Rug Insider Magazine, Winter, 2023

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WINTER 2023 - VOLUME XXVI - ISSUE 3 BROAD SPECTRUM + Broadloom, Bespoke Empowering Women Weavers InSTYLE Winter Markets Bricks & Clicks Just Scroll with It! On The Cover | SAMAD RUGS AND CARP FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSI WinterWhites m
LAS VEGAS NEW YORK HIGH POINT KALATY.COM SOUMAK CHROMA COLLECTION ARTISANAL HANDCRAFTED RUGS HIGH POINT MARKET IHFC, G-369 | APRIL 21 - 26, 2023 Showroom opens Friday, April 21 (closed Sat, 10/22).
40 Universal Place | Carlstadt, NJ 07072 | Tel: 201-933-4300 | Email: info@shrugs.com MODERN, TRANSITIONAL & TRADITIONAL View our up-to-the-minute entire inventory online. SHRUGS.COM
Blue Moon After Hours Collection +1 973.433.0748 | www.woolandsilkrugs.com WOOL & SILK @woolandsilk @woolandsilkrugs

Come Explore RUGS With Us

Experience the winter’s biggest in-person, cross-category buying opportunity. You’ll nd rug and oor covering resources offering a variety of styles, sizes and price points including new designs and exciting collaborations.

Showrooms: January 10–16, 2023

Temporaries: January 11–15, 2023

Learn More and Pre-Register at AtlantaMarket.com/Rug

PRODUCT SOURCED FROM: ACCENT DECOR, BALTA HOME, BIDK HOME, CODARUS, CURREY & CO., FLORA BUNDA, KALALOU, LOLOI, GABBY, J DOUGLAS, SCHAUBEN & CO. TO THE TRADE | ©2022 International Market Centers, LLC @AmericasMartATL | #AtlMkt
® Harounian Rugs International World Market Center Las Vegas, Building B, Suite B433 * January 29 - February 2, 2023 www.hrirugs.com | info@hrirugs.com | 800-682-3330 High Point Las Vegas New York Glaze Collection * Free Freight For All Qualified Buyers
couristan.com | 800.223.6186 WALL-TO-WALL CARPET | AREA RUGS ROLL RUNNERS | CUSTOM RUGS LAS VEGAS MARKET JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BUILDING B SHOWROOM B360, 3RD FLOOR SURFACES JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 2, 2023 BOOTH #2823 MANDALAY BAY CONVENTION CENTER
Aurora Collection 145 Industrial Ave • Suite L • Little Ferry, NJ 07643 • 1-888-880-RUGS • 212-695-3000 • Fax: 212-695-0022 info@shalombrothers.com • www.shalombrothers.com Design AB-72 Programmed Sizes 2x3, 8x10, 9x12 and 10x14, custom sizes, oversizes and runners We have moved! New Address iii

ANDKHUY RUGS

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

147 Southwood Center, South San Francisco CA 94080, USA www.andkhuyrugs.com

Tel: +1 415 412 0237

Email: andkhuyrug@gmail.com

PAKISTAN, LAHORE

Karimi Carpets

133/A Khizer Park, Habibullah Road, Ghari Shahu Lahore, Pakistan 54000

Tel: +92 300 413 1468

Email: karimicarpets@gmail.com

BROAD SPECTRUM

RUG INSIDER Magazine is a quarterly publication which covers the rug and carpet industry with a focus on quality, design, and an eye toward the future.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING

Peter Woodaman peter@ruginsider.com C: 603 387 6477 V: 603 279 4938

DESIGNER

Cheryl Sivewright cheryl@ruginsider.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Aric Morrison aric@adversityrockstar.com

Cecile Corral cecile@cecilepr.com

Alex Milstein alxmilstein@gmail.com

Rodney Hakim rodney@pgny.com

CONTACT

SUBSCRIPTIONS

1 Year $40 (USD) Meredith, NH 03253 USA subscriptions@ruginsider.com 603 279 4938 | ruginsider.com ruginsider.com/subscribe

4 Fortsalong Road

ON THE COVER

SAMAD

Samad’s thick-pile Bohemian Collection is the epitome of cozy comfort. The rugs are hand-knotted using the Senneh knot and natural un-dyed Australian wool. Modern geometric designs, inspired by 70’s fashion, can easily suit a minimalist aesthetic or lay the groundwork for busier decor. Gracing our winter cover is the aptly-named Free Spirit design in natural ivory and black. samad.com

WINTER 2023 – VOLUME XXVI – ISSUE 3
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31 January - 2 February 2023 Mandalay Bay Convention Center Design Materials Inc. Kirkit Knots Rugs French Accents Pampas Leather Samad Stark Studio Rugs Tamarian Tibet Rug Company The boutique trade show for high-end rugs is coming to the West Coast Register for free, using the exclusive COVER Connect Las Vegas promo code via www.thecoverconnect.com

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InFOCUS

WINTER WHITES

Playful and fun, the tufted polka dot design is like perfect rows of freshly scooped french vanilla ice cream! Momeni’s Patara Collection is handwoven in 100 percent Argentinian wool; made exclusively for Little Salt, Pure Salt’s baby and kids brand.

momeni.com

InDEPTH

39 BROADLOOM, BESPOKE

Contributing Editor Cecile Corral reviews the proliferation of broadloom within the marketplace—fueled by designers and customization-craving consumers.

