. We hired a professional photographer and did three hours of shooting “Tuesday Shoesday,” and I let them pick out their favorite rugs.

So now I have a whole bank of professional photo content.

I like how you involved your clients and made the shoot experiential marketing. I assume that when you post “Tuesday Shoesday” and tag clients, they tag you back and it gives you a boost on Instagram.

Yes. Additionally, we’ll tag the shoe brand. We have designers that have some pretty fancy shoes. We’ll usually batch our photography and do a bunch of content. I’ve found with posting that it’s better to sprinkle in

professional photography instead of using them all of the time. People enjoy beautiful, well thought out photos, but they also enjoy ones that are a bit more scrappy.

Fashion and trends are always changing. What do you do with old samples?

At the end of every year we gather up old samples and even larger rugs that aren’t selling and I donate them to the Agency for New Americans. It’s a non profit in Boise that finds housing and resources for refugees. These families are coming over with truly nothing and we like to make them feel like they have just a little bit of home. I’ll donate rugs and samples so that their new environment feels softer and more cozy.

Closing thoughts?

The rug business is a world of great paradoxes. Nothing is cut and dry and I’ve found that it isn’t linear. It’s navigating a day at a time through what this business is and what you want it to look like. My strength over the last year is that I’ve done business my way.

Augusto’s “Tuesday Shoesday” photo event integrated fashion with rugs. Images posted to Instagram tagged the clients who shared their fancy footwear and favorite rug combos.

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Erica and Damien Clark (third and fourth from left) pose with family in front of “The Dude” outside of their showroom.

Our dealer discussion continues with Damien Clark, a co-owner of Black Sheep Unique in Austin, Texas.

What attracted you to the rug business?

Is your current model to the design trade?

It was a strange route. I was a designer for a furniture company, helping them open stores, and I wanted to find something different.

An acquaintance whose wife was the bookkeeper at a high-end rug showroom in downtown Austin said, “You should go down there. They need a new salesperson.”

Yes, we only sell to the trade.

I went down there and he interviewed and hired me on the spot.

We explain that we work with designers that would be happy to help them facilitate or make a purchase, and that purchases would have to be done through the design community.

How long did you work for someone else before going out on your own?

It was a little over two years.

How do you communicate your showroom policy to the public?

Our approach is to let them know upfront when they come in that we're happy to answer questions, but that we are a wholesaler to the trade.

I’m sure your design clients really respect and appreciate the consistency.

100-percent. The design community, regardless of how big of a town or city you’re in, is still so small.

Black Sheep recently bought a building. Congratulations!

That’s a huge step up in terms of acquiring a long-term asset outside of the rug business.

Is that something that you were angling to do for a while?

Our lease was coming up and we were seeing a lot of pass-through repairs. We kind of knew that everything was going to increase and so we started looking to buy. We bought a building from a guy that had been welding since 1974. He was in his seventies, showed up every morning at seven AM and welded until the day he sold the building. We really just got lucky.

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InBUSINESS | DEALER TO DEALER

Major renovations were needed to convert this former welding shop into a showroom space. After a year of construction, the Clarks opened Black Sheep’s new home in Austin, TX.

You’re a partner at Black Sheep along with your wife, Erica.

How do you both manage the business versus your personal life? How do you leverage the benefits of the partnership and limit the downside?

My wife Erica and I are definitely opposites in a lot of ways, including the business side of things. Our roles are very defined. I’m the head of sales and she’s the backend. She does all of the bookkeeping. She’s very good with the numbers and billing. She’s very good at all of that and also creative.

Erica does a lot of our rug designing, a lot of our coloration. She’s great at art. I can see something and say that's good, or that’s not good. I can also see something and say, I can sell that, or I can’t, but it's harder for me to create something from scratch.

Funny enough, Erica’s brother Cody runs our showroom.

32

It’s a real family affair.

Yeah, he’s our GM. Turning it off is the hardest part. Sometimes we just can't. You get home, you have dinner, you go on a walk and talk, and it’s usually about the business. It’s such a huge part of our lives that outside of talking about our kids, it's probably the main thing we talk about.

How old are your kids?

23 and 21.

There's a lot of multi-generational family ownership in our industry, which has pluses and minuses. How does your family feel about it?

We’ve never really brought it up directly to our kids. It’s something that we obviously recognize in the rug business.

We set up a secondary business called “Lynn Mettee,” which is our design business where we’re designing rugs and selling custom.

I feel like if they wanted to come into the business, we’re trying to set up an avenue for it.

What are some of the biggest changes that you’ve noticed during your time in the rug business?

The biggest change is custom. We used to do one, maybe two custom rugs a year. Everything was sold out of the stacks.You sold the inventory that you had. Whereas now, that’s completely flipped on its head.

Through COVID, when the rugs were actually coming quicker than the furniture, it just changed everything.

Clients that wouldn't wait before, now they’re just fine with custom rug lead times. It’s the new norm.

Are there any observations that you’d like to share with the rug community?

In closing, I’d say that I’m excited about the rug business. It’s stood the test of time and I’m excited about its future. I think it's changing and we have to change with it.

IMAGES COURTESY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES.

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Home of Flooring

InDEPTH | CREATIVE MATTERS

Creative Matters Managing Partners Ali McMurter (left) and Ana Cunningham

creative MATTERS TA K E S I T 2 . 0

BY CECILE CORRAL, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

New leadership duo seizes the reins and steers the custom carpet company to new heights

B

uilding on the legacy of its founder Carol Sebert, artfully established and proudly Canadian custom carpet house Creative Matters is kicking off the new year by rolling out a broader path grounded in the company’s roots but strategically positioned to command new opportunities that lie ahead—both in North America and across the pond.

On this, its 35th anniversary, Creative Matters has much to celebrate—past, 34

present and future—with two new leaders at the helm who together bring decades of career experience and honed expertise in design as well as a shared outlook to grow the firm with sustainability at its center.

RUG INSIDER spoke with Managing Partners Ana Cunningham and Ali McMurter, who were promoted to their joint leadership roles in early September upon their predecessor’s pursuit of her “next chapter”.

“Carol [Sebert] doesn’t call it her retirement. Rather, she has stepped away to pursue other creative endeavors,” they said. “She is on her next chapter.”

This year marks Cunningham’s 25th anniversary with the firm. Hired as a designer in 1999, she quickly moved up to Creative Director—a role she held until 2017, when she was named a vice president and partner.

InDEPTH | CREATIVE MATTERS McMurter joined Creative Matters in 2006 as a designer and steadily climbed the ranks to a people and project management role until 2017 when she, too, was promoted to vice president and partner.

Now, barely six months into their new titles, Cunningham and McMurter are well underway in their multifaceted plans to take Creative Matters to the next level.

