Spring High Point Market rug showrooms return to high-quality constructions and up the ante on machine-mades.
HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Spring High Point Market introduced market-goers to hundreds of new area rugs, taking their cues from major design and lifestyle trends -- and these rollouts featured a confluence of fresh colorways, exciting patterns, and innovative constructions, many of which upped the texture quotient.
Top buzz words and looks included natural styles, both in the handmade and machine-made categories, in materials ranging from plush hand-knotted wools to jute-inspired performance constructions. Updated traditional patterns that seamlessly merge old and new continue to be top sellers. Whether recast in subtle naturals or more vibrant color-injected styles, or crafted in heirloom qualities or hand-made of thicker yarns and fewer knots to expand the category to a broader audience; or machine-made in washable and performance qualities and now even machine-mades offering hand-made details, buyers continue to turn to the classics for the comfort and reassurance they provide.
On the rise at spring market are geometric patterns, which span the style gamut from Southwest-inspired to more structured linear looks and modernist-inflected motifs. And, among all these variations, area rugs across the High Point campus offered on-point colorations of earthy browns and ivories, rich copper, cobalt blue and olive green. A directional counterpoise proved the growing popularity of stark black and white contrast patterns, again spanning the style spectrum from abstract to traditional and geometric looks.
RugNews.com continues its spring High Point Market recap, touring an additional 15 area rug showrooms across the market campus.
LOLOI
Loloi's new program with designer Jean Stoffer launched at market, and vintage styles from her Katherine collection
continued to be a popular choice with buyers in the machine-made category.
The big news at Loloi was the first look at its newest licensing partnership with designer Jean Stoffer. The expansive launch featured everything from polyester machine-made options to hand-knotted rugs, with subtle elegance being a prevailing theme. Katherine, power-loomed of 100 percent polyester, included traditional patterns in moody colors, with a worn, faded look. Bradbury, a polypropylene and polyester pile power-loomed in Egypt, also featured a lived-in look with traditional designs rendered in colorways like mustard yellow and dark red. And Hendrick is a chunky, hand-woven 100 percent wool rug in solid neutrals, including beige, charcoal and gray.
New from Magnolia Home x Loloi, Sinclair is the designer’s first foray into machine-washable and recycled offerings. The rug is made using yarn derived from recycled plastic bottles, and features patterns with a traditional feel, such as center medallions and detailed borders. The Banks collection from Magnolia Home x Loloi is also machine-washable, power-loomed of 100 percent polyester face and has a patinaed look with traditional designs in a cool, earthy palette, such as muted blues and olive green.
Joanna Gaines for Magnolia Home debuts its first washable rug collections, which includes Banks, pictured.
LR HOME
Evette
Ríos' debut area rugs by LR Home struck the right chord with the in-out Mapa collection and a top hit in this playful
lineup was a checkerboard style.
L.R. Home has always had success with its natural fibers area rugs, and its new Geoblend collection is a continuation of that traction. The rug combines jute with wool in a hand-loomed construction that has an open weave, with higher-pile wool top-woven for the pattern. The hand-crafted embellishment elevates the company's best-selling Naturals program with high-end designer styling
The company also showed off its just-debuted licensed Evette Ríos area rugs program introducing the indoor-outdoor Mapa, a series of 12 bold modern designs in fresh colors. A top seller was a cheerful black-and-white checked rug with splashes of bright yellow and red accents. Another hit collection from the new Evette Rios program, Tribu is a heritage-inspired range with traditional Latin American weaves reinterpreted to be fresh and modern in woven polyester.
A top area rug in the LR Home showroom is from the new hand-loomed jute with wool Geoblend lineup, offering
an open weave, with higher-pile wool top-woven for the pattern.
MOMENI
Momeni expands The Novogratz program with the hand-tufted '70s inspired Tallulah collection, which was an instant hit.
Robert Novogratz and daughter Bellamy were on hand at the Momeni showroom to help roll out the robust assortment of new introductions to the company’s licensed Novogratz by Momeni program. One of their big market hits was the Tallulah collection of mid-priced rugs. This line played with shapes to generate a collection of simple designs, each with a solid earthy color, such as moss green, dusty rose and vibrant rust, bordered in ivory, with rounded corners. The 100 percent wool pile rugs are hand-tufted and hand-carved in India and have a retro, '70s feel. The rugs come in runners and 2x4 mats, in addition to standard sizes.