21

Insider’s View

EDITOR’S STATEMENT

RUG INSIDER Contributing Editor Alex Milstein presents our winter issue packed with products and insight. Warmest tidings for the holidays and coming new year— the RI Team wishes you a healthy and prosperous 2023.

InPERSPECTIVE

InPERSPECTIVE

60 BRICKS & CLICKS

Contributing editor Rodney Hakim of Persian Gallery New York asks and answers the question: “Is it more important to have an area rug showroom or an engaging online website?”

Index

46

EMPOWERING WOMEN WEAVERS

Contributing Editor Alex Milstein shares how Julie Dasher Rugs works directly with women weavers to help them earn more money for their families.

InSTYLE

49 Don’t miss our curated gallery of the hottest products you’ll see at the upcoming Winter markets!

From Las Vegas to Domotex, companies are set to share their wares in style.

63 Please consider purchasing from the fine companies listed here. Our advertisers help support this magazine. We make an effort not to show an editorial bias as we acknowledge their contribution.

In the SPOTLIGHT

64

NOURISON

Industry powerhouse Nourison is spotlighted for our winter issue with its Pinnacle Award-winning Scroll area rug design.

16

Feature collection: Pristmatic PRS32. See more best-selling styles at nourison.com Visit Nourison at Las Vega Market, World Market Center Building C, C112

PRS32 BLUE GOLD
Mystique Collection - Charisma, Midnight Coral 888.726.2393 | www.samad.com THE WORLD’S FINEST DECORATIVE RUGS

In-House Exhibition

9 - 20 January 2023

As we will not be participating in DOMOTEX 2023, we will hold an In-House exhibition in January 2023. VIP appointments can be made by contacting us at event@zollanvari.ch. VIP services will include pick up from airport/hotel, VIP private showroom access & VIP prices on selected items.

Maison et Objet Paris

Zollanvari

19 - 23 January 2023 Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
Online-Shop Back Soon with an Exclusive Online-only Collection Keep a Look Out @ www.zollanvari-onlineshop.com

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Julie Dasher Rugs believes firmly that women weavers deserve a liveable wage to support their families and raise their children in a positive way. Words to live by as we turn the calendar. Read more, page 46.

juliedasherrugs.com

INSIDER’S

Norman Rockwell’s famous paintings depict incredible winter wonderlands—and this year, they take on new importance as Winter Whites trend heavily.

Our InFocus section in this issue takes a closer look at these bright naturals in the form of organic and modern rugs blended with neutral tones.

Winter also is a busy market season — from the Atlanta Market to Domotex , Las Vegas Market and Surfaces , and RUG INSIDER will bring you the inside scoop on all that's happening.

We are happy to report that Cover Connect will regroup at the Surfaces event in Las Vegas, Jan 31 - Feb. 2, 2023. Fresh off the successful New York run this past fall, Cover Connect Las Vegas will be represented by several venerable companies such as French Accents, Tamarian, and Samad, to name a few.

As we go into show season and distribution channels change, more traditional rug retailers are offering broadloom selections. Contributing Editor Cecile Corral looks at customization trends that are carving new business opportunities for the carpet category in Broadloom, Bespoke .

I was grateful to speak with Julie Dasher Rugs about the women weavers it employs in Afghanistan. The company works with them to help ensure that they not only can get paid a living wage, but also receive education for themselves and their children.

Also in this issue, Rodney Hakim shares his thoughts on the battle between brick-and-mortar stores and online in his Bricks and Clicks column, and leading importers pull out all of the stops for our InStyle gallery, which is jampacked with 40 latest and greatest rug designs that you won’t find in any other trade magazine.

We appreciate the subscribers and advertisers who make it possible to do what we do—we couldn’t do it without you.

On behalf of Peter Woodaman and the entire RUG INSIDER family, I wish you all the very best holidays and successful business in the New Year.