“As the new leaders, we are focused on elevating our service, backed by our very talented team, to ensure we meet the demand at the highest level of quality,” said McMurter.

That effort includes promoting Creative Matters’ portfolio and raising the firm’s profile, noted Cunningham.

“

Sustainability is not new to Creative Matters. It’s been at our core for decades.

“

Added McMurter: “It’s our way of sharing with the industry our commitment to people and the planet, presented in an easy-to-digest way.”

Presented across 13 well-appointed pages, the report outlines Creative Matters’ dedication to sustainable and environmental practices and products, fair trade alignment, and corporate social responsibility.

This endeavor includes a focus on designing and producing ethicallymade rugs of the highest quality natural materials, namely wool. It’s Creative Matters’ fiber of choice for most of its products—from its custom projects for hotels, offices, retail spaces and homes to its 14 rug collections—as it offers a bevy of inherent benefits: durability, soft touch, sound absorbing, hypoallergenic, resistance to stains and flames, water repellency, easy care and, importantly, compostability.

Creative Matters carefully selects and sources its wool from near and far— domestically as well as New Zealand, Afghanistan, India, and the mountainous regions of Tibet.

As the report notes, a boost in sustainable options has widened access to the production of hand-tufted and woven Axminster 100-percent wool rugs with cotton warp and jute backing.

Other sustainable fibers the company applies to its products include: PET (made from recycled plastic bottles); Econyl, made from reclaimed fishing nets; Tencel; cotton; and linen. For future use, Creative Matters is exploring the viability of nettle and hemp.

“We are also excited about a fully compostable Axminster carpet that has just arrived on the market,” Cunningham said.

After much research, collaborative design and thoughtful development, Creative Matters has come up with an industry first poised to revolutionize commercial rug production: a 100percent biodegradable woven Axminster rug collection.

Trademarked “EcoAx”, this woven Axminster carpet’s production method makes it possible for the product to biodegrade in a little over 12 months in a landfill, compared to the more

“One of the best things we’ve done since becoming managing partners is aligning with a public relations company to help us become more active in the media to build brand awareness and visibility,” she explained.

“We’re being more diligent about sharing what we do and our plans, and most importantly, our sustainability focus.”

That includes Creative Matters’ recently released and first-ever Sustainability Report, which was published in Summer 2023.

“Sustainability is not new to Creative Matters. It's been at our core for decades,” explained Cunningham.

“But this new and special report encapsulates well what we’ve been doing for years and what we plan to do in the future.”

McMurter and Cunningham reviewing the company’s new EcoAx product.

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InDEPTH | CREATIVE MATTERS Private residence in Zurich Switzerland with Birds design custom living room rug in 100-percent wool hand tufted in Thailand; Photography by Valentina Verdesca

than 50 years it would take a traditional woven Axminster carpet — which is typically constructed of an 80percent wool and 20-percent nylon blend—to compost.

“Our clients have been asking for this kind of sustainable product, and EcoAx is a perfect example of how we are aligning on our sustainability objectives and goals,” McMurter said.

In addition to the introduction of this innovative construction, Creative Matters employs other eco-minded measures amid production. The design team intentionally creates Axminster rug patterns that minimize waste during manufacturing. Also, excess yarns discarded during production are repurposed to create samples. And all handmade rugs are custom crafted to size, which further reduces waste.

Acknowledging the prowess of its inhouse team, Creative Matters also credits its industry partners with helping it pursue and successfully realize its eco-initiatives.

Among the firm’s longest-standing alliances is with Label STEP—the fair trade, non-profit organization committed to the wellbeing of 36

“

Our business in Europe has been steadily growing … which is why we need to have a permanent home there.

“

weavers and workers in the handmade carpet industry. Label STEP oversees Creative Matters’ carpet production in Nepal, India and Afghanistan. And since 2017, Sebert has served as an ambassador of the organization “for her tireless commitment to promoting fair trade practices in the carpet industry.”

Cunningham continued: “We were Label STEP’s first North American licensee, back in 2010. We’ve grown a lot with them, and it’s been lovely to be their partner all of these years.

They do a lot of workshops and collaborations with manufacturers and designers, like us, to ensure their fair trade promise.”

The firm also partners with a variety of other industry organizations, among them: International Wool and

Textile Association; Textile Exchange; Sustainable Furnishings Council; and Habitat for Humanity.

In another major move in the works for early 2024, Creative Matters is in the midst of opening a new office in Brussels after a successful run with a satellite operation for the past few years.

“Our business in Europe has been steadily growing, getting bigger and bigger by the minute, which is why we need to have a permanent home there,” Cunningham said. “We’re growing our team on the ground at this new office to address our European clientele, including very high-end retail brands for which we do private label.”

Additionally and more broadly—both here at home in North America and overseas, Creative Matters is equally focused on expanding its collaborative efforts with artists, designers and other creatives for exclusive capsule collections targeting the upstairs market, McMurter noted. creativemattersinc.com IMAGES COURTESY OF CREATIVE MATTERS

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CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF ARTISANAL HANDCRAFTED AREA RUGS

InFOCUS | GO GEO

1

GO GEO T

riangles, circles, squares, lines, angles … textile artists have been going GEO for a long time.

Modern geometric rugs have a worldy pedigree.

Deriving from ancient zig zags and Moroccan tribal styles, vintage Scandinavian, glamorous Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern and more—today’s geometric floorcoverings are at home in a variety of interiors.

Get lost in the maze-like Danika by Ashley Stark Home or Wool & Silk’s very linear Labyrinth. Add drama with the contrasting elements and shapes of Samad’s Futuristic, or HRI’s shimmering Coco collection. Need a color boost? Check out Lucy Tupu’s Te Aro collection, Zollanvari’s Licorice All Sorts, or the aptly-named Squares & Circles by Oriental Designer Rugs. Thinking subtle? Let texture do the talking—see Exquisite Rugs’ Manzoni or Capel’s Lineas.

Just be sure to GO on the full GEO journey!  1. NEM1 Green by Momeni | momeni.com 2. Danika Pearl by Ashley Stark Home | starkcarpets.com 3. Kalaty’s Celeste CS1201 | kalaty.com

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4. Lucy Tupu’s Te Aro Collection | lucytupu.com 5. Cayman Conversation by Alicia D. Keshishian adkcarpets.com 6. Wool & Silk Rugs’ Labyrinth | woolandsilkrugs.com 7. Strada from Oriental Weavers | owrugs.com 8. Manzoni from Exquisite Rugs | exquisiterugs.com

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InFOCUS | GO GEO

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9. Oriental Designer Rugs’ Squares & Circles orientaldesignerrugs.com 10. Modern Times Collection from Samad | samad.com 11. Karat by New Moon Rugs | newmoonrugs.com 12. Shalom’s Caveri Collection | shalombrothers.com 13. Art Resources SKU1684 | artresources.us

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InFOCUS | GO GEO

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14. Licorice All Sorts Super Fine Gabbeh by Zollanvari | zollanvari.com 15. Lineas by Capel | capelrugs.com 16. Samira PW Blue Mantis from Tamarian | tamarian.com 17. HRI’s Coco Collection | hrirugs.com 18. Feizy’s Maguire 8905F | feizy.com

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BE MORE BOLD

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY AND DISCOVER DÉCOR THAT SPEAKS TO YOU. Talkative interiors. Decorative accents Contemporary finds.

