Rug showrooms were humming with activity as market-goers flocked to special events and to shop rugs at the 
spring edition of High Point.

HIGH POINT, N.C. --Designers, retailers and real estate stagers turned out to browse and shop area rugs with many rug showrooms noting that the time to buy is now -- before higher tariffs might kick in. Several executives told RugNews.com that it was an active market with orders being written. 

Big names such as Anthropologie, Home Goods, Macy's, NFM, Perigold, Rooms To Go, RC Willey and TJX were reported to be shopping rugs at the spring edition of High Point Market. Top sellers ranged from better-quality machine-woven rugs to washables to high-end hand-knotted rugs, with more and more buyers turning to hand-tufted rugs for sustainability, natural fibers, and plush feel underfoot. 

In Part 2 of this two-part series, RugNews.com continues its comprehensive report of High Point Market area rug showrooms with a recap of favorite rugs and the people who shopped them.

LOLOI


Fans lined up for a photo op with designer Jeremiah Brent, center, who introduced his first rugs alongside Loloi. From
left, Kristina Middleton (Truly Styled You, LLC, Delaware, Ohio), Karen Manganillo (Little Friday Design, Apex, N.C.), Amy Galbraith (Truly Styled You), Brent,
Jessica Brugger (Dwell Well Design, Columbus, Ohio), and Amy Steele (House of Steel Designs, Columbus, Ohio).

The buzz in the Loloi showroom was the company’s new licensed collection, Jeremiah Brent x Loloi. An ode to the designer’s home, New York City, the line includes power-loomed and handmade offerings. The wool and jute blend Barrow collection got a thumbs up from buyers for its interconnecting geometric motifs in earthy colors like moss and beige. Perry, hand-knotted of wool and cotton, is exclusively for designers, a spokesperson said.

New offerings from Loloi’s other design partners included Henley, a hand-tufted rug from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi. Made of wool with polyester, it has a thick pile, with a design that features a textured solid with a darker border. From Amber Lewis X Loloi comes Lana, which is handwoven in a mix of jute, wool, cotton and viscose, in a geometric pattern with a short fringe.


Among the inaugural collections in the Loloi x Jeremiah Brent program is the high-low hand-loomed Greenwich.

LR HOME


The new Miranda collection from LR Home is woven of polyester in antique-faded updated traditional designs. Shown in cream

LR Home continues to build on the jute rugs that have put the company on the area-rug map. This market’s introduction is Scalloped Jute, a collection of natural-colored 100 percent handwoven jute area rugs with a shaped scallop edge that’s outlined in a double border in a choice of accent colors, including white, green, dark blue, blue-grey, and brown. The rugs come in four sizes as well as a runner.

The company also had plenty to show off in machine-made and handmade rugs. Athens comes in eight patterns and is machine made of polyester and polypropylene. With four sizes and a runner, these rugs have a warm neutral palette with subtle patterns such as broken bands of striping, a crosshatch design, and undulating waves. Miranda, a 100 percent polyester rug collection with a short, dense pile, features antique-faded traditional designs in colorways that include warm neutrals and accents of soft blue, rust, and olive. This collection is available in six sizes up to 10x14, including a scatter size and a runner. In handmade offerings, Houston is hand-knotted of 100 percent New Zealand wool and comes in three patterns with a high-low texture. And Charleston, handwoven of New Zealand wool, has a nubby, homespun texture.


Subtle patterns in neutral colors give the polyester and polypropylene blend Athens collection a luxury look. Shown in ivory

MOMENI


The Momeni's accept a congratulatory plaque from long-time colleague Richard Kirishian, Kirishian Rugs of Spokane,
Washington, at the company's 50th anniversary celebration. From left, Aria Momeni, Ray Eshani, Reza Momeni, Kirishian,
Sharon Dorris, and Ali Momeni. 

Momeni celebrated its 50th anniversary with customers and industry colleagues at the spring High Point Market, where retailers and designers could raise a toast and browse the company's newest collections. "It has been busy. And the response has been great to our new introductions," said Emily Addison, who heads up branding and partnerships.

