By Andrea Lillo
Developing “a more serious licensing program in the U.S.,” Pantone has partnered with Oriental Weavers for an area rug collection that will debut at the summer markets. Part of Pantone’s Pantone Universe program, the line will be under the Sphinx by Oriental Weavers label and include about five collections in a wide range of constructions, from machine-made synthetics to handmade natural fibers.

Designers now have the opportunity to customize designs from Safavieh’s Tibetan and Nepalese Safavieh Couture rugs with the launch of the company’s new custom rug program last month at High Point Market. Safavieh Couture includes its running line collections from designers Thomas O’Brien, David Easton, Jamie Drake, Thom Filicia and, within her Nepalese carpet designs, Martha Stewart.

As consumers head outdoors as the weather gets warmer, they’ll be able to decorate their backyard spaces with even more sophisticated indoor/outdoor rug designs than ever before. Manufacturers recognize that this is an important growth area—especially as these rugs are used both indoors and out—and it continues to evolve.

By Andrea Lillo

An interior design blogger with a loyal following has partnered with Capel Rugs to debut a new licensed collection of rugs at this month’s High Point Market.

Coco, the blogger behind the decor and interior design blog COCOCOZY, has designed textiles before, but this is her first rug collection. To launch the new brand, Capel will host “Cocktails with Coco” on Monday, Apr. 22, from 4 p.m. on in its Market Square showroom, space 112, so attendees can meet Coco in person.

Indoor/outdoor living and U.S.-produced products were two of the themes within the rug category at last month’s New York Home Fashions Market, as these are both areas that continue to grow at retail, manufacturers said.

Continuing its expansion beyond sleep products, Sleep Innovations debuted its new Comfort Co. brand last month, a high-end line that will offer premium foam and memory foam products that are outside of the bedroom, including kitchen and bath  mats, memory foam ottomans and indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories.

With the new year comes new showrooms for a number of rug exhibitors at Las Vegas Market.

In Building A, in space A-444, Rizzy Home is now in a much larger showroom of 9,300 square feet, which is bigger than its former space by about 3,000 square feet. In the new location, it will feature an expanded pillow area and more rugs, beds and furniture.

At a loss for words? Take a look at the growing trend for text appreciation in home décor. Whether the words are used as inspiration or as a design element, they all make for great conversation starters.—Andrea Lillo

1 | Vietri
The Metro collection was inspired by Vietri founder Susan Gravely’s world travels. Each mold is handcarved from Italian stoneware and glazed in white or neutral taupe. vietri.com

With the new year comes new and expanded showrooms for several rug exhibitors at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, the majority of which will be seen in Building 1 at AmericasMart.

On Floor 3 of Building 1, Kaleen has doubled its showroom, 3-C-9, to more than 6,000 square feet. “This expansion allows Kaleen a stylish and elegant, yet fully functional setting for Kaleen’s ever-expanding product assortment,” said Joe Barkley, executive vice president of Kaleen. “The objective is to provide our guests with a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere to view Kaleen products.”

By Andrea Lillo

“We really know our customer—we can give them exactly what they want,” said Tom Delavan, the creative director of Gilt Home. And so it did, with the launch of Gilt Home’s first private label collection of furniture, rugs and decorative pillows last month.

By Andrea Lillo

Like so many other home furnishings categories, handknotted rugs have seen a subtle shift lately, as cleaner designs and more up-to-date colors have evolved to satisfy today’s consumer. Though traditional is still an important part of the business, transitional continues to make headway.

What worked before in this category is not necessarily going to work today, manufacturers say. This area has evolved with the times, and for some manufacturers business has remained steady.

Having been in the high-end, hand-knotted area rug business for 30 years, Art Resources recently debuted a lower-price point line to access a new consumer. 

“We went into the lower-price point category because we saw the opportunities were there,” and India had the capabilities to offer handmade products at the new price point, said Eddie Simantob, a partner in the business with his brother Jack. “They are designed to appeal to a broad range of tastes, with very affordable price points.”

By Andrea Lillo

More options are afoot for consumers who love the graphic designer look and colors that have proliferated in flatweaves, but perhaps crave a softer feel.

Flatweaves are selling well, as these rugs offer an affordable designer look, usually in only two colors per design. And now this style is migrating to other constructions, to offer consumers more options from which to choose.

By Andrea Lillo

The particular design aesthetic—and audience—a designer brings to a collection continues to have strong appeal, and designers debuted either new collections altogether at High Point Market, or added to existing ones.

