RUG FASHION PREVIEW: NEW YEAR, NEW LOOKS AT ATLANTA MARKET, PART 2
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ATLANTA -- All eyes will be on rug showrooms at next week's Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, particularly when it comes to fashion.
As the home furnishings industry's e-commerce category leaders for trend-right designs -- and as e-commerce continues to dominate sales to Millennials -- rug suppliers will have plenty of newness on show for retailers attending the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, including a special new section carved out on the fifth floor of AmericasMart Building 1 for the National Oriental Rug Show sponsored by the Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA).
Heading to market, buyers across all channels will be looking for the best combinations of value, color and design in all constructions, from machine-made to hand-knots. But machine-woven rugs, the category that spawned the most newsworthy and most prolific innovations in 2017, will again be the segment to watch at January fairs -- for everything from new textures to new printing technologies.
That doesn't mean rug suppliers won't be catering to fine rug galleries and better furniture stores -- as well as the growing number of interior designers attending Atlanta market. Look for a resurgence of introductions in hand-tufted rugs, and hand-loomed and hand-knotted rugs in a deep and wide assortment of design styles and price points.
"Hand-tufted is not dead as some people think," explained Satya Tiwari, president of Surya. "Although we will have a lot of new machine-made lines at winter markets as well as new hand-knotted collections in our fashion-right, price-right strategy, we continue to believe in tufted and will introduce key collections in Atlanta."
Safavieh, a pioneer in developing fashion-forward machine-made rugs for e-commerce, will continue to present to multiple audiences, according to company principal, Arash Yaraghi. "At January markets, Safavieh's introductions focus on fashion in the highest quality at every price point," Yaraghi said.
Across the board, new weaves and designs are in the pipeline well beyond January markets. That's especially true at Oriental Weavers, where president, Jonathan Witt is pleased with appointments booked for Atlanta and Las Vegas, but already looking at future product developments. "We have got some exciting new qualities coming out in Q1; not certain if they will make it in January, but we have some great new things coming out," he told RugNews.com.
Below find RugNews.com buyer's guide to area rugs at the Atlanta market Part 2, where we introduce the latest fashions from Loloi to United Weavers. Make sure not to miss Part 1 where we cover companies from Amer to Linon.
LOLOI, INC.
B1 4-D2, B1 4-E1
Loloi debuts several new collections for winter shoppers, including the new Patina collection with this innovative mosaic effect.
Loloi, which comes off another hot year of sales growth, keeps pushing itself to create innovative new products to lure market shoppers to its showroom. For winter markets, the company is also pushing its selection of one of a kind area rugs, which feature classic designs with a vintage look and fade styling.
In addition, Loloi will feature several new collections that make use of proprietary technologies. New introductions to the Loloi label include the power-loomed Patina collection of polypropylene and polyester; the mosaic-inspired cross-woven Porcia collection made space-dyed super soft polyester; and the hand-crafted Tatum featuring a soft dissolved look in each of the patterns.
Loloi also introduces the first indoor/outdoor collections for ED Ellen DeGeneres and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines to Atlanta and Las Vegas shoppers.
L.R. RESOURCES
B1 4-F9
LR Resources grows its power-loomed offerings with the new Whimsical collection of polypropylene designs styled for a younger audience.
Atlanta market shoppers will find new hand-tufted products and new moderately priced machine-mades to browse at LR Resources' showroom. Among the debuts is Whimsical a polypropylene power-loomed collection with a suggested retail of $99-$119 for 5x7. In addition, several popular collections get line increases, including the successful Naturals natural fiber series, which introduces Topanga in jute and wool with a retail of $299 in 5'x7'9". Available in six colors, the design combines a braid and rag rug effect. The company also showcases Captiva, a polypropropylene flatweave with designs retailing at $149 in the 5x8 size.
"We've got some new hand-tufted products coming on, as well as a couple of new moderate price point machine-mades," said Mike Thompson, vice president of sales, direct division LR Resources. The company is also adding to its flagship Naturals collection, continuing to make designs relevant and current. Says Thompson, "We are the leader in this natural fiber category and intend to stay there."
MOMENI, INC.
B1 4-B2
Momeni brings the updated tribal designs of the plush new Monaco collection to winter markets.