Also rolling out from Novogratz was Kaia, an entry-priced machine-made polyester rug with a shaggy feel and a trending checkered pattern of charcoal, blue, green or beige with white. And, on the other end of the price spectrum, Iris is Novogratz’ highest-end offering, at $429 for a 5x8 rug. “People are asking for hand-loomed,” says Emily Addison of Momeni, and the company delivered with a striated solid wool pattern hand-loomed in India, featuring options of green, blue, brick red or copper.
Under the Momeni label a showstopper was a new addition to the company's modern-geometric Simba assortment. “We’re seeing cobalt blue everywhere,” added Addison, who oversees branding and partnerships. “It’s in accents, pillows, tabletop. We thought, what if we did it as a rug and you could style around it with ivories and basics?” The serendipitous result: a rich blue rug with a concentric curvilinear pattern traversing the rug in ivory. Finally, another standout proved Willow, a hand-woven wool rug featuring a flatweave construction with a tufted top stitch rendering geometric patterns like checks and diamonds.
Simba gets a fresh design that stopped buyers in their tracks for its striking cobalt ground and modern styling.
NOURISON
Christopher Guy by Nourison adds a new seaside-inspired pattern that was hit with high-end rug buyers.
Among the highlights in the Nourison showroom were new patterns from its licensed Christopher Guy collection, hand-knotted of New Zealand wool and silk in a Tibetan-weave construction. One pattern, rendered in rich browns, was reminiscent of surf breaking on the sand, while another was a swooping curvilinear design in grays on a cream ground that has a three-dimensional effect.
The newest addition to the company’s best-selling Prismatic collection is always eagerly awaited, and this introduction did not disappoint. The undulating design was rich with dimension and exquisite shading, in warm hues of sand, copper, brown, rose, gray and gold. The hand-tufted rug is made of equal parts New Zealand wool and Luxcelle.
The company also expanded its Aldora collection of wool and bamboo silk. The distressed Persian-inspired patterns have the look of zero pile antique rugs.
Fans of Nourison's Prismatic series snapped up the latest organic-looking pattern in a warm earthy palette.
ORIAN
Orian's new Eminence collection features a new creel and tightly woven, low-pile construction. Shown, Heriz
Brand-new from Orian is Eminence, which utilizes a new creel and fresh designs that include transitional patterns, such as Jasper, an abstract, painterly style, and more traditional looks. The tightly woven, low-pile construction offers a higher-end quality level for the company. The company also has been gaining traction with its WashMe lineup of performance rugs, which are machine-washable or can be pressure washed outside. “People are asking for the washable, indoor-outdoor rugs," says Jenny Rogers Alton, executive vice president of sales. “But the bulk of them are going into living rooms and dining rooms.” The rugs come in a range of color bases, from an orangey red to soft neutrals. In addition, Orian expanded its uber plush Cloud 9 collection adding a new modern black and white undulating circular motif called Vinyl Tracks.
Orian's new Vinyl Tracks design, which grows the popular Cloud 9 collection, was a hit for its modern look and high contrast design.
ORIENTAL WEAVERS
Oriental Weavers' introduces Raylan, a collection of textural patterns, and this contemporary geometric motif was a top choice.
Updated neutrals were one of the focal points for Oriental Weavers, which debuted Raylan, a collection of Persian, geometric and contemporary patterns constructed with shrink polyester for a high-low effect. “Neutrals have been big for so long, so we’re trying to give a little more contrast with this collection,” said Angie Shook, director of marketing for Oriental Weavers. The 10 designs feature neutral bases with deep charcoal and ivory rendering the designs a crisp, bold look.
Another new collection, Tangier, is good for high-traffic areas, but has multi-textural pattersn combining flat-weave, cut pile and loop pile constructions forming the global-inspired patterns.
Under the company’s Ultimate Performance umbrella, OW has treated polypropylene yarn to give it the look of natural fibers, resulting in collections like Tortuga with a wool look and Caicos with the look of sisal. These rugs are ideal for high-traffic areas, are stain resistant, family- and pet-friendly, and easy to clean -- qualities that remain in demand at Oriental Weavers.