This round of introductions included bold colors and graphic looks that reflected that designer’s touch, and in a number of constructions. 

Focusing on the joyful side of life, the latest designs in Carpet One’s campaign for breast cancer awareness and education include 12 new welcome mats, in such styles as pet, holiday and nautical, each incorporating the iconic pink ribbon symbol.  In addition, for the first time this year, the mats will be available for purchase online, as several designs will be featured and can be bought on Carpet One’s Facebook page, in addition to participating Carpet One Floor & Home retailers.

By David Gill

Messe Frankfurt introduced the design trends to be seen at the upcoming Heimtextil trade show at a meeting in New York City last month.

The trends emerged from a panel of international design agencies from six countries, and were presented at the meeting by Mark Woodman, trend consultant with Global Color Research, who participated in the panel.

As the race to the White House heats up, people can show their support with an array of party products for the home. Whether they are person-specific, party-specific or more generally based on the American flag and colors, these items cover both sides of the aisle.—Andrea Lillo

Paragon
The Allegiance textured plaque from Paragon allows you to display the stars and stripes indoors or out. It measures 29 by 41 inches. paragonpg.com

By Andrea Lillo

At this month’s High Point Market The Bombay Company will debut its licensed product categories with The Powell Company, which has dedicated a space in the front of its showroom in the National Furniture Mart to the Bombay brand. The companies first announced their agreement for a licensed furniture line in July, which was extended to include area rugs last month.

By Andrea Lillo

At last month’s New York Home Fashions Market, Nourison welcomed its latest licensed line into the fold: Waverly. Offering accent and area rugs, including indoor/outdoor, the new line is inspired by the fabrics from the almost 90-year-old home furnishings brand.

It may be centuries old, but the rich history of handcrafted work in Mexico provides a fertile resource for today’s designers and manufacturers. Whether made in Mexico by local artisans or inspired by them, these products incorporate the intricate patterns, saturated colors and traditional motifs for which the country is known. —Andrea Lillo

See http://hfnmag.com/product-gallery/2622 for more Mexico trends

By Andrea Lillo

As the backyard has evolved to become a sophisticated living space, the indoor/outdoor rug category has also transformed, giving consumers the looks that complement the stylish outdoor furniture now available. But though they are manufactured to weather the storm, literally, outside the home, the overwhelming majority of these rugs are used indoors, manufacturers say, where they weather kitchen spills, dog messes and more.

Between the new fashionable looks and its easy-care maintenance, this category is gaining ground for manufacturers.

By Andrea Lillo

Manufacturers used the summer to break into new rug categories—or new product categories all together. Or they just expanded what clearly works for the consumer, such as flatweaves and color.

At both the recent Atlanta International Area Rug Market and Las Vegas Market, introductions also included updated traditionals and handknotteds. And the indoor/outdoor category continues to flourish.

The quilting patterns made by pioneer women, the simplicity of the Arts and Crafts movement and other art influences throughout American history have been highlighted in the 25 new designs in Shaw Living’s Bob Timberlake collection, which will be showcased at Las Vegas Market. The collection is made in the U.S. of Shaw’s EverTouch recyclable nylon. Shaw launched its collaboration with Timberlake last year. 

Feizy Rugs’ introductions at the Las Vegas Market include additions to both the Feizy Fine and Feizy Home collections, including the African-inspired patterns of Mambasa collection in the Feizy Fine collection.

Mambasa is handknotted in pure bamboo silk and consists of clean, contemporary designs with a subtle shimmer.

By Andrea Lillo

Stunning photographs used to be limited to hanging wall decor, but no longer. Photorealism has taken hold in the home furnishings field, and the rug category is no exception. Technology has allowed photographs to be transferred to products, bringing a real life look to the floor from the front door on in.

Chilewich is set to debut both new shapes and a new texture and colorway at this month’s Atlanta International Area Rug Market.

Retro shapes make up the new Lounge collection, which were initially inspired by Japanese textiles before evolving into something more mid-century, the company said. In three colors (oatmeal, vintage gray and russet) and two abstract sizes (4-by-6 and 6-by-9, with retail prices of $385 and $670, respectively), the collection is also available in placemats and coasters.

By Andrea Lillo

It’s a feel-good category with a lot of potential in the home, and its supporting—and supportive—cast continues to grow.

It’s the comfort mat group, and whether they are made of polyurethane, gel, rubber or another material, these mats have the attention of consumers—and their feet.