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InPERSPECTIVE | A CHANGING WORLD

Evening view from historic House of Roosevelt on the Bund looking toward Pudong Shanghai

A CHANGING WORLD

BY LESLIE ATIYEH, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR may be a once in a lifetime experience for many floorcovering merchants, but I look forward to attending again and here’s why— to keep up with a changing world.

A

ttending a trade show was a great excuse to dip my toe again in the large nation of People’s Republic of China. I first visited Hong Kong to see friends and to check out the antique textile market. Then I flew into Shanghai Hongqiao airport which was close to the exhibition hall of the new National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in the Qingpu District of Shanghai. Registration via ExpoPromoter seemed easy online but I never received a promised QR code for admission. However, I had also applied for a VIP Buyer program from HALI magazine, so I received arrival, hotel and other various exhibition-related information to support a successful visit.

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is the largest flooring trade show in Asia, and statistically after the 2023 show, the world. Interest areas included residential and commercial carpeting; carpet technology; wood and resilient flooring; and other interior wall finishings. The target audience for DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR was to be business owners/managers, architects, designers and other industry professionals.

45

Left to right: Flooring Technology Talk; Iranian Pavilion housing several carpet export companies; Tianjin Dahao Carpet company featuring machine-made Chairman Mao pictorial

“

Human contact trade shows are coming back stronger.

My observations were that less than 10-percent of the attendees were foreign non-Chinese. North American, Russian, German, Australian and New Zealanders made up the foreign buyer contingent, while foreign exhibitors were Iranian, Afghani, Pakistani, Belgian, and Japanese.

I enjoyed speaking Mandarin with hand-knotted rug vendors who hail from Iran, Pakistan and India but reside in Shanghai. Afghani Abbas Atashkar was one salesman attracting attention from the domestic market.

One Chinese Axminster producer vendor is actually a joint venture with Couristan, HaiMa from Weihai Shan46

“

ROLAND BLEINROTH, PRESIDENT MESSE STUTTGART

dong. HaiMa utilizes 26 machines from Belgium producing rolls 13 x 82 feet in length. Stock rolls are available in 4-foot width and 25-foot lengths, but U.S. importers are levied a 25-percent duty which is not sunsetting anytime soon. Variations of the Axminster production includes all wool, souf technique and tufted details can be added.

Another Chinese producer of machine-made wool carpets was Shan Hua which has exclusive Wilton production for Stanton. They also sell via middlemen to Walmart, Dollar General some other low-end production. They reported the majority

of their machine-made production is for export. The best-named carpet factory was ‘Like a Summer Bloom’ Carpet Factory where they made nylon polypropylene carpets.

One notable interaction was at the Khotan and Xinjiang combined carpet booth when the sales staff tersely answered questions in Mandarin about their production without any hope of making a sale due to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act enacted in 2021 in the United States which prevents importers from dealing in goods partially made in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China’s far west.

According to one exhibitor who has shown at the original DOMOTEX in Hannover Germany, Thomas Yang of Yan Xing, liked the free entrance for local Shanghai retailers and it is a larger venue to accommodate the flooring industry. Most exhibitors had at least one salesperson proficient in English to answer questions from the foreign buyers.

InPERSPECTIVE | A CHANGING WORLD

Left: Carpet printer manufacturing machine; Tianjin Japan Carpet venture booth

At a special VIP reception, Messe Stuttgart President Roland Bleinroth observed publicly, “Virtual trade shows with avatars and digitized presentations worked to keep existing contacts informed but didn’t work well attracting new customers” and “human contact trade shows are coming back stronger”. Another global trade show executive, Thomas Baert, said, “Exhibitions are a chance to create a better world.”

One barrier to foreigners having a completely stress-free experience is the almost nonexistence of credit card or cash payment opportunities at a retail and tourist level. Ms. Karwala from Italian R&T Asia felt that a fix for foreigners is coming soon for WePay and AliPay. Her firm is working toward more multi-featured shows to attract architects and other specifiers from flooring to sunshades.

In the carpeting department, the hottest trends were toward printed polyester broadloom for the domestic Chinese hospitality market. Vendors showcased equipment and supplies

“

The hottest trends were toward printed polyester broadloom for the domestic Chinese hospitality market.

LESLIE ATIYEH

with one vendor actually printing carpet at the show!

“

Minimum orders for Axminster production started at 200-square meters for qualified buyers. Axminister production in wool, while on the wane in the United States, has many industrial uses worldwide, including airplane carpeting in 80-percent wool and 20percent nylon.

Nor was the plethora of food stands in the center walkways introduced to the buying delegation. A Chinese Original Carpet Show was listed in the catalog but not really showcased for maximum exposure. I did pop in to a talk about traditional Chinese carpet designs and their longevity and vitality for the future, it was well attended by young Chinese designers.

Events were not well advertised in English. For example, upon a deep dive into the trade fair’s website, I found matchmaking sessions organized by the European American Chamber of Commerce were featured but not mentioned by the show hosts.

One U.S. buyer, Alex Hosseinnia from Dallas, TX, noted, “no big change in price of spun wool in 20 years—still $6 per kilogram.” He researched wool production in New Zealand as an university student, so has a particular interest in tracking the wool market.

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InPERSPECTIVE | A CHANGING WORLD

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One impediment of making an order is the high rate of duty and shipping costs.

“

ALEX HOSSEINNIA, DALLAS RUGS

Author Leslie Atiyeh with U.S. Buyer, Alex Hosseinnia, Dallas Rugs

Hosseinnia noted that one impediment of making an order is the high rate of duty and shipping costs. Container shipping costs peaked during the pandemic and have now nearly returned to pre-pandemic costs.

Overall, my impression is that the DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is a no-frills essential trade show to experience first-hand new technology in the carpet industry. Where else will you find active display of AI-designed carpets, carpet printers and yarn spinning?

The next show dates are May 28-30, 2024.

