Contemporary Furniture Fair Report:
RUG EXHIBITORS AT ICFF ARE  WORLDS AWAY FROM MAINSTREAM BUSINESS

Michael Mandapath of Warp & Weft at the ICFF

By Lissa Wyman

NEW YORK -- Rugs exhibited at last week's International Contemporary Furniture Fair come from a different planet than the rugs shown at mainstream markets such as the Atlanta International Rug Market, High Point and the Las Vegas World Market.

It's not just a matter of high-end, low-end.  It's attitude. ICFF exhibitors and attendees are more concerned about quality and uniqueness than competitive prices and delivery.

"This is my kind of show. We see people who appreciate the product and the quality that goes into it," said Michael Mandapati, president of Warp & Weft. "I've tried the Atlanta market, but it's not for me."

Satya Tiwari, president of Surya, used the ICFF show for research purposes.

On the other side of the business, Satya Tiwari, president of importer Surya Rugs, was walking the ICFF show and using it as a research source.

"This is certainly not our business, but it's a very valuable experience to attend this market," said Tiwari. Surya specializes in mid-range rugs tied to current furniture colors and upholstery styling. "I think it's important to be here to see what is happening at the very high end of the market. It helps us identify and adapt some of these trends," he added.

At ICFF, products are geared principally to architects, designers, specifiers and high end retailers. Price points are in the rarefied range of $60 to $200 per foot and even higher ($3,240 to over $10,000 for a 6 x 9 rug) . Mainstream rugs, on the other hand, are usually priced below $1,000 for 6 x 9.

Rapid delivery is not big issues at the ICFF.  In many cases, the rugs are custom, one-of-a-kind or made-to-order pieces. Waits of up to six months are not uncommon. Many of the ICFF rugs are hand made in Nepal, although India and even the US seems to be growing as sources. In the mainstream world, rugs are made primarily in the US, China, India and Belgium. 

On the mainstream side, business is sensitive to the fluctuations of the economy. Consumer attitudes and spending habits can have a big impact on business.

At the top part of the market, where most ICFF exhibitors dwell, business is not driven by the general economy. In fact, moaning about business was not a major topic of conversation.

"This business is capital intensive. You have to love what you do," said Mandapati. "Quality and branding is everything. Price point does not become an issue."

Warp & Weft products, like many in the show, are made in Nepal, where political issues have resulted in some disruption of trade. "Fortunately, we deal with one very solid resource in Nepal and our production schedules continue to run smoothly," he added.

Liora Manne, president of Liora Manne with Charles Peck, president of Trans-Ocean.

Liora Manne has a hand in both worlds. She is president of the eponymous Liora Manne multi-product  design firm as well as being the lead designer of mainstream Trans-Ocean Imports. "At ICFF, we are showing rugs, lighting, a lot of fabric and tableware. It's the total lifestyle concept," she said.

Liora Manne is one of the few  ICFF exhibitors that also shows at mainstream shows in Atlanta, High Point and Las Vegas. In some cases, the Liora Manne line shares space  with Trans Ocean Rugs, which is headed by husband Charley Peck.

"The ICFF gives us the opportunity to see architects, designers and people in the hospitality business. This show also generates a lot of manufacturing leads and B-to-B introductions," noted Peck. "We also see a number of contemporary furniture retail stores and catalog houses."

Emma Gardner with featured "Color Slick" rug woven in peacock colors in wool and silk yarns.

Emma Gardner Designs has expanded beyond rugs recently to include licensed upholstery fabrics for Palliser Furniture. The company is also targeting the hospitality market, according to Emma Gardner. "We do a lot of customization and work closely with clients," she said. "Our business is more about service and options than price."

Gardner added that the ICFF is not an order-writting market. "People are looking for sources and fresh looks. One of the reasons we are here is to put rugs in context as an important design element in the room."

While many of the rugs at the ICFF show are made in Nepal or other international venues, some of the rugs are made in the USA.

Paul Rizzo, national sales manager of Merida Meridian, with new gun-tufted rugs made in Fall River, MA.

Merida Meridian, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer best known for its tailored sisal and natural fiber flat-woven rugs geared to the designer market, is branching out to include more patterned products and innovative textures.

Merida Meridian, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer best known for its tailored sisal and natural fiber flat-woven rugs geared to the designer market, is branching out to include more patterned products and innovative textures.

According to Paul Rizzo, vice president of sales for Merida Meridian, the company recently began production of computer-driven gun-tufted rugs that emulate the look of the high end Tibetan tufted rugs that are popular with both retailers and designers. "These rugs are not hand-made products, they are made by a single-needle automated tufting machine,€VbCrLf he emphasized. After the machinery was installed at our Fall River Massachusetts facility, the European manufacturer came to the US and trained our production staff for several months," said Rizzo.

