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Business, Designer Floors, Designer/To The Trade

Thibaut Acquires Rosemary Hallgarten; Founder Hallgarten Named Chief Creative Officer

Thibaut, a portfolio company of private equity firm Norwest Equity Partners, has purchased luxury area rug designer and supplier Rosemary Hallgarten, with founder Hallgarten named chief creative officer.

6/27/2024
Image of Rosemary Hallgarten and Rivulet rug
Thibaut has acquired luxury rug atelier Rosemary Hallgarten, and founder Hallgarten has been named chief
creative officer. Shown Rivulet 

UNION, N.J. – Thibaut, a leading provider of wallpaper, fabric, trim and furniture to the trade, has acquired the assets of Rosemary Hallgarten, a world-renowned designer and supplier of exclusive luxury rugs, fabrics, and accessories with an established reputation in the interior designer community. (Thibaut  is a portfolio company of private equity firm Norwest Equity Partners, and the terms of the deal were not disclosed).

Founded in 2001, the Rosemary Hallgarten business was formed with emphasis on authenticity, thoughtful sustainability, and the stewardship and support of the local artisans behind her designs. Today, as one of the most luxurious brands in the industry, Rosemary Hallgarten boasts a client list containing the most discriminating designers in the world, with installations in several countries and supported by a multi-channel network of corporate and partner showrooms.


Rosemary Hallgarten's just-debuted Cloud 1920 Arctic Fox rug design is hand-tufted of extraordinarily thick carved faux shearling.
 
“Rosemary Hallgarten is one of the most compelling luxury brands in the design industry. The opportunity to not only expand the current business but also work with Rosemary to unlock even more experiential creativity is an opportunity that rarely comes along. Two enduring responsibilities of brand leaders are to provide differentiated designs and to build exceptional relationships with designers. Thibaut is incredibly excited to partner with Rosemary and her entire team to deliver on those responsibilities and to leverage our recent investments in infrastructure and talent to build the future,” stated Rick Kilmer, Thibaut CEO. “Additionally, having Rosemary’s continued presence in the business as the brand’s Chief Creative Officer to ensure an unwavering commitment to the Rosemary Hallgarten design ethos was a critical element of this transaction. The entire Thibaut team looks forward to working with her.”

Rosemary Hallgarten, founder and president, added, “As my business has continued to grow, I have been contemplating, as many founders do, how to scale while staying true to my original vision of creating authentically artisanal, luxurious and inspiring products. My goal has been to gain more creative freedom but with continued growth and the ensuing operational demands this has become a daily challenge. Meeting Rick, who values and understands the importance of the unique luxury brand my team has created over 20 years and learning more about Thibaut’s operational excellence and industry reputation, a partnership provided a clear solution. I am excited for this next chapter to focus on creating and developing products in existing and new product categories, while preserving our brand promise, service to clients and support for our existing channels and teams.”


Rosemary Hallgarten Glacier rug is hand-knotted of nettle, silk and wool with accents rendered of 60 percent wool/40 percent silk.

Thibaut was established in 1886, and is the oldest wallpaper company in the United States. Since the company’s inception, Thibaut has evolved into a full-service design house with a diverse product offering of wallcovering, fabric, trim, furniture, and area rugs from Thibaut, Anna French, Coraggio, and Thibaut Fine Furniture. Known for its exceptional and unique designs, the company prides itself on inspiring color palettes, fresh interpretations of classic designs, best-in-class service, and exclusive artwork created by an in-house design team. Thibaut is to the trade only and sold in hundreds of locations around the globe, with six flagship showrooms in the US and corporate offices in New Jersey and London.

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