LAS VEGAS -- Reflecting industry optimism, rug exhibitors at the winter 2019 Las Vegas Market exceeded the expectations of retailers and designers with a star-studded roster of parties, celebrity designers and big-name buyers anxious to see their newest releases.
In tandem with brisk business and strong order writing, rug companies hosted not-to-be-missed parties, in-showroom seminars, and lots of new showrooms debuted with glamorous displays and ribbon cuttings. The rollout of Orian's Palmetto Living brand was feted with a party featuring a live band and attendees like celeb social media maven Erin Vogelpohl of My Texas Home. Nourison was a magnet for design stars from Kathy Ireland of Kathy Ireland Worldwide to Farah Merhi, of Inspire Me Home.
And Loloi's 15th anniversary lured market shoppers with live music and Turkish bazaar-styled spice market -- following a champagne toast by top IMC execs. In addition, fans queued up at Momeni's Las Vegas Market showroom to meet The Novogratz, Madcap Cottage stars, and Erin Gates.
In this exclusive feature, RugNews.com takes you on a tour of showrooms to see what piqued the interest of buyers and designers. In Part 2 we cover Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean through Unique Loom. And don't miss
Part 1 for buyers shopping Amer through KAS.
LIORA MANNE FOR TRANS-OCEAN
At Trans-Ocean's showroom, Liora Manne poses in front of her favorite new rug line, Cosmos, which pushes the design envelop in the outdoor category. Part of the solution-dyed polyester Everywhere in/out collection, Cosmos' unexpected embellishments scored with Las Vegas shoppers.
LOLOI 
At Loloi's 15th anniversary bash at Las Vegas Market, IMC's Lee Hershberg (left) and Kevin Malkiewicz congratulate Cyrus Loloi, Amir Loloi, Steven Loloi in a spice market set up in their showroom to the delight of customers.
At Loloi's 15th anniversary party, Amanda Crane and Mari Bickmore, partners in Bickmore Design in Salt Lake City, Utah, take time out to see Loloi's latest abstract designs with Loloi's Tim Ward, vice president of sales, western region.
MOMENI 
At Momeni's Las Vegas Market party, Reza Momeni poses with Kelly Leary and Niko Papadapolous, both of Sergenian's in Madison, Wisconsin, and Joseph Matthies of Momeni. They're in front of a machine-made abstract design from the hit Cannes collection. Shown left, CAN-2 Gray 
Momeni wowed Las Vegas Market attendees with a showroom presentation by its celebrity designer licensing partners, from left, Cortney and Robert Novogratz of The Novogratz, designer Erin Gates, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke of Madcap Cottage and Momeni's Rachel Fasciani.
NOURISON
Alex Peykar and Jonathan Peykar of Nourison pose with Casey Bleier and Rakesh Agarwal of Rug & Home in Asheville, North Carolina, in front of new Kathy Ireland Malta collection rugs. 
At Nourison's busy Las Vegas Market showroom, Jonathan Peykar, Mina Peykar, Kathy Ireland and Alex Peykar celebrate the success of the Moroccan Celebration collection by Kathy Ireland Home. The power-loomed rugs are contemporary takes on traditional Persian designs.
ORIENTAL WEAVERS
Mandi Williams, design director, and Angie Shook, marketing director, of Oriental Weavers in front of the Xanadu collection display that caught buyers' eyes at Las Vegas Market. Debuting for 2019, Xanadu is machine-made of polypropylene in contemporary and Persian designs in a vivid new palette.
PALMETTO LIVING BY ORIAN
Amanda MaCaulay and Rob Merritt of Palmetto Living, the new specialty store brand from Orian, pose with Dan Luck of Bed Bath and Beyond and Ryan Leal of Palmetto Living. Posing in front of popular Cloud 9 rugs. 
At Palmetto Living's Las Vegas Market launch party, social media celeb Erin Vogelpohl of My Texas Home (center) shows Brandon Culpepper of Orian/Palmetto Living shows her favorite new rug, Seaborn in natural from the Boucle series.
RIZZY HOME 
With Rizzy Home's new Finesse collection as a background are Larry Hedrick of Rizzy Home, Brenda Calkins, Gerald and Carla Gerami, all of Rug Gallery by Gerami in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Steve Roan of Rizzy. A market hit, Finesse rugs are hand-knotted in a wool viscose blend.
SAFAVIEH
Kevin Ivers of Overstock and Darius Yaraghi of Safavieh pose in front of a display of Safavieh's cross-category outdoor products, from a Moroccan-inspired in-out rug to furniture and market umbrellas. 
Ashley Yaraghi of Safavieh gives Bryant Ross and Daniella Kelley of Wayfair in Boston a tour of new area rug collections debuting at Las Vegas Market.
STARK STUDIO RUGS
Taylor van der Mandele and Steve Codella of Stark Studio Rugs flank Shelley Alexanian and Andrew Alexanian of Alexanian Carpet & Flooring in Canada. Behind them is the best-selling Pizzazz design from the wool and silk Rhythm collection.
TAYSE 
Laila Bohac of Tayse and Ryan Sevart of HMS Furniture & Floors in Girard, Kansas pose in front of the best-selling new Venice collection, machine woven of polyester with cotton back.
UNIQUE LOOM 
Jane Seymour vogues the Waves and Open Hearts designs from her rug collection for Unique Loom at the rug maker's first World Market Center showroom, which premiered at the winter 2019 Las Vegas Market.