VIEW | FROM THE EDITOR
PHOTO KATHA HARU
21
© GOODWEAVE
You Don’t Have to Spend A Lot for HIGH-END ANTIQUE RUGS Elegant . Functional . Appealing Prices JERRY LIVIAN COLLECTION 25 WEST 31ST STREET, SUITE 502 • NEW YORK, NY 10001 (212) 683-2666 • (800) 448-0080 • WWW.JLRUGS.COM • EMAIL: Info@JLRugs.com WE ARE PROUD OF 35+ YEARS OF HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS IN BUSINESS Specializing in Antique Decorative Oriental Rugs 25 West 31ST Street Suite 502 New York, NY 10001 T 212-268-5876 F 212-268-0847 www.davoodzadehrugs.com E: davoodzadehrugs@aol.com p West Persian Kurdish, 17'11" x 8’, circa 1890 Amritsar, 9' x 12', circa 1900 u A. Davoodzadeh & Son, LLC 22
3901 LIBERTY AVE. • NORTH BERGEN, NJ 07047 LOTFYANDSONS.COM • (201) 867-7733
MODREN RUGS, INC. 3901 LIBERTY AVE SUITE 10 NORTH BERGEN, NJ 07047 AUBUSSON SAVONNERIE TAPESTRIES WE BUY, SELL & TRADE NEW & ANTIQUE AUBUSSON SAVONNERIE & TAPESTRIES S-1167 2029 173-I YLS-516 www.ModRenRugs.com Tel: 201-866-0909
SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 MEADOWLANDS EXPO CENTER NJ INQUIRIES: PETER@THERUGSHOW.COM THERUGSHOW | THERUGSHOW.COM The Rug Show is a non-profit organization. SavetheDate!
LAS VEGAS NEW YORK HIGH POINT KALATY.COM AMBROSE COLLECTION ARTISANAL HANDCRAFTED RUGS HIGH POINT MARKET IHFC, G-369 | APRIL 21 - 26, 2023 Showroom opens Friday, April 21 (closed Sat, 10/22).

Broadloom, BESPOKE

Customization trends are carving new business opportunities for the carpet category

and more customization-craving consumers.

Wall-to-wall carpet is tapping into relevance and resourcefulness in the form of made-to-order area rugs and runners for stairs, halls and entryways.

“Today, everyone wants customization in every aspect of their home and in their home furnishings,” noted Christine Zampaglione, Senior Director of Marketing, Stanton. “Customization is the way of the future in broadloom.”

The proof is in its proliferation within the marketplace.

In October, luxury carpet and rugs source Stark expanded its customization capabilities via its acquisition of Naples, FL-based Designers’ Rug Center, a showroom of wall-to-wall carpet and custom rugs. The company, now known as Design Center by Stark, offers regional clients and interior designers a

greatly enhanced array of the finest quality rugs and wall-to-wall carpet thanks to our affiliation with Stark,” said Designers’ Rug Center founder Chris Smith. “After 30 years in Southwest Florida, we’re confident our past and future clients will love our expanded showroom and increased inventory of the latest luxurious carpet and rugs available.”

Then in November the three cofounders of home exercise bike and treadmill brand Peloton regrouped to launch Ernesta, a new direct-toconsumer custom rug brand venture. It is set to launch in Spring 2023, backed by a $25 million Series A round of funding led by Addition.

"I've always had a passion for design, and when I noticed how confusing and overwhelming the process can be for consumers who want great style at an accessible price point, particularly in the rug category, I saw a white space in

the market,” said John Foley, cofounder with Hisao Kushi and Yony Feng, in a press release. "With Ernesta, our goal is to bring high-quality, custom rugs to a wide audience through a community-driven, curated and personal buying experience. Hisao, Yony and I are excited to work with a talented launch team, some of whom were part of the team that built Peloton into a household name, to help people find the perfect custom rug for their needs in a frictionless, affordable way."

The soft surfaces segment of the industry has always been a large part of the Surfaces component of The International Surface Event (TISE), and this year’s event—scheduled Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Las Vegas—will feature an expanded show floor to include 425+ participating exhibitor brands.

Among the highlights are: Shaw Floors, which returned to the event in 2022 and is back again this year; Stanton Flooring; Mannington/Phenix; Dreamweaver/Pentz; Dixie Home; Kaleen; Couristan; Marquis Industries; Prestige Mills/Stark Studio Plus; and Rebel Carpet & Rugs.

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InDEPTH | BROADLOOM, BESPOKE
Kaleen’s Home Porch Collection in Neutrals

“[TISE] is seeing a great resurgence back to trade shows,” Michelle Swayze, Senior Marketing for TISE, told RUG INSIDER. “As the products our industry serves are very tactile with a need to experience in person, TISE is an important part of the sourcing and shopping experience.”

Building on the recent growth of the soft surface category, TISE’s Surfaces segment is also debuting a dedicated area to soft surface flooring new to the show this year: the Wools Pavilion, which will serve as a showcase of woolfocused brands like Stanton Flooring, Prestige Mills/Stark Studio Rugs, Couristan and others.

And for the first time since the pandemic, the Design & Construction Week (DCW) is returning to Las Vegas with its five-stop, multi-show, onebadge experience, which includes TISE and Las Vegas Market.

Stanton Carpet is coming to TISE with a focus on its growing luxury performance category—dubbed LION / Luxury Indoor Outdoor Nylon—of broadloom and custom area rugs and runners, Zampaglione said.

“That means it is very high end, unlike the kinds of performance products the market has typically seen in the past,” she explained. “We’ve made our luxury performance offerings not just very beautiful, but also very soft to the touch, plus easy to clean, durable and able to maintain their quality integrity.”

Customization has been part of Stanton’s vernacular for 20+ years, she explained. But in the past decade, and especially more recently, the demand for custom sizes and styles made from its broadloom offering has heightened —triggering the company’s expanded capabilities.