DOMOTEXasiaCHINAFLOOR.com #domotexasiachinafloor LESLIE ATIYEH IS PRESIDENT OF ATIYEH INTERNATIONAL, LTD. PHOTOS BY LESLIE ATIYEH 48

Inside MARKETS | ANDMORE LAS VEGAS & ATLANTA

WINTER ROUND UP Las Vegas Market, January 28 - February 1, is home to thousands of resources including, furniture, gift, and home décor. Atlanta Market, January 16-22, features three buildings with 51 floors and thousands of brands. We’ve gathered a cross-section of inspiring product intros you’ll find this winter—courtesy of omnichannel wholesale marketmaker ANDMORE. HRI RUGS Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, B433 “We will be featuring two new collections in Vegas—Viceroy and Milo,” says HRI’s Greg Jordt. “The Las Vegas Market has become a very important market for us. More and more accounts from the Western markets are attending the Vegas show versus making the long trip to High Point. This show gives us the opportunity to not only reconnect with current customers but to expand our customer base through new accounts in the West.”

HRI’s new Viceroy collection features four Four large scale Oushak designs in zero pile construction knotted in 100-percent PET yarn—soft washed creams and taupes.

With an eye on trends, Jordt says the company’s new geometric Coco collection has been a ‘home run’ along with a resurgence of demand for ‘uber traditional’ designs and colors.

CAPEL RUGS Vegas Showroom: Las Vegas Design Center, A133 New intros from Capel include the versatile Kerrington collection. “The sophistication and coloration of the designs is on point,” says Cameron Capel.

“Often thought of as traditional patterns, we have taken them a step further by introducing fresh new color combinations, eliminating the border and enlarging the field.”

What’s trending? Texture, Texture, and more Texture!

Capel’s Boho Bliss features high-low piles, woven geometric patterns, and neutral nature-inspired color options. Constructed with 100% PET yarns it’s ecofriendly for indoor or outdoor spaces

Capel’s new Kerrington collection is intricately handknotted and crafted in India of 100-percent wool.

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Inside MARKETS | ANDMORE LAS VEGAS & ATLANTA KAS RUGS Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, B175 “Our focus this upcoming January market will be on handmade products and outdoor products,” says Wendy Reiss. “We have new hand carded wool and new hand-knotted products at great values and looks.”

We have added a new collection to our popular outdoor line. Darcy is hand carded wool in a NZ blend in oatmeal and natural colorations. Marley features Berber hand-knotted antique designs in NZ wool. Terra is a new outdoor multi-textured collection in UV treated polypropylene in natural, easy to decorate tones.

“We will have some fantastic new introductions as we celebrate 44 years in business!” says Reiss, who marks her 23rd year with the company in January 2024.

Be sure to enjoy breakfast, lunches, and happy hour appetizers during market with Kas, too!

Marley (left) is a new Berber hand-knotted collection from Kas.

HOME COMFORT / JELLY BEAN The full line of Home Comfort, Inc.® rugs will be on display for Las Vegas Market in the Temporary Booths and at Atlanta Market in the Linked2Sales Showroom #1641.

JB-SB008 Count Your Blossoms is hand made with a proprietary embroidery method in washable polyester.

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BASHIAN Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, B300 New addition to the company’s best selling Greenwich collection. Hand-tufted in India of fine wool and viscose, to create a soft plush rug with a shimmering effect.

SOUTHWEST LOOMS Las Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, C460 “We are excited to kick off the new year in our new World Market Center showroom,” says Cynthia Lay McLaren. “We’ll be located directly below the Pendleton showroom (on the fifth floor).”

New intros include Pendleton® Tierra a new flatweave collection as licensee for Pendleton Woolen Mills. Exquisitely crafted handmade wool carpets are interpreted from Pendleton blanket patterns.

Trendwise, McLaren notes a rise in demand for color and unique design.

“Our specialty niche collections and high quality set us apart.”

Pagos Springs is from Southwest Looms’ new Pendleton Tierra collection.

Design 981 Space Thunder is from Persian Weavers’ new Equinox power loomed collection.

AMERICAN COVER DESIGN / PERSIAN WEAVERS Las Vegas Showroom: Las Vegas Design Center, A447 “We are excited to start 2024 with one of largest new products launches in recent years,” says Sami Pourgol.

“We will be unveiling six collections created with the most updated designs and colors utilizing the industry’s newest yarns, weaves, and textures.”

“Look for high-quality moderns, traditionals, shags, HD printed, and many of the new year’s exciting weaves, all at the industry’s most competitive price ranges,” adds Pourgol.

The entire showroom has been revamped for the upcoming market. Be sure to ask about show specials as Sami celebrates his 23rd year with the company.

UNIQUE LOOM Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, B424 Featured intros include the machine-woven Boutique collection and the Jill Zarin branded JZ Hamptons—in a durable high-quality 50% jute, 30% wool and 20% cotton combination. The Leather Metallic Jute collection (shown above) brings the timelessness of leather together with the natural, beach vibes of jute.

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TAMARIAN RUGS Atlanta Showroom: Building 1, 14-E18 See all that’s new from luxury brand Tamarian in Atlanta.

Plus look for expanded offerings in the company’s HABIT hand-knotted rug collection from India that offers affordable luxury with the trusted beauty and integrity of Tamarian.

Tamarian’s Caspian Jasper

TRANS-OCEAN Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, C475 Atlanta: Outdoor Living/Seasonal Gifts Temporaries Left: Liora Manné for Trans-Ocean’s Marina Cirque indoor/outdoor abstract design features splashes of green, blue, orange, grey, black, and gold.

BLOOMINGVILLE & CREATIVE CO-OP Las Vegas Showroom: World Market Center, C712, C796 & C788 Atlanta Showroom: Building 2, Suite 1080-1087A European brands Bloomingville and Creative Co-op are ready to wow this winter in Vegas and their newly expanded Atlanta showroom space.

DF9064 (inset) is tufted wool and cotton in varying pile height. Design AH3382 is a wool and recycled cotton organic shaped rug in marbled pink and cream.

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WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

TE! A D E H SAVE T

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InANTIQUES | RUG APPRAISALS

The Knotty Issue of Rug Appraisals

BY RODNEY HAKIM, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

W

inter is here, and as we welcome the year 2024, we also say hello to all the “new” in the world of area rugs, as rug vendors are releasing numerous “new rug” designs to kick off the New Year. Flip through the pages of this issue of RUG INSIDER, and you will find hundreds of new rugs from different vendors, with a wide range of colors, styles, and designs. What you are less likely to see, but which is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the area rug industry, are details about the rug appraisal process, along with such related questions as what types of appraisals there are, what purposes they serve, who is asking for them, and what goes into preparing them.

In all of these scenarios, and in many others, there are older, more traditional area rugs that are present in the client’s space, and which the client feels that they can find some value in, either to sell or trade in, in the process of procuring a newer rug that better fits their taste, their space, their style, their needs, or whatever else.