Among the collections that earned a thumbs up was the new machine-woven Georgina, made of space-dyed polyester and polypropylene, and offering reworked classic patterns. Another top hit was the Bauhaus textiles-inspired Fletcher collection, hand-tufted of wool. Momeni added two new designs to the popular Bristol line, which is handwoven of 90 percent wool and 10 percent cotton with an ivory top stitch. Another new collection, Terra, reworked some of the company's popular hand-made block print and traditional designs in a performance PET fiber. Buyers appreciated the affordability of the rugs, which have a non-skid back, and their vintage styling.


Momeni's machine-woven Georgina is made of space-dyed polyester and polypropylene, and offers reworked classic patterns

NATCO / CENTRAL ORIENTAL


The soft textured Heirloom collection was a hit with buyers giving a big thumbs up to this contemporary floral pattern (design 75).

Natco, which recently acquired the Orian Rugs' brand, its rug designs and creels, reported that its High Point market was a very busy show. "We are the only major area rug manufacturer left in the US and we're in a position to fill the gaps left by Orian exiting the business," said Natco VP Jim Thompson. He said many of Orian's former customers stopped by the Natco showroom to learn more about what the company can offer, and Thompson noted Natco can take an Orian design, and drop it into its own creels and qualities to instantly update favorite rug designs.

Buyers shopping Natco rugs gave the recently introduced Heirloom collection a major thumbs up. "The response has been great," Thompson said, adding that the collection of 20 designs includes 13 colors, and comprises three shrink polyester yarns and 10 polypropylene yarns. Buyers looking for dense constructions turned to the Clearwater collection for its 1-million-point construction of polypropylene and shrink polyester.


Natco's Clearview lineup offers a plush and dense 1-million-point construction and high low details that shoppers appreciate.

NEW MOON


Hand-knotted of wool and silk, the abstract Plumage design from New Moon is inspired by colorful pheasant feathers.

Two stunning new rugs were standouts in New Moon’s showroom: Plumage and Kristal. Plumage Slate features an oversized, overlapping feather motif rendered in rich, bold colors. The design is reminiscent of pheasant feathers and has a color palette of browns, cream, and blue. It’s hand-knotted of wool and silk. The other design, Kristal, is “much more subtle and subdued”, says Erika Kurtz, chief operating officer. This design was inspired by cracked ice on a lake and features a warm neutral ground with a veiny design of gold. Both rugs are made in Nepal.


New Moon's abstract Kristal rug is inspired by cracked ice on a lake, and features trending gold veining.

NOURISON


Nourison's Sabrina McGee shows Lavern Glover, Glover & Glover Interiors, Columbia, S.C., the Christopher Guy collection.
Shown, CGW16 in eggshell

Nourison covered all the bases – from hand-knotted to machine-woven to limited edition tufted rugs -- for shoppers at spring High Point Market. The company also showcased its custom options and its growing offering of natural fiber rugs. Among the most popular market choices were rugs in the hand-made natural fiber category with the hand-tufted Aura, Colorado, and Graceful collections, as well as a new addition to the DKNY Pure lineup striking a positive chord. A market favorite, Framework from DKNY Pure is hand-tufted of wool and offers an understated raised, braid-like grid pattern available in four neutral colorways.

For buyers looking for rich colors and attractive pricing the new Vintage Harmony collection of machine-woven designs ticked the box. It was an immediate hit for its vibrant colors and bold designs in a range of floral patterns.


Nourison's machine-woven Vintage Harmony is shaping up to be a winner. Shown, VHH03

OBEETEE


Obeetee's Faymont collection is hand-knotted of 100 percent recycled PET yarn.

“We’re trying to leverage what we’ve done best for 100 years: Certified handmade rugs that are made of fine materials,” said Stephen Hoberman chief executive of Obeetee. One of the most innovative collections in the showroom was Navi, a capsule collection designed by the company’s new creative director. This diverse collection of about 100 designs covers all the bases and is inspired by global motifs: designs with origins in Spain, Africa, and the Aztec cultures. Some patterns are bold, and others are more subtle, giving customers the confidence to try something new. Weaves include handwoven and hand-tufted versions, with a variety of yarns, including blended polyester, wool, and viscose.

Obeetee also gave floor space to Faymont, a hand-knotted rug of 100 percent recycled PET. It features classic designs in trendy colors like sage green and is detailed with a short fringe. The Farrah line is made of hand-carded wool with cotton and polyester, giving a boucle look. One market hit featured bold dark stripes on a cream-colored background, with detailing and fringing.


