HIGH POINT MARKET SHOWROOM TOURS, PEOPLE AND PARTIES, PART 1
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HIGH POINT, N.C. -- High Point Market rug showrooms were abuzz last week with a star-studded roster of parties, celebrity licensing debuts and glamorous off-site events, as well as a steady stream of buyers anxious to see their newest collections.
The party circuit opened on Friday night, Oct. 20, for the Sustainable Furnishings Council's 10th anniversary celebration at The Lofts at Union Square, with presentation hosted by designer Libby Langdon. One of the well-attended and most comprehensive and innovative launches, Novogratz by Momeni, was presented in its own dedicated showroom -- designed by the husband and wife team -- with vignettes and rugs hanging gallery-style.
Loloi's showroom events -- centered around an extensive roll out of fresh New Bohemian designs by licensing partner Justina Blakeney and additions to the blockbuster Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines --were a magnet for buyers and designers. Fans also lined up to meet celebrity licensing entrepreneur Donny Osmond at Kas Rugs' showroom; at Nourison, where Kathy Ireland and Barclay Butera made special meet-and-greet appearances; and at Surya's launch presentation of Elle Decor Home.
Jaipur Living upped the glamour quotient with a stunning installation and party at Central Station/Notre Monde. Billed as an "Artful Senses Fete," celebrated the five senses with a live art installation, an operatic aria performance, a Shibori dyeing workshop, live DJ, and dining experience with charcuterie boards and libations.
In this special two-part roundup, follow RugNews.com as we cover the people, showrooms, events and all things rugs at the Fall 2016 edition of High Point Market.
Vernon Singleton (left) of Amer, Miriam Thompson of the Rug Rack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Tanuj Gupta, Amer pose in front of Maya 4, hand knotted in India of New Zealand wool and art silk, in ivory from the Maya collection.
ABBYSON LIVING
At the ribbon-cutting for Abbyson Living's new High Point showroom: Abby Rafieha, Sherri Rafieha, Yavar Rafieha, Doddy Rafieha, Rodd Rafieha, Chelsea Rafieha and Bob Maricich, CEO of IMC (read full story). CREATIVE TOUCH
Pillows are a big draw at the Suites at Market Square and Creative Touch shows off its lively contemporary designs.
DALYN
Posing in front of the company's Fresno collection are Ronnie Jaffar of Dalyn with Rugs as Art's John, Lucy and Jesse Murse, all from Sarasota, Florida, and Andy Feinstein of Dalyn.
FEIZY
Thad Mirt and Rita Brown of Indigo & Poppy in Lafayette, California, with Cameron Feizy, Feizy.
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
Greg Jordt of HRI; Zeke and Abby Cox of Classic Furniture in Charlottesville, Virginia; Lee Harounian and Deo Jugmohan of HRI at the rug company's busy High Point Market showroom.
JAIPUR LIVING
Morgan Martin of Edwardshae Design in Nashville and Asha Chaudhary of Jaipur Living at the elegant Artful Senses Fete at Central Station/Notre Monde in High Point.
KALEEN
From left, Blake Dennard, Kaleen, Denesse Guadeloupe-Rojas, Interiors by Design, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Monty Rathi, Kaleen.
KARASTAN
Valerie Roberts, Dazzling Decor in Houston, Texas; John Huff of Karastan, and Karran McPherson of Dazzling Decor.
KAS 
Celebrity licensing guru Donny Osmond visits Santhi Yarlagadda of Kas at the rug maker's showroom.
Arkadiy Zvyagilskiy and Jackie Amendola of Exceptional Furniture in Brooklyn, New York, at a meet and greet with Donny Osmond at the Kas Rugs showroom.
KASHANIAN
Jonathan Kashanian of F.J. Kashanian shows off the company's latest designs to a steady stream of buyers and designers.
KING'S HOUSE ORIENTAL RUGS 
International Market Centers' Patti Preston, tenant relations manager (left), and Rhonda Jackson, Leasing Director, flank Claire Drummond, co-owner of The King's House Oriental Rugs the ribbon cutting for the company's High Point showroom.
LINON/POWELL
Amanda Andrews and Steve Mazarakis of Linon show off a teal blue textural design from the new Evolution collection.
LOLOI
Steven Loloi, Megan Craig and Nichole McConnell of Nebraska Furniture Mart, and Amir Loloi of Loloi Rugs.
LR RESOURCES
Mike Thompson, center, introduces LR Resources new regional managers, Grey Christie (right), who will head up the Eastern territory, and Eric Driggans (left), who was promoted to Western regional manager (read full story).
Make sure not to miss Part 2 of RugNews.com's High Point Showroom Tours, People and Parties.