“We’ve made a lot of advances in fiber technology, and last year we introduced our own yarn system for LION,” she said. “We’re now growing that line to meet growing demand.”

The company’s “Create A Rug Program” draws from Stanton’s estimated 4,500 SKUs in inventory at its Calhoun, Ga.-based facility, and is supported by a robust marketing campaign that calls out its customization options on promotional materials created for its 5,000 retail partners across the U.S. and Canada.

“Over the past decade, we have really seen year-over-year increases in customer demand for our custom rugs, and in that time we’ve really perfected the process,” she said. “At our facility in Georgia, we produce over 100 custom rugs per day.”

In a fortuitous move, Couristan revamped its custom rug program within its broadloom division just before the pandemic hit.

“We had started seeing our broadloom products being used more for custom rugs and runners for stairs and hallways —in fact, the majority of our custom cuts were coming from broadloom. And that made us realize [custom] was becoming an important component of our business,” explained Larry Mahurter, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising.

In support of that effort, Couristan also revamped its merchandising tools to showcase carpets as custom rugs in room scenes, and added a custom rug calculator to offer customers real-time quotes on custom orders, he added.

Area rug company Kaleen made the move into the handmade broadloom category in 2015, and “from the start it’s been a consistently strong business for us,” said Monty Rathi, Chief Operating Officer.

He continued: “Wall-to-wall carpet has typically been a lower-end product from the major suppliers. We found our

Nourison broadloom custom rug and stair runner.

30
TISE Surfaces Show 2021

niche in handmade all-wool and woolrich blends, and it’s working well for us. We’ve grown from zero to 850 SKUs of carpet in just seven years.”

Custom rugs cut from carpet is a driver of the business, Rathi noted, which is partly why Kaleen’s broadloom program is expanding from three to four collections come January at TISE Surfaces. The company will launch its new Home & Porch program of outdoorfriendly products, hand-woven of UVtreated polyester.

“It comes in broadloom plus custom rugs and runners,” he noted. “We can customize a rug in any size up through 16 foot 4 inches wide and 85 feet long.”

The company’s three other broadloom brands are:

• Kaleen, which comprises a mix of textures and wool blends;

• Pure Life, a 100% natural fiber product that employs a clean construction free from harmful chemicals;

• Hook & Beam, a collection that is 50% machine-made and 50% hand-crafted.

Similarly to Kaleen, Momeni launched its broadloom division seven years ago, “and it has grown steadily for us in that time,” Reza Momeni, Principal, said.

Covid put the brakes on the company’s new product development for the category, which for Momeni spans mostly all-wool and wool-rich blends.

“But designers love it, and they really like that we can customize into rugs, so we are planning to add new looks and new constructions in the second half of 2023,” he said.

A more than 30-year player in the broadloom arena, Nourison has seen orders for custom rugs from broadloom climb considerably, said Giovanni Marra, Director of Marketing & Digital Strategy.

“People like the cleaner looks broadloom offers, but they want them as

custom rugs,” he noted. “And they like the idea of coordinating throughout the home with different but related products—for example, broadloom in the living room, custom runners in the entryway or stairs, and a custom rug in the dining room.”

Nourison offers a diverse broadloom mix. Its tufted line is produced domestically at its Georgia-based facility; but

it also imports other varieties from China and India.

To keep the assortment fresh and fuel ongoing client interest, Nourison is adding specialty looks, including new hand-carved patterns.

Carpet comprises 40% of flooring giant Mohawk Industries’ total flooring business, said Bart Hill, Senior Vice President of the Mohawk Home division.

InDEPTH | BROADLOOM, BESPOKE 31

Couristan broadloom installations, left & center: Boteti/Aegean and Royalax II - New Keshan/Ebony Sky courtesy of Sudbury Rug and Carpet; far right: Envision CollectionDaring/Aegean Blue courtesy of Floor & Decor.

In line with the continued growth of hard-surface flooring, the need for area rugs increases in tandem, he observed. And that includes custom styles cut from the company’s wall-to-wall offerings, he noted.

“To that end, we’re adding more patterns in tufting, more multicolor, more tonal, more high-low looks, more loops and cuts—especially for the high-end side of the business,” Hill said. “These advancements in tufting techniques allow us to create better custom rug options for our customers.”

While not a broadloom source, longtime area rug player Dalyn has put a new lease on the life on its custom rug program—made from rolls of broadloom.

“What put us on the map was our custom rug program that we had for years. But it became dated, and it eventually went away,” explained Brian Vander Werf, Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

For five years, Dalyn explored alternative ways to bring the program back under a new identity that made sense and filled a gap in the marketplace.

“We wanted to reinvent ourselves in the custom rug category, but we wanted to do it right,” he said.

Two years later, they found their formula: “Take our top sellers that we were already bringing in as rugs in six sizes, and make them available for customization.”

Custom sizes are unlimited in length and can go as wide as 15 feet, which is the width of the carpet roll. Shapes are also available, and include: rectangle, square, round, oval and octagon.

