NEW YORK -- Students from the Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) Textile Surface Design program will be honored at a ceremony at Safavieh Chelsea on Tuesday, Nov. 17, as winners of “Grounded in Design,” a rug design competition created exclusively for FIT by Safavieh, the fourth-generation home furnishings house founded in 1914.
Working from a brief provided by Safavieh – inspired by Art Deco and architectural ornament, the Arts and Crafts movement and antique Persian rugs – students created original designs that were reviewed by a panel of judges that included interior designer Thomas O’Brien, founder of Aero Studios and a longtime Safavieh collaborator; Ethan Lu, Chairperson of Interior Design at FIT; designer Patti Carpenter; and members of Safavieh's design team. The top three students will receive prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500, and present their work at the ceremony.
“A rug is where a room begins, and these FIT students have shown real command of color, scale and storytelling,” said Arash Yaraghi,
president of Safavieh. “Our family has worked with designers for more than a century. Giving the next generation a real stage for their work is one of the most meaningful things we can do.”
“This exciting competition provides our students with valuable feedback from leaders in the field, and the unmatched experience
of having their work judged by professionals in the home furnishings and interior design industry, a wonderful precursor to career possibilities,” said Deborah L. Hernandez, adjunct assistant professor of Textile Surface Design at FIT. “We're grateful to Safavieh for their partnership, and commitment to emerging FIT talent.”
Event Details
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m.
Safavieh Chelsea, 89 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10011