Buyers queued up to see the expansion of Oriental Weavers' top-selling Andorra collection which added 12 fresh designs and colorways, including greens, browns, and rusts.
Oriental Weavers expanded its successful Andorra collection to the delight of High Point buyers.
RUG & KILIM
Among the best-selling designs at Rug & Kilim include the company's Outdoor collection, crafted from performance
polyester, and the pictured rug reworks a design from its popular Scandinavian collection.
Rug & Kilim was busy flipping rugs at its Salon suite at SAMS, with designers and retailers anxious to see the latest additions to the company's popular Scandinavian collection, in its High, Nu and Flatweave lines. The New York area rug wholesaler also got rave reviews for its Rez kilim collection, a series of all wool panel flatwoven rugs that are customizable, as well as the latest additions to its long-running Moroccan rug series.
And the company was lauded by customers for its new Outdoor collection, taking its classic Scandinavian designs and reworking them in both flatweave and high-low pile in 100 percent performance polyester. Furthermore, a growing lineup of Art Deco influenced area rug patterns added excitement for shoppers in the market for its hand-knotted Chinese Deco and French Deco collections.
Market shoppers did a double-take at Rug & Kilim’s Outdoor collection featuring Scandinavian flatweave designs in in-out
performance polyester.
SAFAVIEH
Safavieh showcases naturals and texture with area rugs left to right above the sofa, Natura 219A, Paseo 514A, and
Natura 222A. Below the sofa is the chunky MAN176Z rug from the Manhattan collection.
Safavieh turned heads with a cross category display of neutral textures from its Natura, Paseo and Manhattan collections and a new off-white upholstery range called Boucle in Safavieh Couture. The company increased its hand-knot introductions significantly, with new pastel designs from the Oushak collection among the top sellers.
Another highlight was the Signature collection, the finest machine-made rugs Safavieh offers, which was expanded with a few new designs. In the company’s Martha Stewart licensed collection, a new offering includes Wilton-style rugs, handwoven of wool on a cotton backing, with the look of sisal. Tribeca and Haj Jalili also juxtaposed traditional and contemporary styles for an eye-catching vignette. The Tribeca rug is an elegant, modern hand-knotted low shag woven from a thick felted New Zealand wool for a plush feel and a watercolor-like abstract design. Haj Jalili is named for a famed 19th century master weaver and mimics the Tabriz style in hand-knotted wool and cotton viscose.
Safavieh featured a luxurious cross-category display built upon area rugs from the all-wool Oushak collection, all new
designs for spring 2023 in soft pastels.
SAMAD
Samad's Attitudes collection, created in collaboration with The Trunks Company, was a hit with shoppers seeking fresh
geometric looks.
Two standouts shone in the Samad showroom. The Capri collection is a flatweave with a nubby texture, similar to a boucle. These affordable rugs come in five colorways, all warm neutrals, for an elegant, textural solid so important to designers. Attitudes is a unique series off designs created in collaboration with The Trunks Company, a high-end trunk maker based in Jaipur. The exquisite patterns have detailed shading and lines, with designs taking cues from the buckles, leatherwork and other details from the trunks. The collection, made of wool with silk, consists of five patterns so far.
The Capri collection was a hit for its nubby texture and earthy understated styling.
SOUTHWEST LOOMS
Inspired by iconic Pendleton blankets, companion rugs from the Pendleton Tierra flatweave collection, Pagosa Springs,
PT-4, on wall, and Pagosa Springs Stripe PT-3, on stack.
Southwest Looms scored big with its debuting Pendleton Reserve collection, inspired by Pendleton and other historic blanket designs. The market debut of the licensing program’s first hand-knotted rugs featured 18 designs in New Zealand wool, hand-spun to produce variegated colors. Fans snapped up the program’s wool flatweave PendletonTierra rugs for both their authenticity and style.
From the spring show’s best-selling Pendleton Reserve collection, the hand-knotted Harding Oxford (SW-3C).
STARK STUDIO RUGS
Kali in navy from the Ashley Stark Home collection by Stark Studio Rugs exemplifies the trend to larger knots.