Some of you might have read that first paragraph and thought to yourselves, wait a minute, what the heck is this guy talking about? Aren’t people buying room sized new rugs online from Amazon and Wayfair, or in store from HomeGoods and TJ Maxx for $250 or less? If they’re buying the rugs for those prices, why in the world would anybody care about a rug appraisal? These aren’t old cars, where we have to look up the Kelley Blue Book value, they’re rugs!

What’s going on here?

It’s true, people are, in fact, frequently buying new rugs from online or from brick and mortar vendors, often at impossibly low prices. For many of these buyers, though, the new rugs they are buying are replacements for older rugs that have become stained, damaged, or worn out, or which have been inherited from other family members and are for whatever reason not desired, or which are being sold off when a family is downsizing or redecorating their home.

Antique Persian Dabir Kashan, 11’7” x 9’0”, PGNY #29328

What, then, is a rug appraisal, how does the process work, and where do you get one?

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InANTIQUES | RUG APPRAISALS A rug appraisal is a process in which a professional with expertise in the field of area rugs will look at a client’s rugs, and based on various criteria, will determine a current value for them. This valuation should be defensible, and should be able to stand up to scrutiny.

There are multiple types of rug appraisals and valuations, with each representing a different reason for which the rugs would be appraised, or manner in which they would be assigned value. We will discuss various types of valuations and appraisals in the breakdown below.

TYPES OF RUG VALUATIONS Within the realm of rug valuations, two of the most significant types are Retail Replacement Value and Fair Market Value.

Retail Replacement Value: This type of valuation is typically used for insurance purposes, and represents the highest amount that would be needed to replace an existing rug with another rug of similar origin, age, quality, composition, condition, and provenance. These “RRV” valuations are often done within the realm of retail pricing and/or auctions, and may include the cost of taxes, shipping and related fees.

Fair Market Value: This type of valuation is based on the price at which a rug or carpet would go from a buyer to a seller, with less time pressure than in an RRV valuation, and with both parties having a reasonable amount of knowledge of the relevant information about the rugs. The IRS often uses the “FMV” for appraisals.

Who are the parties who are performing rug appraisals, and how do they differ?

RUG APPRAISAL PROVIDERS There are many people in the industry who routinely provide rug appraisals and valuations for their clientele. Let’s examine some of the main categories.

Rug Dealers: Rug dealers trade in rugs for a living, and know the relative values of different styles of rugs from different sources. Rug dealers who also offer cleaning and restoration services are particularly knowledgeable about current rug values, as they regularly are in contact with clients who need to have their rugs cleaned and repaired, and in that process, are often informed of where the clients purchased their rugs, and how much they purchased them for. During the cleaning and repair process, rug dealers are also frequently asked how much the rug in question would trade for in today’s market, so a good rug dealer should be aware of current market forces, and how much different rugs are worth.

For myself at Persian Gallery New York, this is something we experience very frequently, where people send us their rugs for cleaning and restoration, and either in tandem or independent of that, they ask us to provide them a valuation.

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Note: You can email info@pgny.com if we can be of assistance with your rug appraisal and valuation needs.

In some cases, rug dealers will refrain from providing appraisals and valuations for their clients. Why, you might ask? Because in some cases, these appraisals and valuations can cause a conflict of interest, or can be detrimental to the vendor’s relationship with the client!

For instance, if an existing client (or even a potential client) asks a rug dealer to provide a valuation on a rug that they purchased at the height of the market for $50,000, and in today’s market, that rug would be valued at a significantly lower price, it might not behoove the rug dealer to provide the valuation for the client. Similarly, if the client purchased their rug in a geographic location that carries higher prices than other locations (ie., they bought it in New York City for $25,000, but in Oklahoma, it would be valued at a much lower price), then that is also a possible conflict. In another example, if a client bought the rug at retail, and is trying to sell it to someone at the wholesale end of the market, that might also be problematic, in that those are different ends of the pricing continuum, and the valuations might not be in sync.

Another consideration in this same area is impartiality, as a client might suspect that a rug dealer is giving them a valuation that is either too high or too low, so as to better position the rug in question to sell at a questionable price, or to be replaced with something of higher or lower value.

In cases like these, and in many others, rug dealers might pass on performing the rug appraisal or valuation for the client, and suggest to the client that they seek out the services of a Professional Appraiser.

Professional Appraisers: There are a select few people in the industry who are not rug vendors, themselves, but who have an extremely high level of expertise in rugs, collectibles, and antiques, and who work diligently to stay on top of the current values of different types of area rugs.

These professional appraisers comply with USPAP, or the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, and who are skilled in writing professional appraisal reports.

One of the people who best fits this description, and who is a true expert in rug appraisals and valuations, is Steve Boodakian of The MERA Group. Steve spent decades in the rug industry as a rug vendor, and then shifted into the realm providing consultations, appraisals, and valuations. His is one of the most respected names in the industry, and he is a fountain of information about rugs, the past and present of the rug trade, and the ins and outs of the appraisal and valuation process.

Note: You can email Steve Boodakian with your rug appraisal and valuation needs at steve@themeragroup.com.

InPERSPECTIVE InANTIQUES | A CHANGING | RUG APPRAISALS WORLD Since Steve Boodakian, and others who fit in this category of expert rug appraisers, do not actively sell rugs, they have less likelihood of running into some of the conflicts of interest enumerated above, and can give impartial, objective appraisals, which are neither slanted toward the rug vendors nor toward the clients.

A sample appraisal from Steve Boodakian and The MERA Group is included at the end of this article for reference.

Who are the people who seek out rug appraisals from rug dealers or from professional appraisers? There are a wide range of people seeking those services, including insurance companies, public adjusters, attorneys, tax professionals, and private clients.

WHO OBTAINS RUG APPRAISALS Insurance Companies: Insurance companies are regularly called upon to seek appraisals and valuations of people’s belongings, including area rugs and other valuables, either in the process of people setting up an insurance plan that would be comprehensive enough to cover a realistic dollar amount for their valuables, or in other cases, to reimburse people for the losses of said valuables, in the case of fire, flooding, theft, or damage. They typically provide the Retail Replacement Value.

Public Adjusters: Public adjusters will frequently work with people who are submitting claims to insurance companies after suffering a loss, with the same ideas of establishing a Retail Replacement Value, in the cases of determining a level of reimbursement after a major loss due to acts of nature, catastrophic fire, structural issues causing damage to people’s belongings, or a host of other issues.

Attorneys: Attorneys will often obtain rug appraisals, either for estate planning purposes, for settling issues related to wills, divorces, bankruptcies, or other issues, or even to settle disputes between parties over who owes whom what, and what values to assign to some of the items in question.

