THE BEST OF THE RUG SHOW - BUYERS AND VENDORS WEIGH IN, PART 2
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NEW YORK -- On the hunt for best-sellers and trends at the 2017 Rug Show New York, dealers and designers had lots of ground to cover with an international cadre of 70 exhibitors, many premiering new designs and collections exclusively at the event.
At the Momeni booth, Mark Gonsenhauser of Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Super Store in Virginia Beach told RugNews.com, "This is going to turn out to be the best show in America. For me it's so varied, so colorful, and there are so many different exhibitors from all around the world as well as our local wholesalers.
"It's definitely medium to high end -- very creative. I don't think there's anything better," Gonsehauser continued.
Reza Momeni explained that the convenience of the New York show is very important to his customers. "They don't have to leave the U.S., and can see exhibitors from California, South America, Turkey and Europe, as well as the East Coast under one roof," he explained.
Using The Rug Show New York as an American launch pad, Peter Hens, founder of Belgium-based HOC, said the Javits Center debut far exceeded his expectations, with more customers writing business with the company than at European shows. The response was so positive in fact, that HOC is joining other Rug Show exhibitors in High Point next week to introduce the high-end brand to designers.
Josh Nazmiyal of Rug and Kilim (R&K) also signed up a number of accounts at the show. "The first day was phenomenal -- better than ever before," he said, attributing the firm's success to some 'really nice new designs'."We're very excited about the response to the next generation of our Scandinavian flatweaves, and our new yarn combining sari silk, natural silk and wool did very well."
Many exhibitors waited for the September Rug Show to introduce fresh new styles, which retailers and designers welcomed for the busy home decorating months leading up to the holidays. Sertac Cakim of Landry & Arcari in Boston said that a new selection of Oushaks which Istanbul-based Ketenci Rugs' previewed at the Javits Center were outstanding.
Cakim next pointed out new collections introduced by Tissage which also created a buzz at The Rug Show. Indeed, the Ottoman Kilim and Nomad collections from Tissage were must-sees for buyers, as were premiering collaborations between designer Emma Gardner and Tamarian, a capsule collection by Ayka Design for Moybayen, and the official launch of Stark Studio Rugs.
In this exclusive two-part review, RugNews.com visits exhibitors from Kirkit to Zollanvari to find the latest trends and innovations. And be sure to check out Part 1 for coverage of companies Alan Pourvakil to Kentenci.
KIRKIT RUGS
Above and below, the centuries-old folkloric tradition of tying fabric "wish notes" on tree branches in the hope of making dreams become reality is still popular in Turkey today -- and represented here in Istanbul-based Kirkit's recycled hemp kilim (the wish notes are colorful knots of recycled wool).
LAPCHI
David Neishabori from Azadi Fine Rugs in Scottsdale, Arizona, visits the Lapchi exhibit with Kerry Smith from Lapchi, Portland, Oregon, and Stephen King of Stephen King Decorative Carpets in Boston.
Part of a growing Battilossi for Lapchi collection, this Rug Show NY star attraction is 'Print on Print Tangerine' from the new Eclectic series created in collaboration with rug and textile designer Maurizio Battilossi of Turin, Italy.
LOUIS DE POORTERE
The U.S. division of Louis de Poortere of Belgium showed new designs introduced for 2017, with the spotlight on best-selling metallic-inflected designs of De Poortere Deco's Mad Men collection.
MERREFIELD RUGS
Roz Rustigian of Rustigian Rugs in Providence, Rhode Island, and Sayeed Hasanzadah of Merrifield Oriental Rugs of Fairfax, Viginia, pose in front of a classic tribal design that serendipitously coordinates with the on-point colors Rustigian is wearing.
MOBAYEN AND AYKA DESIGN
Mobayen of Los Angeles introduces new abstract designs and a new partnership with Ayka Design,with a capsule collection by award-winning Ayka founder, Michelle Evans debuting at the show.
