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RUGNEWS.COM EXCLUSIVE
RUG TRENDS SPOTTED AT NY NOW 2015;
SHOW BOASTS NEARLY 40 OFFERING RUGS
Reporting upbeat traffic, Dena Richards designer
for Eliko Antique & Decorative Rugs said designers were the
company's main target at NY Now.
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NEW YORK - Despite opening on Super Bowl Sunday and facing a major snow storm, NY
Now 2015 commanded enough foot traffic on Sunday to please many in the
rug industry. Exhibitors at the revamped furnishings fair, formerly
known as the New York International Gift Show, were there to connect
with clients old and new, and to present trend-right designs and colors
rather than to launch new products, which many makers debuted in January
in Atlanta and Las Vegas.
A key
trend is vintage looks in both machine-made and hand-knotted rugs, most
noteworthy a new Black Weft collection at the high end from Eliko. New
approaches to texture ranged from high tech indoor/outdoor rugs at
Chilewich to hand-crafted styles such as Loopy Mango's crocheted merino
wool rugs to Australian company Atolyia's goat hair kilims, which were
named Best of Market for Textiles Market Week, Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, in New
York City.
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NY Now exhibitor Atolyia of Australia was awarded
Best of Market by the combined shows of Textiles Market Week.
They won for a collection of solid and patterned hand-loomed
goat hair kilims.
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Nearly 40
exhibitors showed rugs (many as part of overall soft goods programs).
RugNews.com spoke to those focusing on the category. Here is a roundup:
Eliko
While
Eliko Antique & Decorative Rugs' booth may have been on the smaller side, there was no shortage of
designers stopping by. "The show has been very good to us and yesterday
[Sunday, Feb. 1] was very good too," says Eliko designer Dena Richards,
noting that the company works mostly with interior designers. Richards
says that grey and beige continue be on point with designers. A
highlight at the show was a new collection, Black Weft, made in India
for Eliko featuring a dark weft which makes the rugs look aged. "It's a
nice solution if you want an antique rug in the third bedroom but don't
want to put the money into it."
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A highlight for designers is the new Black Weft collection made in India for Eliko featuring a dark weft which makes the rugs look aged.
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F. J.
Kashanian
Updated
traditional looks continue to be a big hit among buyers in the luxury
market at the F.J. Kashanian booth, notes Jonathan A. Kashanian, vice
president of the Secaucus, NJ-based company. "We are selling a mixture
of everything," Kashanian says. "Colors are in and our hand-made Vintage
collection too."That range gives new rugs with classic Persian
medallion designs a lovely washed out and faded look. "The show was not
so much business for us, but a good try for meeting new customers."
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Jonathan A. Kashanian of F.J. Kashanian in Secaucus, NJ, at the company's NY Now space.
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The hand-made Vintage collection is a big hit for buyers looking for classic Persian designs with a faded look.
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Colors are in according to Jonathan Kashanian of F.J. Kashanian.
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Mastour
High-end
rug maker Mastour prefers to take a more sophisticated approach to the
company's newest introductions. "We are always busy at shows," notes
Joseph Mastour, "but for us, Vegas was the best show." Mastour says that
both interior designers and retailers have been stopping by the NY Now
booth seeking out the company's signature abstract and transitional
pieces. "We do very soft colors and most of our clients want something
sophisticated.ÂÂ Greys, taupes and creams remain perennial favorites," Mastour says, adding that the company's rugs are made in a company-owned
factory in Nepal.
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Joseph Mastour and his sales team show off the company's sophisticated range at NY Now.
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The latest abstract and transitional patterns on display at Mastour.
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Nuloom
"This is
our fourth show, and yesterday [Sunday, Feb. 1] was really busy," says
Kate Koesterer of Nuloom Rugs. Founded six years ago, the young company
built its business online and the show proved a nice opportunity for
meeting clients face to face, she added. "The bulk of our business is
online, but we have slowly broken into the interior designer segment."
She attributed that in part to the company's opening of its first
showroom at 225 W. 37th Street in New York, which displays 300 available
rug styles.
"Some
designers are looking for neutral monotones, while others want a really
bright center piece. "Taking a traditional design and modernizing it or
taking a vintage design and remaking it in a really bright color is very
popular." She points to the Medallion rug in marine blue as an example
of updating the classic medallion design with the faded look so on point
at the moment. Another instance is the machine made Velu rug collection
of printed viscose traditional patterns with an antiqued look.
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At Nuloom the Cherie rug plays with tradition in one of the company's bright center piece rugs.
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Kate Koesterer of Nuloom Rugs shows a faded medallion rug.
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Libeco
Belgian
home textiles maker Libeco, known for its linen bedding, has a small
range of linen rugs, a niche segment seeing a pickup in business, notes
Edward Reisert, national sale director. Lifestyle trends feeding into
the growing popularity of linen include an ongoing desire for natural,
ecological and enduring designs. "People are looking for the basics done
beautifully," Reisert says. "Our rugs are really for people looking for
an alternative to the ubiquitous cotton rugs." Reisert expects a good
year for the luxury brand, sold through specialty stores like ABC Carpet
& Home and Barney's New York. "The feeling going ahead is that we are
going to have a strong year and buyers are putting money into products
that are universally saleable. He notes that Libeco anticipates grey to
be the color of the season and if going for a stripe he notes that
people are picking up the company's Brimfield Stripe rug, comprised of
shades of flax, gray and oyster.
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Edward Reisert of Libeco with the company's rug collection swatches, part of an overall natural linen textile story.
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New from Libeco is the Brimfield Stripe, in flax, named after the American Brimfield flea market. 100% linen; $394 for 4x6.
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Chilewich
Modern
rug maker Chilewich debuted the new indoor/outdoor round Shag Dot rug,
catering to the mix-and-match and DIY trends, says Amy Cooper, vice
president of wholesale. Available in citron, green, orange and white,
Dot Shag Mats are designed to be configured in a multitude of ways.
"Primarily, this is a retailer show for us," Cooper says. "Traffic has
been good," adds Barrett Miningham, director of US department store
sales, noting that about half the company's business is through
department stores, the other half, specialty stores.
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Barrett Miningham, director of US department store sales for Chilewich at the company's NY Now booth.
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Chilewich debuted the new indoor-outdoor round Shag Dot mats in four solid colors that can act just like stepping stones.
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NY NOW is
divided into four collections: Home, Lifestyle, Handmade and New, which
together encompass 100,000 products in over 400 product categories. All
rug companies above showed at NY NOW Home, which showcases home
furnishings, home textiles, tabletop and gourmet housewares.
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From Loopy Mango, a 32" round big loop crocheted rug of merino wool retails for $545. The company has a new store in Soho, NYC.
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02.04.15
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