Momeni heads to market with new designs for the Momeni label as well as introducing Atlanta shoppers to the recently debuted Erin Gates by Momeni collection. For 2018 Momeni will highlight designs featuring texture and subtle colors and also continue to explore Bohemian looks and modern riffs on traditional designs.
Texture and soft color combinations are signatures of the Erin Gates by Momeni line created by the popular blogger behind Elements of Style, notably her handmade Langdon collection of graphic designs featuring a woven wool flatweave base with stitching and a viscose cut pile in a high-low effect for a highly textural result (read full story).
In addition, the Momeni branded line continues to grow its Boho inspired looks, recently adding ranges including the tribal designs of the plush Monaco and the soft pastels of Isabella.
NATCO
B1 3-A7
Natco adds new collections for market shoppers. Shown, top seller Corso collection's Azzurro.
"Natco celebrated 100 years in 2017 and our winter market future is looking bright with added domestic and imported rug collections," said Mark Ferullo, Natco executive vice president. "We are striving to expand the business by meeting market needs and exceeding customer expectations. Our main focus is to provide high quality products at fair and reasonable prices with great customer service."
New top sellers recently added to the arsenal include Corso, a domestically made collection of power-loomed ultra-soft, heat-set polypropylene rugs with the look and feel of silk. Also getting fresh styles added is the Sparkle Shag line of deep pile shags with an 85mm pile height. Hand-tufted in China of a super-soft polyester pile with a pop of Lurex for sparkle, the range is available in a variety of earth tones.
NOURISON
B1 1 1L1 & B1 3F-2
A new abstract painterly design from Nourison's Prismatic collection debuts in trend-right fashion colors at the 2018 Atlanta market.
For the winter 2018 edition of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, Nourison adds a second showroom with a space in the AmericasMart Building 1 lobby for its trend-driven collection of high-end area rugs, broadloom and home accents. Adjacent to the HD Home Temporary collection, the new, 6,500-square foot Nourison space will be open during markets and year-round. The rug maker will simultaneously exhibit in its 3rd floor showroom in Building 1.
The company has plenty of fresh products for shoppers to check out including new designs in the best-selling Prismatic and Twilight collections, and its growing assortment of one of-a-kind-rugs. Nourison also debuts new Calvin Klein collections, and adds new styles to its Christopher Guy, Kathy Ireland and Barclay Butera license programs.
ORIAN
B1 6-F1
Orian targets the e-commerce consumer with Symmetry, its first printed collection, in colors and designs that resonate with Millennials.
Orian rolls out several new constructions for shoppers in Atlanta, including its first printed and all polyester collections. Orian introduces its plush space-dyed polyester program called Cotton Tail at January markets following a positive response at fall 2017 shows. "Initially, we brought about 10 designs in high and low pile; in January we'll bring out about 40 designs in each quality. We will be building out that assortment tremendously," said Deonn Baker, VP e-commerce.
Another High Point hit, the high-low textured Boucle is now in full production, and retailers can expect to see a new iteration in 2018, Baker told RugNews.com. Also very well-received last fall and set for expansion in January is Orian's Symmetry collection, printed on the Regency base with cotton backing. Targeting e-commerce with bold millennial colors and designs from abstracts to fun tile motifs, Symmetry will be available in shippable stock in the first quarter of 2018.
ORIENTAL WEAVERS OF AMERICA
B1 3-A2
Oriental Weavers will present new additions to its best-selling Richmond collection at Atlanta International Area Rug Market. Shown, 1807J.
Oriental Weavers continues to showcase its growing lineup of retail best-sellers, such as Richmond, launched in 2015 and expanded with new winners for Fall/Winter 2017-2018. "With a blend of traditional designs in modern-day hues, Richmond is one of our top selling collections," said Angie Shook, director of marketing, "and our design team has created six new globally influenced designs to add to the collection."
The Richmond collection refreshes Persian designs with modern colors, including deep blues, grays and ivory, and adds some transitional abstract textures as complements. The line is machine-woven in Egypt of silky-soft yet durable polypropylene. Suggested retail for a 5'3" x 7'6" is $599.