Dubbed “Tailord,” the program spans “what call active solids” that are loomed and tufted into 21 different qualities.

In 2023, Dalyn is expanding the line to 30 styles, adding several new looks while replacing some existing styles that haven’t been as popular.

“Tailord has been a success for us,” Vander Werf summed. “We’re very pleased with it, and we have room to grow.”

IMAGES COURTESY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES.

InDEPTH | BROADLOOM, BESPOKE 32
Dalyn’s Tailord program includes top-selling collections available for customization.
Register Now: January 29–February 2, 2023 Save the Date: July 30–August 3, 2023 LasVegasMarket.com | @lasvegasmarket Thousands of products in an immersive experience paired with valuable business connections. It’s all here for you—Only at Las Vegas Market ONLY AT LAS VEGAS MARKET ©2022 International Market Centers, LLC EXPLORE & ENGAGE

WinterWhites

Nmever pure—yet always alluring—winter white speaks with creamy ivory undertones. Subtle white-gray shades evoke overcast winter days. During the Elizabethan era, only the rich were allowed to wear pristine white which was difficult to produce and keep clean, while the poor could wear the natural, off-white color of wool.

Today’s winter white interiors are in vogue from farmhouse to coastal, contemporary, and boho styles. Paired with minimalist neutral, natural, and muted decor, the most successful schemes rely on layering a variety of textures, tones, and contrast. Enter surprise accents: skillfully woven abstract elements reminiscent of animal tracks, stark leaves and branches, or frozen patterns in charcoal, caramel, mocha, khaki and more.

Subtle drama transforms these winter rug fantasies from blah to awe!

34 InFOCUS | WINTER WHITES
1
4 35
| WINTER WHITES 1.
2.
3. Bohemian
4. Sirocco
5. Safavieh’s
2 3 “Never use pure white; it doesn’t exist in nature.“ ALDRO T. HIBBARD, AMERICAN PAINTER 5
InFOCUS
Leaftree by Alicia D. Keshishian | adkcarpets.com
Kalaty’s Oberoi Collection | kalaty.com
Collection by Samad | samad.com
Algiers Black/White by Drew & Jonathan Home by Karastan | karastan.com
Palma Collection PAM308A | safavieh.com
| WINTER WHITES 6
InFOCUS
“Winter is the time for
comfort,
for good food and warmth…it is the time for home.“
8 6. Calvin Klein Irradiant Collection from Nourison | nourison.com 7. Art Resources’ Atlas Collection | artresources.us 8. Design ST27 from French Accents | farugs.com 9. Canvas Art Collection by Bokara | bokara.com 10. Freeworn Silver White by Tamarian | tamarian.com 11. HRI’s Fern Collection | hrirugs.com 12. Charcoal by Wool
Silk
| woolandsilkrugs.com 13. Couristan’s Marina
couristan.com 7 36
EDITH SITWELL
&
Rugs
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12 11 10 9 13 37

Design 84212 from S&H Rugs | shrugs.com

Anica Collection by Feizy | feizy.com

Zollanvari Inverted Snakeskin 1, Gabbehs Flora & Fauna | zollanvari.com

Oriental Designer Rugs Echo Collection orientaldesignerrugs.net

38 InFOCUS | WINTER WHITES 15 16
15 17
14.
15.
16.
17.
since 1975 CUSTOM | CONTEMPORARY | TRADITIONAL | AUBUSSON | SAVONNERIE | TIBETAN | AN TIQUE 201-601-0040 | SALES@BOKARA.COM extremely fine handwoven | silk blend riviera | a2225 b1gl aurora | 1032g blch extremely fine handloomed wool & silk sona antique | js252 begl extremely fine handwoven wool & silk extremely fine handwoven wool neo villa all wool | ac227 mugr
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DOMOTEX

FLOORED BY NATURE

12 – 15 JANUARY 2023

Hannover · Germany domotex.de

The fascination of nature: sustainability, social responsibility and a new awareness of values are the focus of the world‘s leading trade show for floor coverings in 2023 with the keynote theme FLOORED BY NATURE. Discover the latest product trends and room solutions. Be inspired and get in touch with the international industry.

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(201) 863-8888 www.teppteamusa .com Your resource for fine hand-woven rugs 44 (215) 338-6515 (800) 372-3366 MaterialConcepts.com Tyvek® is a registered trademark of DuPont™ for its brand of protective material. RUG WRAP made from your choice of water-resistant and breathable DuPont™ Tyvek® or waterproof SuperTough Rug Wrap ALSO IN STOCK: • KRAFT PAPER • POLY TUBING Suppliers to the Rug and Home Furnishings Industries Since 1999
31 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY LAS VEGAS 2023 Comprised of three world-class tradeshows: SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomac | TileExpo events, The International Surface Event (TISE) is the largest North American floor covering, stone, and tile industry B2B event - the annual, first-ofthe-year marketplace for sourcing the newest industry products and services. intlsurfaceevent.com/register REGISTER NOW

EMPOWERING Women Weavers

JULIE DASHER RUGS AIMS TO PLACE MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS OF WOMEN WEAVERS.