Nourison Celebrates Butera Debut
Interior designer Barclay Butera officially made his debut into the Nourison family of licensed collections at market with the release of his line with the company. The line includes flatweaves, woven distressed leather and Barclay’s signature stripes, among other looks. Nourison held a party during the market to celebrate the new line.

At the recent New York Home Fashions Market, Garland added a chevron design to its line, called Pow Wow. It was one of the biggest hits at the show, said John Garland, vice president. “People are looking for perceived value such as surface texture and new colors,” he said. The chevron pattern, “is trendy but has value.”

Other hits were a new design called Pixel in its cut and loop construction, and Grid-Lok, a juvenile look in berber, he said.

Kaleen Opens Facility

Now in its 15th year in the U.S., Kaleen officially opened its new facility in Dalton, Ga., just before the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. From left, Grey Christie, regional vice president, Kaleen; David Pennington, mayor of Dalton, Ga.; Radhe Rathi, CEO, Kaleen; Monty Rathi, chief operating officer, Kaleen; Monty’s wife Kirti and their children Gaurav and Ruchicka, help Joe Barkley, executive vice president, Kaleen, cut the ribbon on the new facility.

By Andrea Lillo
Rug manufacturers and importers bring their latest and greatest to AmericasMart this month at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, debuting numerous new collections, colors and price points, as well as a few new showrooms.

But for 2012, the focus for the rug industry—as with other home furnishings categories—will be to continue to adjust to consumers’ new way of thinking—spending less money.

By Andrea Lillo
The designs may be simple, but their impact in a room is powerful, so it’s no surprise that flatweaves are seeing more action among consumers.

Formerly a designer look, these looks have wafted down to the mainstream, though designers remain devoted to them. Designer Genevieve Gorder’s new collection with Capel, for example, launched in October with flatwoven designs. “Flatweaves are super functional and super graphic ... the layering possibilities are endless,” Gorder told HFN at High Point Market.

Couristan has released Pulse, a new sales and marketing tool for its dealers that is the beginning of the company’s new cross-platform branding campaign. Featuring all 39 area rug collections in Couristan’s running line through October, the Pulse program includes a library of glossy four-color brochures that focus on popular lifestyle trends and is housed in a sturdy three-ring binder.

By Andrea Lillo

Fun, bold and bright describe Capel’s newest collection with Genevieve Gorder, as well as the designer herself, who was at High Point Market last month to launch her first collection with the rug company.

 “Rugs wake a room up,” Gorder said, and her first group with Capel—four flatwoven wool designs—are the ideal starting point for the designer. “Flatweaves are super functional and super graphic ... the layering possibilities are endless,” Gorder told HFN.

This year’s edition of Maison & Objet, held in Paris last month, was bursting with color—single colors especially. As reported by WGSN-HomeBuildlife, the online trend forecasting and product design resource.

Lime

• Zesty lime, apple and chartreuse tones were seen across each product category.
• The color is used as a solid section on product design, upholstered furniture, ceramics and decorative accessories.

Yellow

Oriental Weavers will unveil its new showroom at High Point Market, located in the International Home Furnishings Center in space G361. The new space is 3,700 square feet, bigger than its former space in Showplace, which was about 2,700 square feet.

The company wanted to move to the IHFC because “most of our customers shop in that building, and this makes it easier for them,” said Aaron Gray, director of marketing.

At the recently completed New York Home Fashions Market, Dynamic Rugs showed its new viscose Treasure collection, which features double point and drop stitch, said Matthew Rohanian, president. “It focuses on today’s colors and contemporary/transitional looks.” It was based on the heat set polypropylene construction of Eclipse and Mystero—two of Dynamic’s best selling lines—but uses viscose instead. The line currently has 14 designs. The collection is made in Turkey; a 5-by-8 will retail for $349. 

Safavieh will expand on the hot ikat theme with more designs at this month’s New York shows—Metro Market Week and the New York Home Fashions Market Week.

Exhibiting in its 153 Madison Avenue location, Safavieh will unveil the Bergama collection, a group of 10 ikat rug designs. This group follows the recent addition of Indian Sojourn, a soumak collection of ikats for the company’s David Easton for Safavieh Couture, which will also be shown.

Those visiting the Surya showroom at 7 West 34th Street, #439 during this month’s New York Home Fashions Market will see a new push on its Artistic Weavers brand, which caters to the mass market category. 