From the best-selling Ashley Stark Home collection, the market winner for Stark Studio Rugs was Kali in navy. The 100 percent wool rugs are hand-knotted in a chunky knot Oushak pattern and offered in five fresh-young colorways. Also hot this market at the Stark showroom were the custom options available in the tufted Stark Performance Acrylic (SPA) collection which marries luxury and durability. Launched at market, the program allows designers to custom color the rugs using an online tool and choose from a bank of 56 colors.
Designers were introduced to a new online color tool for customization of Stark Performance Acrylic rugs.
SURYA
Surya's new Once Upon a Time collection was a hit for its unique hand-crafted styling at an easier price point.
Surya’s Once Upon a Time collection was in the spotlight at market, using Surya’s unique hand-crafting processes to embellish each design. Rugs are machine-woven on old looms with hand-dyed yarn, then hand-washed and antiqued, and hand-finished. The end result is virtually impossible to differentiate from a hand-woven rug.
A few other standouts from Surya include Antalya, a hand-knotted, 100 percent wool collection with a nubby texture, and Masterpiece, a machine-woven polyester range with a subtle overlapping curve design. “People like the texture of this rug,” noted Satya Tiwari, president.
A major draw to the busy showroom was an appearance by influencer and designer Becki Owens, and the expansion of her partnership with Surya with three new collections featuring Owens' signature clean, livable and curated style. Market-goers warmly welcomed the versatile vintage-inspired rugs vis-a-vis the Marlene collection and Margaret, the program's first outdoor-safe collection.
Surya x Becki Owens, which added its first in-out designs, was a market hit for its vintage-inspired rugs showcased in multiple displays.
TAMARIAN
Tamarian's more affordably priced Habit collection continues to gain ground and the new textural Anya was a spring
market bestseller.
Tamarian’s new Habit line continues to excite customers, and one of the big hits is Anya, a flatweave rug with a higher pile texture. The rug comes in a warm rust and cream palette with blue-gray accents. In addition, the series debuted Yousha, a hit for its chunky knot styling and more attainable price point.
In the company’s Phoenix weave category, 24th Street was a highlight. The traditional bordered pattern is rendered in neutrals with shots of subtle colors.
Tamarian's popular Phoenix weave category adds 24th Street, a fresh global-geometric motif that was a top choice at
spring market.
TRANS-OCEAN
Mercer by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean resonated with buyers for its textural motifs and polyester chenille and jute
construction. Shown, Tracery
Designer Liora Manne’s popular Marina and Monterey collections gained new patterns. Marina's Fish design featured sea creatures swimming amidst coral. Mum showcased bold flowers in blue and rose colorways, and Sunflower celebrated the iconic oversized blossom. In Monterey, Basket offered up a woven jute look. A new collection, Mercer, comprises indoor rugs in polyester chenille and jute with a non-skid background. One pattern, Tracery, had a delicate filigree-like pattern over a marled blue background. In the Katonah polypropylene collection, Stripe rendered bold black stripes over a natural background.
Trans-Ocean expands its successful Marina lineup of performance rugs with Fishes -- an elaborately detailed market favorite.
UNIQUE LOOM
Unique Loom's popular Jill Zarin Home adds the Caribbean Outdoor collection, a hit for its bold and colorful tropical
patterns.
In its new Market Square showroom, nearly twice as large as its former space, Unique Loom was able to showcase more of its machine-made area rugs to dispel the notion that the company only offers handmade rugs. One such debut option is under the Jill Zarin Home licensed collection, the Caribbean Outdoor collection. The indoor-outdoor, washable rugs are printed on a 100 percent nylon construction with a built-in anti-slip backing. The bold, colorful patterns range from oversized leaf patterns scattered on a blue background, to lush tropical florals and parrots on a black ground.
Under the Unique Loom brand, Dunes is a power-loomed offering, with an oversized geometric diamond pattern in shades of brown that has the look of natural jute but is crafted of polypropylene on a cotton backing. “It has the jute look but is more durable and can be cleaned,” said Adeleh Nassi, who handles business development for Unique Loom. Vignettes in the showroom also displayed the breadth of sizes and shapes that Unique Loom is capable of providing in its various collections. Said Nassi, “Our bestsellers have 25 to 30 sizes in stock,” as well as a range of shapes, including round, octagons, runners and more.
Buyers appreciated the new Dunes collection by Unique Looms for its natural look but easy-care quality.
-- Don't Miss Breakout Rug Hits from Spring High Point Market, Part 1