In an industry heavily focused on rug designs and designerbranded products, it’s easy to forget about the people behind the scenes who make everything happen—the weavers.

Julie Dasher of Julie Dasher Rugs— which recently won first place in the rug/tile/textile category for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Arizona North’s 2022 Design in Excellence Award—is on a mission to change that.

The company noticed after forming in 2008 that there were a lot of children weaving rugs, so Dasher connected with Goodweave—a program to stop child labor in global supply chains— and donated a percentage of her profits to fight child labor, help improve environmental practices and aid with the education of the weavers and their children.

That was the beginning of their work with the Nepalese weavers, 60 percent of which are women.

“When I was in New York at one of the shows, I connected with a group that

was weaving rugs in Afghanistan,” Dasher explains. “Most of those rugs are made in people’s homes, and the weavers are women. It’s the women and their daughters that are learning, and their moms are mentoring them. But what I found out was that those women who were spending hours on end, tying the knots to make the rugs were going to market in their communities and selling their rugs to the brokers in Pakistan, and basically not making a livable wage.”

Dasher worked directly with those women to help them earn more money for their families, and eventually connected with other weavers in Afghanistan.

For a time, the Taliban came into Afghanistan and shut everything down. But Dasher says over the last six months or so the women weavers are

back working again and she’s able to place orders with them.

Now, 100 percent of the weavers connected with Julie Dasher Rugs are women, and wages have increased 1025 percent as a result of these direct relationships.

Aside from the fact that Dasher is making a difference in these weavers’ lives, she says it also helps business— which brings everything full circle.

One of the biggest ways it helps is because Dasher says younger designers put more value on social missions than older designers do.

“I think we’re headed in a good direction, consistent with what the up-andcoming designers are looking for,” Dasher says. “I find that more of them tell me it’s so wonderful that we’re supporting a good cause and that that’s critical when they’re selecting vendors. Whereas the older designers are sometimes more focused on just lead times and pricing and pattern selection.”

If your company is interested in getting involved with weavers in other countries and supporting their important and highly skilled work, Dasher has a few words of advice.

46 InPERSPECTIVE | EMPOWERING WOMEN WEAVERS
Julile Dasher, Julie Dasher Rugs
“Now, 100 percent of the weavers are women, and wages have increased 10-25 percent.“

“With the globalization of the economy and the ease of communication worldwide, now is the time to make connections directly with women weavers,” she explains. “And try to directly connect with women because they’re doing the majority of the work. I feel they should be rewarded for their work by making better money than they do with the middlemen in the supply chain who take a big chunk and don’t leave much behind for the women.”

Dasher believes firmly that these women deserve to make a livable wage so that they can help support their families and raise their children in a positive way, and she’s doing everything she can to support that idea.

“I want them to give their children a good education so that they can grow up and find their passions,” she says. “I was a career counselor before I became a rug designer, and I always told my clients to find a job that they love and they will never have to work a day in their life.

Clouds by

Rugs is customizable by fiber, construction, size, and color with over 1,500 colors available.

“If you pursue your passion, do what’s in your heart and do what you think is right, the money will follow,” she continues. “Don’t just do things for the money—because you’re never going to be happy that way. If you’re happy and

you’re making other people happy in your business, then that’s the best way to go.”

juliedasherrugs.com

IMAGES COURTESY OF JULIE DASHER RUGS

Meet high quality standards for woven carpets and fulfil your customers’ wishes with unmatched flexibility.

With the Schönherr ALPHA series of double-carpet double-rapier weaving machines, you can operate at the forefront of the world’s best carpet producers. Secure your market position with the highest system availability and state-of-the-art technology of ALPHA. Rely on carpet weaving systems by Stäubli.