Tax Professionals: Tax professionals will seek out rug values for the clients, either in terms of preparing a client’s annual tax return, or in terms of their tax liabilities and other issues.

Depending on whether the client is an individual, a company, or some other type of entity, tax professionals will determine whether inherited or gifted rugs are subject to taxes, whether items being sold or donated are taxable, etc.

Private Clients: Private clients will often seek out appraisals or valuations of their rugs, either because they inherited them and no longer want them, because they are downsizing and disposing of larger rugs, because they are redecorating and no longer want or need the rugs, because the rugs are worn out or excessively stained, because their rugs are damaged or destroyed and the client is seeking reimbursement from insurance, and a host of other scenarios.

A water damaged rug that was sent to PGNY for a valuation.

When these different types of clients approach a rug dealer or a professional appraiser to provide a rug appraisal or valuation, what sources to those experts consult to make sure that they are providing an accurate price?

RUG VALUATION PRICE SOURCES AND COMPARATIVES When an insurance company, a public adjuster, an attorney, a tax professional, or a private client seeks out a rug valuation from a rug dealer or a professional appraiser, there are various sources which those experts can draw upon in putting together their rug valuation, depending on what type of valuation is being requested.

If the person providing the valuation is a rug dealer, and they routinely trade in rugs, either at the retail or wholesale price level, then the Fair Market Value for the client’s rug should be well within the realm of their personal and/or professional knowledge.

If, for some reason, the rug dealer is a retailer and is unsure of wholesale prices, or vice versa, then they can consult with colleagues in the respective end of the industry they have less expertise in, and collect information that way.

Similarly, with the proliferation of online rug marketplaces and online rug auctions, there are numerous sources easily accessible online which one can go to get a sense of what comparable rugs are currently being sold for, such as 1stdibs.com, a luxury online marketplace, along with the online auction websites of Nazmiyal Auctions, Material Culture, Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonham’s, Doyle, and many others.

67

InANTIQUES InANTIQUES| RUG | RUGAPPRAISALS APPRAISALS SAMPLE SAMPLERUG RUGAPPRAISAL APPRAISALCOURTESY COURTESYOF OF STEVE STEVEBOODAKIAN, BOODAKIAN,THE THEMERA MERAGROUP GROUP

Antique Antique 17th 17th Century Century Brussels Brussels Mythological Mythological Tapestry, Tapestry, 12’12’ x 13’, x 13’, PGNY PGNY #24800 #24800listed listed onon 1stdibs.com 1stdibs.com

While While the the rugs rugs being being sold sold onon these these online online forums forums somesometimes timesrepresent representdifferent differentparts partsofofthe thespectrum spectrumofofrug rug pricing, pricing, with with sites sites like like 1stdibs 1stdibs representing representing a higher a higher end end ofof the the price price spectrum, spectrum, and and the the different different auction auction sites sites ranging ranging from fromhigh hightotolow lowononthe theprice pricespectrum, spectrum,they theyprovide providea a frame frame ofof reference reference forfor the the people people preparing preparing the the appraisals, appraisals, and and can can serve serve asas a comparable a comparable from from which which the the valuation valuation can can bebe oriented. oriented.

With Witha acomparable comparableand andwith withother otherdetails detailsabout aboutage, age, condition, condition, provenance, provenance, and and more more in in hand, hand, a rug a rug expert expert can can prepare prepare a professional a professional rug rug valuation valuation report report forfor their their client, client, which which should should ideally ideally include include clear clear and and high high resolution resolution imimages ages ofof the the rugs rugs in in question, question, along along with with a written a written descripdescription tion ofof the the rug, rug, a condition a condition report, report, information information about about the the rug’s rug’s origin, origin, composition, composition, and and more. more.

Even Even then, then, while while a picture a picture may may bebe worth worth a thousand a thousand words, words,a awell wellproduced, produced, thoroughly thoroughly researched researched rug rug valuation valuationcan canbebeworth worth much much more more than than that, that, with with thousands thousandsofofdollars dollarsin in value, value,and andwith witha ahappy happy client client toto strengthen strengthen a relaa relationship tionship with with moving moving forward forward into into the the future. future.

And And in in the the area area rug rug indusindustry,try,weweshould shouldallallrememremember berthat thatnothing nothingis ismore more valuable valuablethan thana ahappy happy client! client!

6868

Rodney Rodney Hakim, Hakim, PGNY PGNY

IV/2023

C 31467 · IV | 2023

www.carpet-mag.com

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH

Valadan / Naziri, Hamburg „Nighttime in a Palace“

PAGE 46

COVER STORY

PAGE 40

DOMOTEX 2024

n n n SN-FACHPRESSE HAMBURG

Global marketplace for carpets

Europe‘s major business magazine for area rugs THE CARPET HOME NEWSLETTER

Register for free: bit.ly/carpethome-newsletter-en

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Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING I N

M E M O R

L E A V I N G

A

I U M

L E G A C Y

T

“Jesse’s leadership, creative talents and lifelong dedication to Capel, Inc. will be missed more than words can properly describe,” says Richard Capel, president of manufacturing.

here are few rug businesses with a family line as long and active as Capel Rugs. So when industry veteran Jesse Capel, who handled the company’s importing and manufacturing business, passed away in late October, both the company and the family felt the loss deeply.

As president of his freshman and sophomore class at NC State, he graduated in 1954 with a degree in textiles. He then served in the Quartermaster branch of the US Army as a Second Lieutenant.

A. Leon Capel, founder of Capel Rugs, originally had a plow line business, but when the tractor came out it threw his business for a loop. This led to him buying a braiding machine, and shortly after in 1917 Capel Rugs was born.

His love of the water permitted sailing on the East Coast with his favorite Hinkley 42-foot sailboat.

Other activities he enjoyed included golf, raising honey bees, and even some domesticated hybrid chickens.

Using the raw material from his venture Gee-Haw Plow Lines, Leon fashioned braids and created the very first reversible braided rug, calling it “New Departure.” The firm became a major manufacturer and importer of area rugs, and Capel Rugs was born.

One activity he cherished deeply was the annual Christmas Eve party he put on for 120 local citizens. He loved to get people together to celebrate the season.

He was also quite the griller. At the sign of the first frost, it was time for the Pig Preparations in his side yard. This called for scrubbing, seasoning, salting and processing the hanging of hams, shoulders, sausage stuffing, bacon and pork loins. A gathering of friends helped with the annual affair, and Jesse even won first prize at the North Carolina State Fair for Country Cured Hams several times. His special old-fashioned stuffed sausage came in second place.

Jesse joined the business in 1957, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. He was instrumental in purchasing three rug manufacturers in Japan in 1965 that were Capel competitors.

