NEW YORK - Moroso, the Italian furniture maker known for its stable of prestigious designers, has become the exclusive distributor of Golran, a fourth generation carpet and rug company headquartered in Milan.  With its U.S. operations based in New York, Moroso will distribute all Golran contemporary collections though its existing network of about 30 Moroso retailers and designer showrooms across the country.

The Golran line debuted in the U.S. at the Moroso showroom in SoHo as part of New York Design Week 2015 in mid-May. The rugs were also paired with Moroso and Diesel furniture at the Diesel Living space at the WantedDesign show, another NYC Design Week event.  Moroso introduced Golran to its designer portfolio in 2009 with the launch of Carpet Reloaded, a collection of vintage upcycled rugs.

Carpet Reloaded decolorizes and then recolors vintage hand knotted area rugs made in the 1900s. In this way, Golran says it gives the rugs a new life with contemporary hues. No two are identical and prices vary. In the 5'3"x7'1" size, decolorized rugs list at $3,700, decolorized mohair rugs are $4,550, patchwork rugs are $3,100 and restyled patchwork motif rugs are $4,450.

Golran was founded in 1898 by Hajizadeh Golran, in the Persian city of Mashad and relocated to Milan in 1968. The company is run by fourth generation family members Eliahu, Elia, Nathan and Benjamin Golran.  Under the artistic direction of Francesca Avossa of Paris, Golran produces collections in Nepal, China, and Tibet from wool, silk, cotton, linen, cashmere, angora and hemp.

Though still producing traditional collections, the family has moved design in a contemporary direction, resulting in several award winning collections that are recognized internationally.  The Lake Collection of 75% wool and 25% bamboo silk was issued in 2014 and designed by Raw Edges for Golran. The series is inspired by lenticular op-art and retail is $10,650 for the 9'11"x6'7". The carpet visually changes depending on the angle and light source with which it is viewed.  The patterns themselves are based on traditional kilims, but woven in Nepal with varying pile heights. This collection won a Wallpaper Design Award 2015. 

Other Golran collections to be distributed in the U.S. include Triangles by Bertjan Pot (70% wool/30% silk). Two lines designed for Golran by Isabella Sodi are Shadows (50% wool and 50% bamboo silk, 6'7"x 9'11" retailing at $7,850), and Memories with designs in various blends of wool and silk retailing from $9,210 to $22,000 in the 6'7"x9'11" size. 

06.11.15