RUG FASHION PREVIEW: NEW YEAR, NEW LOOKS AT ATLANTA MARKET, PART 1
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ATLANTA -- The area rug circuit kicks off at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show, running from Jan. 10-Jan. 14, and while shoppers shouldn't expect a sea-change in area rug design trends, subtle shifts in aesthetics will recast familiar styles at the first major show of 2018.
The mega-trends in the area rug industry continue to attract attention. Among the top directions are Bohemian-inspired looks on one-end of the spectrum and natural/organic designs on the other. Everything in between, from abstracts to geometrics continues to be fair game.
Still area rug vendors continue to rethink those popular styles, sometimes throwing an unusual fiber combination into the mix to produce an unexpected texture or unique finish; toying with color combinations for a serendipitous outcome; or reworking designs with uber-soft and plush yarns.
While the color palette of choice continues to revolve around omnipresent blues and grays, intense jewel-tones, soft pinks and classic black and white combos are on the agenda as well.
Below RugNews.com explores the hot new fashions that will kick off 2018's first area rug market from companies from Amer to Linon. And be sure not to miss our on-going coverage in Part 2, where we get the style scoop from Loloi to United Weavers.
AMER RUGS INC.
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Amer Rugs develops its most ambitious product launch in company history this winter, including the hand-tufted Boho collection, design 08.
Amer Rugs will unveil its most ambitious new product launch in the company's history during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market this January. The company's diverse introductions will include 11 all-new collections to expand the depth and breadth of its growing product assortment -- and fresh designs and colorations added to existing hand-knotted collections, the company's signature category. "Of the 11 separate new collections, five will be machine-made, and the balance will be flat woven and tufted. In new technologies, we'll have some micro-tufted that are absolutely beautiful," said Amer's Joe Barkley, VP of sales and marketing.
The big emphasis on machine-made follows Amer's successful entry into the category in 2017 and growth in e-commerce. New machine woven collections include Manhattan, which is made in Turkey of polypropylene in fashion colors and Millennial-inspired Bohemian designs. (Read full story.)
CAPEL RUGS
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Capel rolls out plenty of fresh looks for winter market shoppers, among them Genevieve Gorder's indoor-outdoor Finesse, shown in Mali, inspired by African bark cloth.
In addition to rolling out eight Capel area rug collections in Atlanta and Vegas in hand-knotted, hand-tufted and machine-woven qualities, Capel introduces winter shoppers to its new Anthony Baratta program -- a mix of indoor/outdoor, braided and hand-tufted designs with Americana-inspired themes in a bold, bright palette (read full story).
Also, the company's collaboration with Genevieve Gorder continues to grow, with the addition of he West African-inspired indoor outdoor Finesse Mali collection of olefin rugs (5'3" x 7'6" may retail for $149); the playful New York City inspired Finesse NY Toile, machine woven in Belgium of 100 percent olefin ($149 in 5'3" x 7'6"); and the hand-tufted Flower Pop, a nod to her fabric collection with P. Kaufman, made of 90 percent wool and 10 percent viscose in India in hi-lo micro-point loop pile (suggested retail is $649).
COURISTAN, INC.
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Couristan continues to grow its top-selling face-to-face Wilton weave Calinda collection with fresh fashion looks in its proprietary blend of yarns.
Buyers stopping by the Couristan showrooms in Atlanta and Vegas are going to see a new side of the company. Couristan will be offering more medium-priced shags with tribal styling, as well as solid shags, but also is bringing in new hand-knotted lines that are colorful and ethnic. The debuting Revival rug collection reworks traditional designs with the use of recycled denim, chindi and sari silk woven into unique geometric, stripe and abstract patterns over-tufted with natural elements of wool and cotton.
The company doesn't forget to add to its two top-selling fall 2017 collections: Calinda and Urban Shag. Urban Shag, crafted of 100 percent heat-set Courtron polypropylene is an ultra-soft face-to-face Wilton weave with a 1.96-inch high pile that reduces tracking and shading. That collection is power-loomed in Turkey in a wide range of sizes up to 9'2" x 12'3". The popular Calinda, also a face-to-face Wilton weave, is crafted with a blend of 50 percent heat-set Courtron polypropylene and 50 percent polyester.
DYNAMIC RUGS
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Dynamic Rugs grows the soft Bali collection, which features an innovative new yarn similar to a microfiber.
Winter shoppers stopping by Dynamic Rugs will be offered a full range of new collections and also be able to check out additions to popular collections, including the best-selling Quartz. Abstract looks get a high-low tessera treatment in Mosaic, made in Turkey of soft 100 percent chenille viscose yarn.
The new machine-made Torino collection features carved classic motifs with a distressed or faded effect, and subtle touches of color. Torino rugs are woven in Turkey using polyester in conjunction with a special shrink polyester.
Also on show will be the soft polypropylene Bali collection, which features an innovative new yarn similar to that of microfiber; the traditional designs of the debuting Fresco, made of heat-set polyester in Belgium; and the brand-new Zodiac, a bold collection of machine-made polypropylene rugs in rich saturated colors in a range of styles from abstract patterns to updated traditional Persian medallions.
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
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HRI continues to grow its transitional assortment introducing the zero pile Bikaner wool Vesta collection.