The Capel company began a successful import rug program that included manufacturing plants in South Korea, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland, Egypt, Greece, China and Great Britain. Capel shipments were throughout the world. The entire area rug program continues today as America’s [prestige] Rug Company.

While Jesse has passed, he leaves an expansive legacy both with the company he helped build, as well as the next generations of his kids and grandkids. To give you an idea, 17 stockings were hung by the chimney each Christmas, and since Jesse joined in 1957, several other family members have stepped into the business in a meaningful way to continue what his grandfather started.

His contributions to Capel’s growth were monumental—from his presence and insight in board meetings to his expertise in manufacturing. He held positions as international buyer, vice president of Capelsie Mills [founded 1898], and vice president of Capel Real Estate [1968], Capel Inc. [1962] and Capel Associates [1969] during his tenure.

However, first and foremost, Jesse’s family remembers him as an all-around great person.

70

Jesse Smith Capel, images courtesy of Capel Rugs. (Jesse is pictured center in the lower two images).

“Jesse was an outstanding leader,” says President of Sales, Marketing and Imports Cameron Capel. “His creativity and knowledge of rugs & manufacturing helped make Capel what it is today.

I am grateful to continue his legacy.”

Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING

Kalaty Marks 45th Anniversary with Comprehensive New Catalog

Kalaty Rug Corporation founder, the late Mizra Kalaty is pictured third from left with his sons Ariel, Ramin, Mike, Farshad, and Kamran who operate the company today.

W

ith the dawn of 2024, Kalaty Rug Corporation begins a momentous milestone year—the 45th anniversary of Mirza Kalaty founding the company in the USA. Among the company’s 45th anniversary year marketing plans, Kalaty will unveil a new full-color anniversary-edition catalog that features 400+ pages showcasing the company’s impressive high-end artisanal handcrafted and hand-knotted rug collections, which include a vast selection of styles, weaves, colors, textures and sizes across all décor genres.

The catalog, which will be on display at the Las Vegas Market, will be distributed to customers shortly after the market.

While Mirza Kalaty founded the company in the USA in 1979, one by one over the course of the years, each of Mirza Kalaty’s five sons entered the family business. Today Mirza’s sons operate the company along with a number of grandchildren who have joined the company in the past several years. “We have an interesting and proud company heritage that was established many years ago by our father,” says Ramin Kalaty, company president.

“In the early days, before global travel opened to many parts of the world, our father frequently traveled to places that were not readily accessible. It was on these long trips that he discovered unique regional international rug makers with whom he established business relations, enabling him to create his own unique brand of top-quality artisan-made rugs.

He continued to oversee the production of the styles, colors, sizes and qualities that have become our Kalaty signature.

Today, we continue to produce heirloom-quality area rugs, and just as our father did, we set a high bar in design as well as the innovative coloring and finishing of all of our best-inclass products.”

“

We have an interesting and proud company heritage that was established many years ago by our father.

RAMIN KALATY

“

Kalaty proudly maintains a vast inventory of all collections, categories, style ranges, weaves, colors, sizes and shapes at the company’s Hicksville, NY, headquarters warehouse. Having this USA warehouse helps to facilitate same-day shipping on most products, while maintaining the company commitment to customers to provide unparalleled customer service.

No doubt, as these successive generations of the Kalaty family continue operate the business, the rich legacy company that was established 45 years ago by their father and grandfather will continue to grow and thrive well into the future. kalaty.com 71

Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING

COVER Connect Las Vegas at Surfaces Returns in 2024 SECOND EDITION DOUBLES IN SIZE

F

ollowing the success of COVER Connect Las Vegas 2023 at Surfaces, the second edition will be held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center from January, 24–26, 2024. Curated by COVER magazine, the boutique event has more than doubled in size—a select group of twenty dynamic brands will be showcasing some of the highest quality rugs on the market today.

“This event complements the great success of the annual COVER Connect New York, by providing a comprehensive view of the industry’s finest offerings on both coasts,” stated David Young, Director, Hali Publications Ltd. With the show’s significant expansion, buyers and industry professionals will encounter a broader range of the most sought-after traditional, transitional and contemporary rugs, suitable to a wider range of tastes and budgets. The pavilion will provide the perfect opportunity to source excellent selections of rugs from some of the best rug brands serving the US market, plus most offer outstanding custom options too. For 2024, the exclusive CCLV area within SURFACES has been relocated to a premium position next to a major walkway in alignment with a main entrance—close to the Wools Pavilion which hosts brands like Prestige Mills, Stanton Carpet, Couristan, and Kaleen—to optimize crossover business.

Tamarian’s contemporary design, ‘It Is Cream’ Natural 100-knot all wool (Nepal) offers great movement on open space that invites furniture placement or a standalone statement. In stock in all standard sizes. Custom adaptations welcomed.

Along with StoneExpo and TileExpo, SURFACES is one of three well-established, world-class trade shows that make up The International Surface Event (TISE)—the largest North American floor covering, stone, and tile industry event.

Tamarian announced it will launch Curated Custom at COVER Connect Las Vegas. “The pilot program features eighteen new, best-selling and reimagined designs from the Phoenix Weave collection, our unique hand-tied knot made from 100-percent wool in Nepal,” said Tamarian’s Ned Baker. “We have distilled 25 years of experience into a beautiful palette of colors, supporting materials, an easy to manage web interface, and guaranteed quick-ship turnaround.” thecoverconnect.com 72

Offerings by Momeni at Cover Connect Las Vegas will include custom broadloom, such as Arlo, a hand-loomed and hand-tufted, heathered rug that's easy to place in any room.

Shown right: Rain Dance by Wool & Silk Rugs is the perfect combination of style and subtlety.

“

The Surfaces audience asks for area rugs as an important product they are seeking.

These offerings keep Surfaces vibrant and relevant in the flooring marketplace.

Above: Plush pile hand-knotted minimalist modern stripe design in soft wool from S&H Rugs Below: Zollanvari’s Super Fine Gabbeh Variegated Topaz 7, Crystalia Collection, Zollanvari Studio

“

DANA HICKS, SHOW DIRECTOR FOR TISE 2024 Cover Connect Las Vegas exhibitors at press time.

AMER RUGS BATTILOSSI CREATIVE TOUCH DESIGN MATERIALS INC. ELIKO RUG GALLERY FRENCH ACCENTS HARCOURT COLLECTION JAIPUR LIVING KIRKIT RUGS MOMENI

PAMPAS LEATHER RUG & KILIM S&H RUGS SAHAR SAMAD RUGS STARK STUDIO RUGS TAMARIAN WOOL & SILK TISSAGE ZOLLANVARI

REGISTRATION Complimentary tickets to The International Surface Event (TISE): SURFACES | StonExpo | TileExpo are available exclusively to COVER Connect Las Vegas attendees via www.thecoverconnect.com/lasvegas SHOW HOURS Wednesday, Jan. 24

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 25

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 26

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Pick up a copy of RUG INSIDER magazine at the Publication Bins in the main lobby of TISE.