www.staubli.com

47 Hall 20, Booth B48
Widen your flexibility in creating carpets
Silk Julie Dasher
WINTER 2023 - VOLUME XXVI - ISSUE 3 BROAD SPECTRUM + Broadloom, Bespoke Empowering Women Weavers InSTYLE Winter Markets Bricks & Clicks Just Scroll with It! On The Cover | SAMAD RUGS AND CARP FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSI WinterWhites www.ruginsider.com/subscribe 24/7 News Source: www.ruginsider.com Digital Issues: www.issuu.com/ruginsider Follow us: @ruginsider.com contact: peter@ruginsider.com Rug Insider Magazine The Voice of the Area Rug Industry. Happy New Year! Start ‘23 off with a Print Subscription to PRINT ~ WEBSITE ~ DIGITAL ~ TOTAL RUG INSIDER COVERAGE
TAMARIAN | tamarian.com SAMAD | samad.com InSTYLE | MARKETS Surfaces/Cover Connect Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 2023 intlsurfaceevent.com 49
SAFAVIEH | safavieh.com
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KALATY | kalaty.com
InSTYLE
MARKETS
51 ART RESOURCES | artresources.us InSTYLE | MARKETS
S&H
52 InSTYLE | MARKETS
RUGS | shrugs.com ZOLLANVARI | zollanvari.com
WOOL & SILK | woolandsilkrugs.com FRENCH ACCENTS | farugs.com 53 InSTYLE | MARKETS Cover Connect Las Vegas Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 2023 intlsurfaceevent.com
54 COURISTAN | couristan.com orientaldesignerrugs.net Las Vegas Market Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 2023 lasvegasmarket.com InSTYLE | MARKETS
ANDKHUY | andkhuyrugs.com HRI | hrirugs.com 55
Vegas Market Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 2023 lasvegasmarket.com
Las
NOURISON | nourison.com CAPEL | capelrugs.com Las Vegas Market Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 2023 lasvegasmarket.com 56 InSTYLE | MARKETS
Ella Collection 145 Industrial Ave • Suite L • Little Ferry, NJ 07643 • 1-888-880-RUGS • 212-695-3000 • Fax: 212-695-0022 info@shalombrothers.com • www.shalombrothers.com Design AR-64 Programmed Sizes 2x3, 8x10, 9x12 and 10x14, custom sizes, oversizes and runners We have moved! New Address iii
IV/2022 ■■■ SN-FACHPRESSE HAMBURG COVER STORY: DOMOTEX PAGE 24 Domotex: why so important right now ?
OF THE MONTH PAGE 46
and
Austria): “Afghan rugs are highly contemporary” C 31467 · IV | 2022 www.carpet-mag.de Europe‘s major business magazine for area rugs www.carpet-mag.com THE CARPET HOME NEWSLETTER Register now: bit.ly/carpethome-newsletter-en
INTERVIEW
Fritz Langauer
Christoph Ziereis (Oritop,

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

BRICKS & CLICKS

We are kicking off 2023 with a look at various segments of the area rug industry, running the gamut from high end hand-knotted antique rugs to more economically priced machine-made and tufted rugs. Regardless of which end of the price spectrum one is looking at, an increasingly important decision for buyers and sellers has become not just what type of rugs they want to what locations they want to buy them from.

Traditionally, area rug buyers gravitate to in-store, brick and mortar locations to source their desired carpets. In the past several years, particularly during the height of the pandemic shutdowns there has been a dramatic shift to online rug shopping. Unable to make the journey to a trusted rug vendor’s showroom, buyers instead made an online journey through various rug vendors’ websites.

As we enter 2023, and the covid pandemic shutdowns are thankfully behind us, where does the area rug industry stand? Is it more important to have a brick and mortar location where buyers can come review rugs in person, or is it more important to have a website with a wow factor, to allow buyers to peruse rugs from their computers, tablets, or mobile devices?

Whereas the pandemic brought about the shutdown of many rug showrooms, some temporarily, and some permanently, the aftermath has instead seen a big uptick in investments brick and mortar rug locations.

The home furnishing megastar, RH (formerly Restoration Hardware), has been running a highly successful business model in the way of establishing massive and elegantly appointed retail locations in major cities across the United States, with each location selling rugs, furniture, lighting, and more. One of their locations has become an anchor in New York City's Meatpacking District, and has helped to lead the revitalization of that district, and turn it into one of the hottest parts of the city.

Major names within the area rug industry have also established footprints in New York City, with Mansour from Los Angeles and Boccara from France securing significant showroom spaces in the posh Upper East Side. Loloi and other top brands set up new bases further downtown in the vicinity of the famed Textile Building on Fifth Avenue.

The increased push into brick and mortar showrooms has also coincided with an equally big investment into area rug websites and other online rug sale portals. The aforementioned vendors

all have strong websites, but some other companies have focused more squarely on the digital realm than on the physical one.

One of the big newsmakers in recent months has been Ernesta, a new venture from the former CEO of Peloton, which will be launching this Spring, as they have invested $25 million in a custom rug venture that will initially be based online, and work in a direct-to-consumer model.

Top online locations where area rugs are sold include Amazon, Wayfair, Chairish, One Kings Lane, Ruby Lane, Etsy, eBay, Houzz, and more. Individual rug companies have also moved further and further into the digital space, with even more area rug companies at all ends of the price and antiquity spectrum displaying their complete collections online, increasingly with pricing and online checkout available.

This concept has also borne itself out in online auctions, with longtime auctioneers Sotheby’s and Christie’s stepping back from running regular area rug

60 InPERSPECTIVE | BRICKS & CLICKS

auctions. Other rug-focused entities like Nazmiyal Auctions, Material Culture, and 1st Bid Auctions (not to be confused with 1stDibs, which also has online auctions) running successful online rug sales every couple of months.

So which one is it? Is it more important to have an area rug showroom or an engaging online website?

In the past, and the present, one of the keys to success is a big, beautiful brick-and-mortar showroom in a prime location to showcase your products. At the same time, there is an increased emphasis on having an eye catching, full-featured, and easy-to-use website, so people around the United States and beyond can shop your inventory day and night—24-7-365.

A rug industry veteran I was recently speaking with summed it up best. He said, “It used to only be about the Bricks. Then, it was all about the Clicks. Now, the Bricks don’t mean as much unless it’s Bricks AND Clicks.”