Obeetee's new Navi collection includes about 100 designs inspired by global motifs in a range of weaves. Shown
is South Africa, a flatweave with overtufting, crafted of wool.

ORIENTAL WEAVERS


A market-favorite at the Oriental Weavers showroom was the new colorful and ultra-dense Tisdale collection. Shown, TIS08

Buyers stopping by the OW showroom were busy placing orders and among their favorites were several from the company's latest introductions. The new Tisdale, machine-woven in Egypt of 100 percent polyester, was a hit for its rich colors and dense pile as was the debuting Thatcher collection hand-loomed in India of PET fibers made from recycled plastic bottles -- a bullet point that buyers appreciate for PET’s sustainability and eco-friendly nature. Tisdale has 12 modern and organic abstract patterns, and coordinates with the successful Hastings lineup of traditional designs. Both are power-loomed of space-dyed polyester and have a dense 1.4-million-point construction.

The Hunter collection's micro-checkerboard design is resonating with buyers. These rugs are machine-woven in Egypt and retail at $199 in 5x8 and $399 in 8x10. The new indoor Quinn collection includes four coastal looks in 100 percent polypropylene that performed well. E-comm for 5x7 is $99 and 8x10 is $199. OW continued to grow its machine-washable assortment and the new Addison collection of vibrant Oushak-inspired designs with non-skid backing was a favorite for its affordability and updated classic looks.


Washable rugs continue to be a favorite at OW and the new color-drenched designs of Addison, which offers a non-skid
backing, was a High Point favorite. Shown, ADD-03

SAFAVIEH


Safavieh expands its power-loomed Vintage Overdye collection for spring as buyers seek out richly colored designs.
Shown VOD806N

Safavieh introduced dozens and dozens of new collections and line extensions spanning weaves and price points for spring High Point shoppers. In machine-mades the company's Vintage Overdye collection, power-loomed in Turkey of 80 percent polyester and 20 percent cotton, earned a thumbs up for its saturated traditional designs, including a rich emerald color. The Martha Stewart program saw plenty of fresh additions with buyers browsing not only the partnership's latest washables but also its fashion-driven indoor debuts. Finally, the latest addition to the company's long-running licensing program with fashion-label Ralph Lauren adds a traditional border patterned design in green to its Lauren Ralph Lauren lineup. This rug is cross-woven of polyester and features the look and feel of hand-knotted rug.

The company's hand-tufted assortment continues to expand with its popular and plush all wool Fifth Avenue collection, adding fresh contemporary styles. Likewise, the hand-tufted Jardin lineup of shaped botanical patterns earned a positive response for its cheery designs.


Safavieh continues to invest in its popular Martha Stewart program, previewing a range of fresh constructions and styles.
Shown, MSR208B

S&H RUGS


S&H Rugs' new updated classic Persian Garden rug (Sh7556) in green and gold tones was a market favorite for its on
point colors and design.

Several classic motifs got makeovers with color-right fashion designs at hand-knotted purveyor S&H Rugs. Among the favorites at the company's spacious SAMS booth were a classic Persian Garden design (Sh7556) reworked in a trending green and gold colorway. Featuring repeating emblem medallions, this piece is hand-knotted of wool with a zero pile. Another attention-grabber is a Bijar Garus design (SH75704) in a deep blue colorway. This soft and plush rug is hand-knotted of wool and pure silk and oxidized for an abrash-distressed styling.

Contemporary floral patterns and Chinese Art Deco designs also continue to trend, and S&H rolled out several newcomers including a Peshawar with over-sized flowers and vines in yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, pink and gray climbing across a pearl white ground. Another showstopper is a bordered Chinese art deco inspired floral Peshawar (Sh20997) made of all wool with a stunning "swamp green" ground contrasted with a hot pink border.


S&H Rugs showcased its prowess in reworking classic Persian motifs in directional color palettes. Shown is Bijar Garus 
with trending deep blue ground.

SURYA


Suzette Pritchard and Robyn Beaver of Staging with Style of Lafeyette, Indiana, shop rugs with Surya’s Alan Hooper.
Shown, Brunswick

Surya was drawing in the crowds -- both retailers and designers -- during spring market, and a special meet and greet with popular Southern California designer Becki Owens had fans queuing up to check out her latest rugs and first furniture collection for Surya. In addition, Surya's introduction of its first outdoor furniture collections, accessorized in vignettes anchored by Surya area rugs garnered lots of attention at market.

