SHAGGY RUG STORY: PATTERNS GIVE
A NEW LOOK TO A RETRO CATEGORY 
Kane Visions collection retails for approximately
$249 in 5?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤3?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤x7?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤9.?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤
By Lissa Wyman Rug vendors are bringing greater variety to the hot shag category by adding pattern to the shaggy texture.
Patterned shags are available in a variety of price points, in both machine made and hand made constructions. The common denominator is their appeal to a younger consumer looking for a casual look that is fun and sexy.
KANE CARPET
Kane Supreme Shag Collection in Boxes design is
$379 in 5"3" x 7'9."
Kane Carpet has taken a good-better-best approach to the patterned shag category. There are three major qualities that comprise a comprehensive merchandising program. Kane?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤s shags are Wilton-woven in Israel of the company's proprietary Eurolon heat-set polypropylene yarn. The yarn's engineering helps prevent traditional maintenance issues typically associated with shag rugs, according to Stephen Hoberman, national sales manager for rugs . "The rugs are simple to clean, extremely resistant to staining, colorfast, and shed-free." The three Kane patterned shag collections include heavy-weight Heaven, made from a heavy cable style yarn crafted in fashion pastels. The retail price is approximately $599 in 5?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤3?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤x7?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤9?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤ is $599. Supreme Shag features patterns in soft grey tones woven in various yarn densities and retailing for $379 in the 5?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤3?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤x7?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤9?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤ size. Visions Shag is a value-oriented collection which uses textured twist effects. The suggested retail is approximately $249 in 5?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤3?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤x7?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤9.?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤ . UNITED WEAVERS OF AMERICA 
United Weavers Bear Paw retails at $230 in 5x8
United Weavers of America was one of the pioneers of modern patterned shag, adding lively designs to the texture over two years ago. "Our shag is doing real well," said Diane Carleo, director of marketing for UWA. The woven polypropylene rugs are value-priced at $23o for 5x8. "They turn well at that price, but really fly at the sale price of $199.99," she remarked. "The bounce back resiliency makes it the perfect rug underfoot, it softens the leather and micro suede furniture, and it's perfect in front of the fireplace," Carleo said. Recently, United Weavers broadened its patterned shags by introducing a group of Lodge designs to the popular contemporary patterns already in the line.
"As long as the cheap shag from the 60?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤s doesn?≤?Θ╝?Σ≤t come back it will be here a long time," noted Carleo. "If the old cheap stuff makes its way back, people will pull away from it like the plague. No one needs a high maintenance rug. Buyers do need shags on the basis of quality, not price. KAS
Kas Elements collections retails for $299 in 5x8. Kas currently has one machine-woven patterned shag collection which is available in eight stocked designs. The Elements collection features contemporary casual designs. They are made in the United Arab Emirates of polypropelene. The 5x8 has a suggested retail price of $299.
The Elements patterned group is an addition to Kas' other shag lines which include a solid color line and a bamboo/cotton collection. ORIAN 
Orian Shagadelic rug in Groovy design has a suggested retail price of $150 in 5x8.
Orian's new Shagadelic collection is woven at Orian's manufacturing facilities in Anderson, SC. The heat-set polypropylene rugs are woven on 12-color looms using a proprietary process which gives the shags a unique texture. the US and retails at approximately $150 in 5x8 size. The Shagadelic line was one of the company's biggest hits at the recent New York Home Textiles Market, according to Paul Sullivan, Orian's vice president of sales and marketing. HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL 
HRI Amelia collection $299 in 5 x 8 Harounian Rugs International may be best known for its traditional hand knotted and hand tufted rugs, but the company is also becoming more deeply involved with contemporary styling. During the recent New York Home Textiles Market, HRI introduced the Amelia Collection, a group of patterned machine-made shags. The rugs are woven in China of polypropylene and retail for approximately $299.
CENTRAL ORIENTAL
Central Oriental's Pebbles collection retails for $660 in 5x8.
While many patterned shags are on the value-oriented side of the price spectrum, there is also a healthy market for step-up products. Central Oriental's Pebbles collection is made of thick felted New Zealand wool yarns that also uses a matching wool backing. The thickly textures yarnsn have a 1.5-inch pile height. Suggested retail price is $660 in 5x8. MOMENI
Momeni Retro hand knot collection retails
at $549 in 5x8. Momeni's shag story also has a high end appeal. The Retro collection features a subtle pattern effect achieved by the use of hand-knotted, tie-dyed New Zealand wool yarns. Because of the yarns, each piece is unique, bringing one-of-a-kind styling to the mid-level price point.
Because of the dying technique, each piece is unique.
DALYN
Dalyn Splendor collection has a suggested retail
of $679 in 5x8 size.
Dalyn was one of the first rug vendors to promote the shag look. The company has several collections in its line. Dalyn's Splendoris a patterned group of shags positioned at he medium-high portion of the price spectrum. The rugs are machine- made in the USA of premium nylon. Suggested retail is $679 in 5x8. Splendor has a pile height of approximately one-inch, a more tailored texture compared to many lines on the market., Available in a large number of sizes and shapes, with all designs also available in custom sizes. THE RUG MARKET
Rug Market Thoroughly Modern collection in Rothko
design retails for $565 in 5'3" x 7'7."
The Rug Market's Thoroughly Moden collection is hand tufted in India using a combination of 45% cotton, 45% wool and 10% silk yarns, adding rich multi-texture surface interest. Available in both brown/blue and cream/orange color palettes. Suggested retail price is $565 in 5'3" x 7'7."
"Patterned shags do well as long as the designs are clear and simple," said Michael Shabtai, president of The Rug Market.
P
Mid-Century Roots of
Today's Patterned Shags
Vintage Ege Rya Rug in Route 66 Design was made in the mid-60's. It measures 27.5" x 43.5" It is for sale on the Internet for approximately $156. While anybody over the age of 40 probably remembers 70's-era wall to wall shag carpets, patterned shag rugs also occupied a unique niche in the history of the US rug business. In the 1960's, young Americans were introduced to "Rya Rugs," a patterned Axminster woven construction styled for the most part in large-scale abstract contemporary patterns. The rugs were machine-made versions of the Scandinavian folk-art rugs which were hand-knotted of long wool shag yarns. Egeteapper, the Danish manufacturer, was extremely successful bringing Rya rugs to the modern market, using bright colors and graphic designs now associated with Mid-Century Modern textiles. During the 60's, rug choices for American consumers were limited largely to Persian design hand knotted rugs, braided rugs, patterned rugs cut from Axminster or tufted rugs cut from broadloom.
Rya rugs resonated with young people as hip, fashionable and sexy. Rya rugs were the first casual contemporary rugs to capture the young consumer's imagination. They were not inexpensive (at the time a 6x9 Rya type rug had a retail price of $699 to $1,200.) Egetaepper dominated the market for several years, and later several US manufacturers and importers also got into the business. (Concepts International, now a division of Prestige Mills, was a major wholesaler of Rya style rugs in the early to mid 70's.). Today, Rya rugs are sold on the Internet at www.classoic-modern.co.uk, a UK-based Internet retailer of Mid-Century rugs, textiles and accessories. 
Ege Rya vintage rug in shades of blue uses archetypal midcentury modern design of overlapping blocks and elongated diamonds. The rug measures 27 x 42" It is on sale on the internet for approximately $168.
Patterned shags, part 2, click here 3.7.08 |
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