"Our January 2018 introductions will focus on transitional looks in hand knotted constructions that are priced at mid to high end," said Greg Jordt, executive vice president of sales and marketing. The company also continues to highlight its richly colored Bohemian-inspired Melody collection, and introduces an updated range of large-scale clearly rendered Oushak designs in a palette of soft colors. All are programmed and stocked in sizes 6x9 through 12x15.
HRI's palette of blues and grays will continue, but the company expects a progression to more intense colors, like jewel tones. In addition, it grows its transitional assortment with the new Vesta collection, featuring geometric and traditional Moroccan tile designs. Hand knotted in zero-pile, Vesta features India's finest Bikaner wool that is specially plied to create a very textured pile. Available in: 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, 10x14 with a suggested retail of $699 in 6x9.
JAIPUR LIVING
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Jaipur grows its popular Genesis collection with new mottled abstract designs hand-tufted of wool and viscose for plush softness and luster. Shown, GEN 18.
Jaipur Living offers winter market shoppers 13 new collections with over 70 rugs in a range of constructions including hand-knots, tufted, machine-mades and flatweaves. It also grows its best-selling modern, abstract Genesis and transitional Cirque collections with additional designs; introduces indoor-outdoor poufs in the Montauk collection; and adds to its custom made-to-order program.
The company anticipates the January debut of a new eco-friendly flatweave range called Tamil. Tamil is crafted of recycled sari silk and fine quality wool. Also shoppers can check out the colorful new Ceres range of contemporary machine-made rugs, woven with 100 percent polyester. Jaipur also introduced new looks to the Tala collection of luxe solid and heathered hand-knot rugs with the ultra-plush finish and made with 100 percent Persian knot.
JAUNTY
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Jaunty adds line extensions to its Capella collection, featuring a cut and loop pile with unique hand-shearing.
Jaunty focuses winter markets on its hand-woven and hand-tufted designs. The handmade Madison series of wool and viscose blends creates a luxe texture and sheen. Also getting new updates is Capella, made of wool with viscose accents, a hand-tufted range featuring looped and cut pile with unique hand-shearing.
The Soho collection of hand-tufted rugs features high-quality wool combined with accents of rich silk-like viscose. Lastly, the popular Tuscany range of hand-crafted rugs, with a looped and cut pile, gets fresh looks as well. It is crafted of high-quality wool with accents of viscose.
KALATY RUG CORPORATION
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Kalaty expands its flatweave all-wool Soumak collection with fresh new designs and fashion colors for Atlanta International Area Rug Market.
Kalaty will introduce new collections in a range hand-knotted styles, constructions and weaves in Atlanta and Las Vegas, and adds new colors and designs to popular existing collections that set the company apart in design and quality, says company principal Ariel Kalaty. "We always look forward to introducing new collections at winter markets. We feel that these shows will once again herald the beginning of another successful year for the Kalaty product line." Kalaty said.
January Atlanta market shoppers can look for additions to the flatweave all-wool Soumak collection image that will continue to grow throughout 2018. Soumak introductions feature classic Persian and tribal motifs reworked with fresh, modern pattern placement and fashion colorways.
Kalaty's success with its "modern-meets-traditional" design philosophy also results in the expansion of its borderless, classically inspired Oberoi collection, featuring artisanal erased effects and hand knotted using 100% premium hand-spun wool.
KALEEN INC.
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Kaleen debuts Ceneri, a new collection of pure wool designs which is micro-looped for added texture.
Kaleen brings plenty of freshness for shoppers in Atlanta with three new collections including the new Amaranta collection -- a spin-off of its best-selling Helena range. Amaranta features updated, traditional borderless designs handmade in India of pure wool with a suggested retail of $449 in 5'x7'9". The Ceneri collection of micro-looped patterns also grows the Kaleen portfolio. Available in 10 patterns and colorways, Ceneri is handmade in India of pure wool with a suggested retail of $399 in 5'x7'9". Finally, Stesso combines space-dyed yarns with a construction of cross-tufting and cut pile. This new handmade modern collection has eight available patterns and colorways, and carries a price of $399 in 5'x7'9".
Also highlighted will be the new Rachael Ray Home rugs debuted last fall (read more), including a cross-tufted range with a subtle border made of space-dyed wool, which retails for $399 for a 5x8. A synthetic poly-acrylic collection in the Rachael Ray program is hand-carved and hand-tufted and sells for $299, while another machine-made series offered in polypropylene yarn has a more traditional look at a $299 retail.
KARASTAN RUGS
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Karastan's hit licensing partner Patina Vie reworks classic looks for modern tastes. Shown, a recently introduced Patina Vie Vintage Tapis collection design.
Karastan's one-year-old collaboration with Patina Vie continues to expand with the company adding a new collection called Vintage Tapis to the assortment. The young Patina Vie label, which includes a broad range of home decor, textiles and area rugs has become known for its updated classic designs.
Vintage Tapis, a new construction for Karastan, features low-profile vintage looks in contemporary color combinations (read full story). The new Vintage Tapis collection is foldable and is merchandised with a unique rug bazaar-inspired display for retailers. "It's great quality, but at the same time it's $499 - $599 retail for 8x10," says Brandon Culpepper, vice president of specialty sales for Karastan. "A 5x8 would be $199