73

Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING

Alex Peykar Inducted into American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Nourison’s Alex Peykar (center) receives his American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame award from Caroline Hipple, president of Norwalk Furniture and board chairman for the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, and David Santiago, brand ambassador and founder of Casa Santi.

N

ourison Home Co-chairman and Co-founder Alexander Peykar was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame at the awards presentation that took place during the fall 2023 High Point Market.

Over his decades-long career, the industry veteran expanded the horizons of the rug industry by popularizing the idea that the floor could serve as a key element for artful expression in a room.

A lover of art with a natural talent for design, Peykar pioneered wholesale programs, which offered hand-woven rugs from India, hand-knotted rugs from China, and later machine-made rugs. Trained as an engineer, Peykar joined his brothers Paul and Edmond in launching Nourison in New York City in 1980 after building a strong foundation in the retail flooring segment.

Museum. Building on this success, partnerships were forged with celebrity designers including Calvin Klein, Kathy Ireland, Michael Amini, Barclay Butera, Christopher Guy and others. Based in Saddle Brook, NJ, the company now offers original designs and styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary for area rugs, custom rugs, and high-end wool broadloom carpet for hospitality and commercial projects as well as pillows, throw blankets and other decorative accessories.

Peykar, along with the late Erie J. Sauder, founder and chairman of Sauder Woodworking; and Jeffrey Seaman, co-founder and CEO of Rooms To Go joined the current 131 members of the Hall of Fame.

Armed with first-hand knowledge about the challenges of importing those retailers faced, the third brother, Steven, joined to help build a new wholesale source for quality, Persian-style rugs. In 1982, the company became the first U.S. importer to introduce hand-knotted, Oriental-style rugs from China.

This year’s inductees were chosen based on their contributions to the growth and development of the home furnishings industry in America. The seven-member selection committee, composed of Hall of Fame Foundation board members and representatives from diverse segments of the industry uses a points-based evaluation system grounded on four foundations: enduring excellence, superior accomplishments, innovation and creativity, and philanthropic generosity.

In 1988 a licensed collection inspired by the paintings of Vasily Kandinsky, was introduced at the Guggenheim

nourison.com

74

Insider NEWS | WHAT’S LOOMING

Sets Dates for September 2024

T

he Rug Show USA returns to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ on September 79, 2024. The premier industry fair offers attendees a place to buy new products, meet new rug makers, as well as learn and build connections through networking. The well-attended 2023 edition was hosted by two dozen key producers from around the globe.

“For more than a decade, The Rug Show has been an exceptional opportunity to see and source from an incredible collection of products in one location,” said show organizer Jack Simantob of Art Resources. “This communal approach creates the best purchasing environment for our industry’s customers.”

“It was exciting to see what everyone had to offer—all kinds of beautiful designs, colors and texture,” said Hannah Massarat, Tucson, AZ retailer.

For exhibitor inquiries and attendee information visit therugshow.com; @therugshow. Discounted hotel rates and online registration will be announced early in 2024.

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75

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 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.

Design: tabakdesign.com Photo: The Studio_M – thestudiom.com

goodweave.org

Retirement Liquidation Sale

43 Years of Excellence tttt Premium inventory of exquisite rugs with many antiques that have been meticulously collected over four decades.

Well-established and affluent customer base.

Entire stock sold together at a flat per sq/ft rate.

tttt Call Sam 425-454-2114 for details.

Serious Inquiries Only.

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Liquidation LARGE RETAIL/WHOLESALE RUG STORE LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES

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BICHOUPAN RUG CORP. KERMAN RUGS ARE OUR SPECIALTY! 3901 L IBERTY AVENUE , S UITE 4, N ORTH B ERGEN , NJ 07047 C ELL : 516-906-1919 T EL : 201-271-9393 FAX : 201-271-9395 E - MAIL : BICHOUPANRUG @ AOL . COM WWW. BICHOUPANRUGS . COM 77

Insider GUIDE | ADVERTISERS INDEX Advertiser

Page No.

Advertiser

Page No.

Advertiser

Page No.

American Cover Design

9

Fiber-Shield Inside Back Cover

Oriental Designer Rugs

26

Apadana

48

HRI

7

Persian Gallery New York

79

Atlanta Market

33

Jerry Livian Antique Rugs

20

S & H Rugs

4

Arsin Rugs

31

Kalaty Rug

Art Resources

1

Las Vegas Market

8

Shalom Bros. Inc.

24

Azad USA

10

Liberty Oriental Rugs

21

T.I.S.E.

28

Bichoupan

75

Lotfy & Sons

53

Tamarian

5

Material Concepts

44

Tepp Team

76

Bokara

Back Cover

Inside Cover/40

Samad

18/19

Cover Connect Las Vegas

17

ModRen Rugs Inc.

63

The Rug Show

80

Davoodzadeh & Son

20

Momeni

3

Turkmen Rug

26

Domotex

12

MSM

6

Turkish Rug Co.

43

Exquisite Rugs

2

Neman

53

Wool & Silk

11

Feizy Rugs

13

Nourison

15

Zollanvari

22

Advertising PACKAGE DEALS Web + Print = SAVINGS

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THE FINEST ANTIQUE CARPETS & TAPESTRIES FOR THE MODERN WORLD THE FINEST ANTIQUE CARPETS & TAPESTRIES FOR THE MODERN WORLD Persian Gallery New York ∙ 36 East 31st Street, Suite 500 ∙ New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 683-2699 ∙ E-mail: info@pgny.com ∙ Website: www.pgny.com Persian Gallery∙ Fax: New (212) York ∙481-0885 36 East 31st Street, Suite 500 ∙ New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 683-2699 ∙ Fax: (212) 481-0885 ∙ E-mail: info@pgny.com ∙ Website: www.pgny.com

Ben E. Warren, Marrakech, MA

InHUMOR | RUG BURN

I told him if he wanted it hand-woven, he has…toupee!

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E legance

handmade

SONA ANTIQUE | JPS20 LIGHT BLUE / RUST

Extrememly fine handknotted | Wool & Silk

since

1975

c r e at o r o f t h e m o s t b e a u t i f u l ru g s i n t h e w o r l d c u s to m | co n t e m p o r a ry | t r a d i t i o na l | AU BU S S O N | S AVO N N E R I E | T I B E TA N | A N T I Q U E 5 0 E n t e r p r i s e Av e N, S e c au c u s , N J 0 7 0 9 4 | 2 0 1 - 6 0 1 - 0 0 4 0 | s a l e s @ b o k a r a . co m

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