International Textile Manufacturing targets the furry set at this month’s New York Home Fashions Market, as it launches its Bone Appétit program for pets. In the shape of a dog bone, the rugs are ideal for pets’ food and water bowls. Made of durable polypropylene, they are in a braided construction for reversibility.

Capel Rugs will launch two Capel Anywhere collections during the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market, to be held Sept. 12-15 in Chicago.

The new Wildlife collection adds a contemporary vibe with its oversized animal prints on natural backgrounds. Machine woven in Belgium in an olefin/polyester blend, it’s available in bengal and zebra patterns, and a 5’3” by 7’6” will retail for $159.

Also machine woven in Belgium, Picnic consists of three patterns in five neutral hues highlighted wi

While no one has control over the uncertain economy, Nourison has spent the last year strengthening what it does have control over in house, putting millions of dollars into its infrastructure with the addition of looms and other equipment, as well as adding two new showrooms—in New York and High Point, N.C.—which open this month.

The company also announced its newest designer license—Joseph Abboud, which will debut at High Point Market.

Sphinx by Oriental Weavers will be showing for the first time at next month’s Chicago International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market, Sept. 12-15, in suite # 8-2034 at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Sphinx will feature such indoor/outdoor collections as Montego and Caspian, as well as the U.S.-made, spaced-dyed nylon collections Milano, Palermo and Salerno.

By Andrea Lillo

ROY G BIV is alive and well in the area rug category. Bright, saturated color has enlivened consumers, and manufacturers continue to freshen their assortments with evolved designs and new color pairings. One strong trend merges bold tones with grays and browns, further updating the color story for today’s consumer.

“People want something cheery, easy and livable,” said Tami Watras, vice president-product and creative director, Capel. “Color is back.”

By Andrea Lillo

More was more at last month’s High Point Market. More color, more texture and more designer collections, as manufacturers looked to bring more added value to retailers.

Color continues its reign. Bolder colors, such as indigos, and trendy grays and browns were found all over. Shags have evolved, with new designs, fiber combinations or types, lengths of fibers, and other features.

By Allison Zisko

Ralph Lauren is on a roll.

As the spring show season begins, Ralph Lauren Home executives are confident they now have all the components needed for an integrated lifestyle presentation, with two distinct brands that do not overlap in price point or design yet share a common viewpoint.

By Andrea Lillo
Back-to-school themes, shaped rugs and memory foam mats for the kitchen and bathroom were some of the hot categories last month at the New York Home Fashions Market. And the Internet—whether the company’s involvement in social media or designs focusing on Internet slang—also had a bigger presence this market.

Creative Home Ideas, a 30-year-old family-owned business, began a new chapter in its company’s history with a new showroom at the recent textiles market here.

Besides more room for its wide variety of accent, scatter, kitchen and bath rugs, the new showroom/design studio also provides additional space for its sales, product development and design teams as they work with customers to develop new product programs.

Capel welcomed its newest designer, Kevin O’Brien, into the Capel family with a launch party at last month’s High Point Market. The initial group includes six tufted designs and two braids.

The collection marks O’Brien’s first area rug collection, though he has been in the design industry for more than 20 years, beginning his career as an architect and painter. O’Brien broke into the home category with hand-painted fabrics and branched out into top-of-bed products, pillows, furniture, wall art and accessories.

By Andrea Lillo

When it comes to helping retailers sell rugs, manufacturers have concentrated on a new concept: Think small.

Manufacturers are increasingly offering displays in a compact footprint that showcase anywhere from 20 to almost 100 rug designs in sample sizes. Whether for stores with limited floor space, or even for designers who need to pull out samples to compare colors with upholstery or fabric, these displays are an ideal alternative if full-sized rugs can’t be displayed or stored.

By Andrea Lillo

Eco-friendly fibers are not new to the rug category, but now that eco-savvy consumers shop more frequently online across all home furnishings categories, calling out products’ green features can only be a good thing.  

By Andrea Lillo

While most of the American rug market has traditionally been product with a pile, the flatweave category has proven a steady or even growing area for the industry.

Available in casual or traditional looks, flatweaves fit numerous design styles and price points—consumers can get a flatweave at around $300 for a 5-by-8.

By Andrea Lillo

Rug manufacturers at last month’s Las Vegas Market kept the newness coming in 2010 with both product and category introductions.

Trends such as shags, customization and color continued, and so did the topic of price points, as both consumers and buyers remain cautious about spending.   