RIZZY HOME
1, 6-C-8
Gossamer by Rizzy Home is power-loomed of wool and foldable for shipping. The line is set for expansion in 2018.
Rizzy Home builds on the success of its 2017 launch of Simply Southern top of bed and pillows, with the introduction of accent rugs to the popular licensing program at January markets. Hand-tufted of wool, the rugs are aimed at young women and the college dorm market, areas Rizzy sees as growth opportunities in 2018, along with the gift and bedding sectors.
The company also grows its best-selling Gossamer and Panache collections launched in 2017, and has eight new collections on the drawing board for debut by the end of the first half of 2018. "That's a very aggressive number of new product introductions, especially when you consider that we brought out 24 unique collections in 2017," said Steve Roan, Rizzy Home's managing director, The Americas.
The Gossamer collection, a New Zealand wool power-loomed range that can be folded and shipped by UPS in boxes at no charge (even in 10x14s), will be expanded with a next-generation quality to be quietly previewed in Vegas. "These will be machine made of wool like the Gossamer quality - but with the addition of two colors of silk. They're hand carved, hand-serged on the sides, and will be our first machine made wool and silk rugs," Roan said. The formal launch is scheduled for High Point in April.
SAFAVIEH
B1 5-C1, B1 5-A2
Safavieh raises the bar in machine-made quality and design with the Illusion collection in viscose with vintage patina.
"At January markets, Safavieh's introductions focus on fashion in the highest quality at every price point," said Arash Yaraghi, principal. Safavieh continues to toy with the on-trend Bohemian look, adding two new collections for Atlanta and Las Vegas market attendees. The new Illusions range redefines timeless Persian designs with a modern palette and fresh new color combinations. Made using silky smooth viscose yarns and finished in a distressed vintage patina, Illusion defines the classic contemporary home décor preferences of young shoppers. Power-loomed in Turkey, the range carries an MSRP of $800 in 5x8.
The Crystal collection, also power-loomed in Turkey, features classic motifs done up in brilliant colors and a distressed finish. Safavieh targets Millennials with a vintage-chic, zero-pile construction for the Crystal range, which made from polypropylene and priced for e-commerce consumers with an MSRP of $400 in 5x8.
SURYA
B1 11-A1
Surya grows its best-selling Harput collection with vibrantly colored classic design motifs with fresh erased looks.
Surya covers all the bases with its fashion-right, priced-right strategy, and for January markets at Atlanta and Dallas, the company expands with additions to its handmade and machine-made assortments (read full story). "In Atlanta we will present new high-end hand knotteds for the first time for our design customers looking for exclusive, exquisite product," said Satya Tiwari, president. Among the hand-knotted offerings are the all wool, zero-pile Ethereal range and the lustrous Gorgeous collection in viscose.
Tiwari said the company continues to invest in handmade looks that are not possible to achieve in machine made, and will launch several new hand-tufted collections, including Fire Work in cut and loop low pile wool and the highly textured Hannon Hill. Look for fresh machine made collections in a variety of yarns and styles, including Crescendo in abstract and traditional designs with both matte and high luster effects.
In addition, Surya will present a curated assortment of products in the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year: Ultra Violet (read full story), including a top selling, hand-knotted Zahra collection design in on-point violet.
TRANS-OCEAN IMPORT CO.
B2 4-316
Liora Manné for Trans-Ocean continues to add playful nautical themes to the durable Frontporch range of indoor-outdoor rugs. Shown, Seadog.
Designer Liora Manné for Trans-Ocean continues to grow her popular Frontporch range of area rugs and pillows. In addition, she expands the Lamontage Visions III pillow collection, adding bold succulent and toucan designs. The Frontporch collection adds several new ocean-inspired designs -- Flamingo, Seadog and Compass -- all of which are hand hooked of weather-resistant fiber for a blend of comfort, softness and durability. Part of Trans-Ocean's "Everywear" line, Frontporch is suitable for both indoors and outdoors. These rugs are hand-tufted of a blend of 80 percent polyester and 20 percent acrylic in China. Available sizes include 20"x30", 24"x36", 30"x48", 42"x66", 5'x7'6", 7'6"x9'6", and 27" x 72" runner. Suggested retail in 5' x 7'6" is $425.