Popular area rug introductions included the machine-woven Da Vinci collection and the tufted Diva lineup of painterly designs. Da Vinci features soft and subtle traditional designs woven of polyester with a medium pile for comfort underfoot. The debuting Diva collection of painterly abstract patterns is hand-tufted with a medium pile height and crafted of 60 percent rayon and 40 percent wool for a sumptuous hand. Another hand-tufted favorite is the new Fairfax, which features a range of loop pile floral patterns, from block print styles to classic Persian, all hand-tufted of wool.


Surya unveiled the first furniture collection under the popular Becki Owens label, showcasing it atop the SoCal designer's
area rugs. Shown is the high-quality machine-woven Renaissance rug 2303, crafted of wool.

TAMARIAN


Tamarian's text graphic Lovely area rug, crafted of wool and silk, is among its best-sellers, shown here in a new white colorway.

Tamarian was brimming with new designs and colorways in its showroom. A strong seller, Lovely, is now available in a new white colorway with a pale brown background. This rug, made of wool and silk in a high-low construction, features oversized block-style letters in an abstract design. The company’s No. 1 rug, Spalted, is now available in a new colorway featuring ivory, indigo, gray and silver. This loop and cut pile rug has an organic linear design.

The Basqui rug also gets a new color palette called Seaglass, consisting of watery blues and greens. Its oversized geometric pattern is constructed in wool in Tamarian’s Phoenix weave quality. Monroe is a new rug featuring oversized medallions in a bordered design. It’s made using a tight weave in wool and silk.

Finally, Tamarian’s custom color blanket, laid out in the showroom like an area rug, was getting a lot of attention and has been ordered for people to use in their homes, rather than just as a showroom color sample blanket. It features the company’s 180 colors that are available to customize 42 designs as part its custom quick ship program.


Tamarian debuts Monroe, hand-knotted of 90 percent wool and 10 percent silk in Nepal.

TRANS-OCEAN


Trans-Ocean introduced the new loop and cut pile Beekman collection, hand-tufted of wool, offering a high-low ombre
undulating linear pattern.

Trans-Ocean introduced several new rug collections by designer Liora Manne at High Point Market, with an emphasis on expanding its popular indoor-outdoor category and delivering fresh wool constructions and machine-made designs. Among the newest indoor-outdoor options were line extensions to Trans-Ocean's best-selling Marina collection. Another new design, a colorful water-inspired pattern called Caribe in the sea colorway, proved a standout.

On the wool side, the new Havana collection features a loop and cut pile and offers tile-inspired patterns. Another favorite was the debuting Beekman, which received attention for its ombré-like undulating linear pattern offered in two colorways and tufted of space-dyed wool for a subtle dimensional effect. And in its machine-made assortment, Trans-Ocean rolled out Laurel, a collection of seven designs in a range of styles from geometric to floral. Woven of polypropylene, Laurel was a favorite for its soft hand, medallion motifs and trending hues like gray and steel blue.


Trans-Ocean's new machine-woven Laurel collection, Vintage Floral shown, was a hit for its pairing of browns and accents
of deep red and pink.

UNIQUE LOOM


Unique Loom's Jill Zarin program remains a customer favorite and the new handmade Natural Wool collection of classic stripes and 
border designs.

Unique Loom’s collaboration with designer Jill Zarin continues with Palm Spring, an outdoor collection inspired by Zarin’s English Manor collection and handwoven in India from PET yarn. These rugs depict a simple, thin stripe pattern, with standard sizing up to 10x14, and comes in five colorways, including Navy Sky, Silver Stars, Pebble Stones, Pink Roses, and Black Sky. Also from Jill Zarin, the Natural Wool line is hand-tufted of wool with simple, straightforward designs, including a series of stripes and contrasting borders.

Stephanie Adams, sales and marketing at Unique Loom, also reports that the brand’s one-of-a-kind kilims were selling well at market. With whimsical colors and unusual designs, these area rugs are used as much for wall art as they are for floor coverings.


Jill Zarin reworks additional designs from the hand-knotted wool English Manor collection for the outdoors with fresh
Palm Spring additions, crafted of PET yarn.

-- Make sure not to miss RugNews.com's Exclusive High Point Rug Showroom Tour: People & Product, Part 1