I couldn’t have put it better, myself!

RUGS

61
“Is it more important to have an area rug showroom or an engaging website?“
SHOWROOM IMAGE COURTESY OF THE DAVID ADLER FINE RUGS
Advertiser Page No. Atlanta Market 6 Andkhuy Rugs 13 Art Resources 1 Bichoupan 63 Bokara Back Cover Carpet Connect Las Vegas 15 Couristan 8/9 Davoodzadeh & Son 22 Domotex 43 Exquisite Rugs 3 French Accents 24/25 Fiber-Shield Inside Back Cover Advertiser Page No. Goodweave 59 HRI 7 Jerry Livian Antique Rugs 20 Kalaty Rug Inside Cover/25 Las Vegas Market 33 Lotfy & Sons 23 Material Concepts 44 ModRen Rugs Inc. 26 Momeni 11 Neman 42 Nourison 17 Oriental Designer Rugs 16 Advertiser Page No. Persian Gallery 39 Rug Insider Magazine 79 S & H Rugs 4 Samad 18/19 Shalom Bros. Inc. 4 Staubli 47 Surfaces 45 Tamarian 3 Tepp Team 44 The Rug Show 27 Wool & Silk 5 Zollanvari 20 Insider GUIDE | ADVERTISERS INDEX $40 1-Year 4 Issues $75 2-Years 8 Issues WINTER 2023 - VOLUME XXVI - ISSUE 3 BROAD SPECTRUM + Broadloom, Bespoke Empowering Women Weavers InSTYLE Winter Markets Bricks & Clicks tScrollwithIt! RUGS AND CARP FOR THE DESIGN PROFESSI WinterWhites SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 603-279-4938 ruginsider.com/subscribe 62
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 BICHOUPAN RUG CORP. KERMAN RUGS ARE OUR SPECIALTY! A NTIQUE M ANCHESTER K ASHAN , 12’7” X 23’3”

Just Scroll with it!

The history of scrolls dates back to ancient Egypt as the first form of editable record keeping texts.

Leading floor covering and home accents manufacturer Nourison debuted its Scroll Area Rug, Grey Shadow at the Fall 2022 High Point Market with a limited edition of 100 pieces.

The multi-toned grey design pays homage to the classic art of parchment crafting, framed by artistically shaded edges that seem to leap from the hand-tufted ground, much like a sheet of aged paper. Made from a blend of New Zealand wool and silky Luxcelle™, the Scroll area rug is finished with hand-carved accents for depth. An individually carved unit number features at the bottom corner of each rug.

Nourison’s stylish creation was honored at the 26th annual Pinnacle Awards held during High Point Market as the winning design in the Floor Coverings category. This year’s theme, “Creating Tomorrow’s Homes,” focused on the style, forms, finishes, and functionality of the furnishings that will be part of our future lives. Just as parchments preserve antiquity, we agree: Scroll will remain a timeless icon.

nourison.com

64 In the SPOTLIGHT | NOURISON
Nourison's Giovanni Marra and Kimberly Welling are flanked by Jane Dagmi, Managing Director, HPXD (far left) and Carrie Dillon, Managing Director, International Textile Alliance.

Tough Stains Have Met

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.

WE GUARANTEE IT, OR YOUR MONEY BACK!
Their
Introducing Professional Grade FIBER-SHIELD® FAST-KLEEN spot cleaner
• One-Stop Spot Remover • Professional Grade • Water-based, Green Formula • ZERO VOCs or Solvents Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc. 26 Old Dock Road Yaphank, NY 11980 631-345-0240 www.fiber-shield.com
Match
.
since 1975 BOKARA.COM CREATOR OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RUGS IN THE WORLD CUSTOM | CONTEMPORARY | TRADITIONAL | AUBUSSON | SAVONNERIE | TIBETAN | ANTIQUE 50 ENTERPRISE AVE, SECAUCUS, NJ 07094 | 201-601-0040 | SALES@BOKARA.COM HANDMADE RUGS DESIGNED TO canterbury silk | rj231 bemu extremely fine handloomed | wool & silk

Tough Stains Have Met

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.

WE GUARANTEE IT, OR YOUR MONEY BACK!
Their
Introducing Professional Grade FIBER-SHIELD® FAST-KLEEN spot cleaner
• One-Stop Spot Remover • Professional Grade • Water-based, Green Formula • ZERO VOCs or Solvents Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc. 26 Old Dock Road Yaphank, NY 11980 631-345-0240 www.fiber-shield.com
Match
.
since 1975 BOKARA.COM CREATOR OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RUGS IN THE WORLD CUSTOM | CONTEMPORARY | TRADITIONAL | AUBUSSON | SAVONNERIE | TIBETAN | ANTIQUE 50 ENTERPRISE AVE, SECAUCUS, NJ 07094 | 201-601-0040 | SALES@BOKARA.COM HANDMADE RUGS DESIGNED TO canterbury silk | rj231 bemu extremely fine handloomed | wool & silk
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