“Everything is focused on price now,” said Seth King, vice president, sales and marketing, Surya. “Before, that wasn’t even a discussion. No one talked about price points at all, just about what they needed in the stores.”

By Andrea Lillo
The four brothers named the company Noury and Sons to give it an established, veteran feel. Decades later, the company now called Nourison has become exactly that in the area rug business.
Celebrating its 30th year in business in 2010, Nourison has built itself on filling holes in the market, said Alex Peykar, co-founder and principal. In everything the company does, “the name of the game is, how do we create something that is different?” he said.

By Andrea Lillio
With the fourth quarter around the corner, manufacturers are headed into the New York Home Textiles Market this month with a more upbeat outlook, as people feel the economy is picking up.
Price continues to be an important issue, rug manufacturers say, which needs to be coupled with added value for consumers.
“Perceived value is key,” said Richard Siminou, vice president, Harounian Rugs. “If you can offer high quality at promotional price points featuring the latest in color and design, then you’re in the game.”

By Andrea Lillo
With a continuing focus on pricing, manufacturers exhibiting at the Las Vegas Market in September will aim to tempt buyers with new categories and designs. Beyond expansions of lower price point offerings, of course.
Manufacturers also see this as an opportunity to show their new products to the West Coast, as many buyers may not have made it to the other summer trade shows.

By Jennifer Alexis
The Las Vegas Market is fairly new, but vendors have nonetheless deemed it a prime opportunity to nab that all-important face-to-face time with customers—particularly new ones.
“This market is extremely important to us,” said Kim Barta, brand manager for Shaw Living. The company has been setting up shop at the market for the past couple of years, and finds good reason to add it to the roster of annual events it participates in.

By Jennifer Alexis
Rug vendors say to expect soft, neutrAl colors to remain key this year, with more vibrant hues making frequent appearances as accent colors in today’s designs.
Softer, neutral colors and earth tones continue to dominate much of the area-rug landscape, rug makers concurred. They said it’s a reflection of the nation’s collective mood—hopeful, but decidedly nervous and on edge as the economic climate continues to weigh heavily on people’s minds—and consumers’ need for comfort.

By Jennifer Alexis
Rug companies, banking on a continued trend toward home-based recreation and entertaining, are applying styles, texture and color once reserved for rugs used only inside the home for ones designed for outdoor use.

By Jessica Goldbogen Harlan
As rug manufacturers head to High Point, they’ll be focusing on how best to service what many of them consider one of their fastest-growing retail channels: furniture stores.
While some rug suppliers have closed their High Point showrooms, others count this market as an important place to do business.

By Jessica Harlan
Consumers shopping the area rug sections at big-box home improvement stores Lowe’s and Home Depot in Atlanta will find a good selection of in-stock options, plus even more availability in special-order pieces. In terms of variety of designs and materials, Home Depot has an edge.

By Jennifer Quail
NEW YORK–With an eye to bring something to market that would set a standard even in the high-end segment, Classic Rug Collection has debuted a line of pure silk rugs appropriately titled The Luxe Collection.
“This segment of the marketplace is the only part that’s really selling right now,” Barbara Barran, president and designer of Classic Rug, said of the luxury business. “But still, to survive in that market you have to have something no one else is making.”

By Jennifer Quail
NEW YORK–Licensed rugs are on the rise as everything from magazine titles, interior designers and celebrity chefs find a home in the floor covering industry.

By Jennifer Quail
HIGH POINT, N.C.—Plowing ahead with its goal of being a multi-category destination for retailers, Surya showed a lengthy list of new licenses at High Point Market last month and has plans for expansion into new categories in the near future.

By Barbara Thau
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.–Williamsburg is spreading its home licensing wings.
This year marks the biggest launch of licensed product to date for the brand inspired by the lifestyle, goods and architecture of 18th-century Colonial Williamsburg, Va.

By Jennifer Quail
Exhibitors this week in Las Vegas are faced with two extreme realities of retail business they have become rather accustomed to in recent quarters: Everyone wants and needs new product to stay competitive, but few have the bankroll to support that game plan.
There are the questions of the state of the dollar, the cost of raw materials, the pending presidential election and far-from-empty retail inventories, to name just a few, coming up with every business transaction. But, in order to survive, there is no choice but to plow ahead.

By Jennifer Quail
ATLANTA–It’s a family affair as CMI celebrates 30 years in business and moves ahead with plans for expanding its presence on the market circuit.