MOMENI
Reza Momeni poses with Mark Gonsenhauser of Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Super Store of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Ali Momeni of Momeni and Robert Hakimi of Designer Rugs & Carpet of Syosset, New York. Behind them is a hand-knotted rug with Khotan designs and elements from Pakistan.
A highlight in a striking array of colorful looks at Momeni, this Khorjin design from the company's super Kazak production from Pakistan had the palette Rug Show buyers were seeking.
PAMPAS LEATHER
Buyers were attracted to the novelty of this indigo blue alligator patchwork rug (above) and fashion-forward pearlized cream design (below) at Pampas Leather's booth at The Rug Show New York.
RUG AND KILIM
Cyrus Nazmiyal and Josh Nazmiyal of Rug and Kilim tell RugNews.com that traffic on the day we visited was phenomenal, and this year's Rug Show NY was their best yet.
Luxurious designs from R&K's award-winning Scandinavian flatweave collection were top sellers at the Javits Center event.
S&H RUGS
Horacio Marchand of Artezan Rugs in Mexico meets with Ori Wilbush of S&H Rugs at the New Jersey-based exhibitor's busy Rug Show booth.
A best-seller for S&H, this show-stopping Oushak is based on an original 18th century historical design. The densely woven background is oxidized wool, and the pattern done in multiple shades of pure silk with recycled sari silk.
SAMAD BROTHERS
David Samad and Malcolm Samad flank Mahmud Jafri and Hasan Jafri of Dover Rug & Home,of Boston and Natick, Massachusetts, at their Javits show stand.
Leading the indigo trend at the Rug Show New York, Samad captivated shoppers with two best-sellers, both from the Shibori collection: Kogo (middle back wall) and Kyoto in inky tie-dye blues.
STARK STUDIO RUGS
John and Steven Stark stop to talk with RugNews.com at the Rug Show New York debut of their new wholesale rug division, Stark Studio Rugs (read full story).
A new design in Stark Studio Rugs' Castlewall collection is hand knotted in India of 80 percent wool, 20 percent silk and 10 percent linen.
SUMMIT RUG
Richard Zolt of to-the-trade custom area rug studio JD Staron visits with Kazem Fatahi of Bernardsville, New Jersey-based Summit Rug, where Rug Show visitors found a broad assortment of transitional designs and contemporary textures.
An intricately hand-knotted design called Mirrormaze from a new collection was among the best-sellers for Summit Rugs at the 2017 edition of The Rug Show New York.
THE PERSIAN CARPET
Barak Rutledge and Doug Lay of The Persian Carpet in Durham North Carolina, pose with Alix Perrrachon of Alix Unlimited in Larchmont, New York, Paul McSweeney of The Persian Carpet, and Neydret Gurler of Robin Gray Design of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
TIBET RUG COMPANY
From classic folkloric Suzani designs in a Soumak weave (above) to new abstract art selections in 100-knot wool (below) The Tibet Rug Company of Salt Lake City, Utah, had a broad range to offer Rug Show New York shoppers.
TISSAGE
Tissage introduced two new collections at The Rug Show New York and both were best-sellers, according to Nikhil Kapoor, creative director. Shown above, the Nomad collection inspired by tribal textiles; below, a design from the Ottoman Kilim collection in 100 percent silk.
WOOL AND SILK
Alex Khesin of the Khesin Group in Lake Success, New Y,ork and Erbil Tezcan of Wool and Silk in New Jersey, pose in front of Tezcan's Sarkin Fish design.
An intricately detailed winter woodland mountain scene was a must-see favorite of Rug Show shoppers stopping by the Wool and Silk stand.
ZOLLANVARI
Heather Isberian, Taline Isberian, and Stephan Isberian of Isberian Rug Co. in Aspen, Colorado, pose with Sanjay Purohit of Zollanvari in front of top-selling classics hand-woven in Iran.
Called 'Woodland 18, Into the Woods', this Luribaft carpet from Zollanvari's Transitional Formal collection was a best seller at The Rug Show New York.