The rugs are made of New Zealand wool pile on a cotton backing. Suggested retail price points are at the $35 to $60 per sq. ft. range, Rizzo noted.

Barbara Barran with new Rya collection made in the USA.

On the hand-tufted side, Barbara Barron, president of Classic Rug Collection, said that she has shifted production from overseas to North Carolina for the manufacturing of a new group of retro designs called the Rya collection. The shaggy wool rugs feature the free-form shapes and psychedelic colors of the 60's and 70's. Retail price is $4,199 for 6 x 9. Custom sizes and designs are $45 sq. ft.

Barran is also a passionate collector of mid-century furniture and textiles. The idea of a rug collection based on the Rya aesthetic began last year with a contact at last year's ICFF show, Barran noted.

Lonnie Grater, a Connecticut interior designed was looking for replacement for the circa 1970 rya rugs in a client's Mid-Century Modern home. "I got so caught up in the project that I decided to design and produce my own collection of ryas," said Barran.

Liza Phillips with Alto collection stair treads.

Modular stair treads were show-stoppers at Liza Phillips Designs. Unlike the traditional "waterfall" installed staircase carpet, the Liza Phillips a series of individual stair rugs which are placed on each stair with  a non-slip underlay underneath. Each stair tread is different, forming an ascending design up the staircase.

Tired of the design? Just switch the mini rugs around to different stairs for a new look. The stair treads come in two qualities, a "Black Sheep" design made in India of Undyed wool or a Tibetan-weave wool set. The treads are available as a set of 12, retailing for $550 in the Black Sheep quality or $800 in the Tibetan quality. Individual stair treads are $50 or $70 each.

"I've been designing rugs for about four years, and this product has been the most successful.  Obviously there is a huge demand for a non-traditional decorative stair rug," said Liza Phillips.

Geoffrey Orley, a principal of Orley & Shabahang

Geoffrey Orley, a principal of Orley & Shabahang, said he is not totally comfortable at any exhibition. "I'm not used to trade shows. My principal method of marketing is with my mouth, not in an exhibition hall and certainly not with pictures on the Internet," he said.

Orley & Shabahang specializes in Iranian rugs in both traditional and contemporary design. "There is nothing like this on the planet. Compared to the products shown  in Atlanta or High Point,  our products are the opposite end of the spectrum.

Price points for Orley & Shebang rugs runs from $130 to $400 and higher per sq. ft.

Many furniture exhibitors emphasized "green" products, the Ecological Movement was not a big issue for rugs. After all, the wool and silk that goes into the pile of most rugs makes this a naturally "green" category without any fanfare, especially when the primary backing is made with natural materials such as cotton or jute and colors come from traditional vegetable dyes.

However, rug exhibitors have aligned themselves with the Green Movement by taking their design inspiration from nature.

Amy Helfand with rug based on the natural wonders of America's Appalachian Trail.

Amy Helfand, for example has produced a series of painterly rugs based on the natural wonders of America's Appalachian Trail.

Helfand gears her work primarily to the architect and designer community. The rugs are hand knotted in Nepal with retail price point at approximately $115 sq. ft.

"People have responded very positively," she said.

Kyra and Robertson Hartnett, principals of Twenty2

Twenty2, a Brooklyn based hand-print fabric and wallpaper company run by the husband and wife team of Kyra and Robertson Hartnett, has entered the rug business for the first time with a line of rugs in several constructions, including hand knots from Nepal, hand -tufted from Thailand and Wilton-woven from England. To-the-trade prices are $85 to $150 per ft. "With the rug collection, we've re-interpreted some of our fabric and wallpaper designs for the floor," said Kyra Hartnett.

Kravet, the venerable fabric house, has also expanded. Approximately two years ago, the company began bringing in hand-knotted Nepalese carpeting and eight months ago, Kravet opened a lighting division. The rugs are all custom ordered and retail for $45 to $65 per sq. ft.

"We are also exploring new categories. Who knows what's next," said sales associate Bonnie Gangel.

Melina Raissnia of Peace Industry

A few years ago, Peace Industry came to the ICFF with a modest exhibit of hand-felted wool rugs in natural undyed wools. The rugs are made in Iran using traditional felting techniques. At this year's event, Peace had a large exhibit on one of the show's main aisles. "We are expanding and growing," said Melina Raissnia of Peace. "We have now expanded our palette with vegetable-dyed yarns in addition to our undyed natural wools. We have also opened a retail store in San Francisco."

Prices points for Peace Rugs are $35 per foot for the undyed rugs and $45 for the dyed products.

05.21.07