PORT WASHINGTON, NY --Safavieh licensing partner Thom Filicia was invited to create a paddleboard for the 2013 “Paddle and Party for Pink,” a charity event held in August each Summer in the Hamptons on Long Island.

The paddleboard race and the party that followed it raised money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and this year's event raised more than $1.2 million dollars. Celebrities from Matt Lauer to Edie Falco were among the more than 600 guests attending.

For his board, Filicia—who lost his mother to breast cancer—thought it would be interesting to use one of his indoor/outdoor rug designs for his paddleboard, and chose to affix Safavieh's Durston rug—an eco-friendly carpet made of recycled soda bottles.  “We were a bit skeptical when Thom came to us with this idea, but it worked beautifully,” explained Cyrus Yaraghi, Safavieh principal. “We've seen our rugs used in many places; everywhere from bathrooms to basements. But we never expected to see one on a paddleboard.”

Filicia’s paddleboard was auctioned off for $2,500 as part of the fund-raising effort with proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Paddleboards were also created by Martha Stewart (another Safavieh licensing partner), Aerin Lauder of Estee Lauder, and fashion designers Cynthia Rowley and Nicole Miller, among others.

Thom Filicia designed a board for Paddle and Party for Pink using his Durston rug for Safavieh.  Made in India of recycled plastic bottles, the rug retails at $240 for the 5x8.

Thom Filicia's Durston rug for Safavieh covered paddleboard for the Paddle and Party for Pink charity event. Made in India of recycled PET, the indoor outdoor rug retails for $240 in 5x8.