A Personal Passion by Mary Hegarty
OT is acknowledged as the benchmark for bespoke megayacht carpets. Now Oliver Treutlein explains why the world’s most discerning clients return again and again
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liver Treutlein carpets may be absolutely bespoke, but they are almost ubiquitous in the notoriously exacting megayacht sector, gracing the Blohm+Voss 162.5m Eclipse and the 80m Excellence and 90m Aviva, both
built by Abeking Rasmussen. In fact, the German company partnered with no less than 35 shipyards in the last year alone. It is a favourite with the likes of LĂźrssen, Heesen and Oceanco as well as with the great Italian names. So what is the secret of the astonishing international success of a relatively small family-run business? When we spoke to Oliver Trautlein, who founded OT Carpets 40 years ago, he
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was in no doubt, immediately referencing the two Ps: Personal and Passion: “When we meet owners new to the megayacht market, they ask for our catalogue and I tell them we don’t have a catalogue. Each project is personal to each client. A completely individual one-off solution,” declares the ultra-discreet Treutlein who won’t mention any specifics about current projects. “I visit the yard or the owner’s designer and we start working out a predesign. So the entire process handled very personally,” he continues. Which brings us to passion… “We are not a corporation with a department that focuses on costs and growing profits. Our focus is to make the client happy, to provide the best service and the best quality,” Treutlein says, pointing out that OT is a family business in which both his wife and daughter work. “All our carpets are fitted by our own team too. Our installers are not normal employees – they share the same passion. Many have been with us for 20 years, and go back again and again to our clients: some of the yacht owners know the installers better than me!” he laughs. The one-piece corridor carpets for the 141m Yas, for instance, are 60m long, while a modern megayacht saloon can require up to 1.2 tonnes of carpet, again all in one piece. OT creations are stretched by hand on gripper bars which, combined with a luxury underlay, im-
This page and opposite: three examples of OT’s creations. Natural materials – silk, bamboo, linen – deliver playful contrasts of matt and sheen, creating interesting visuals, attractive textures and a sublime tactile experience. All in the soft muted hues currently in vogue
proves soundproofing, extends lifespan and, very importantly, feels sumptuously soft underfoot. All are made using ethically sourced natural materials – wool, silk, bamboo, linen, viscose with cotton and natural latex backings - and coloured with natural dyes where possible. As a result, they are not only exceptionally hardwearing but also fully biodegradable. Trends are slower to change in carpet world, but Treutlein has noticed a shift in the tastes of both designers and clients: “People want softness and luxury: wool and silk. They like texture now too, rather than patterns. They love the brilliance of the materials”.
www.olivertreutlein.com
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