Spring area rug introductions continued to set higher standards across all price point categories at High Point Market.
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Area rugs were at the top of buyers’ shopping lists at the spring 2024 edition of High Point Market. The category is fast-becoming a home furnishings industry trend setter, no longer simply taking fashion cues from decorative fabrics – but leading the way with color and design.
Throughout the High Point campus, rug companies showcased an ever-more sophisticated lineup of products helping set higher standards in all price point categories to meet consumer demand. Indeed, now that consumers want handmade rugs with stories of weavers and the yarns they use, rug makers are upping their games in the category – and that includes many who have previously been exclusive purveyors of machine-made goods.
The race to the bottom with machine-mades appears to have come to an end – at least for designers and retailers shopping High Point. At every showroom, our editors found new and exciting textures, weaves, yarn combinations and more. Follow along as we shop for the bestsellers this spring in Part 2. Make sure not to miss Part 1.
LR HOME
LR Home's new Mesa, crafted of jute and wool, was a market-favorite for its organic styling and textured motifs.
LR Home’s showroom was a hub for designer events featuring license partner Evette Rios, whose rugs and coordinating accessories were prominently displayed at the entrance to the space. LR Home continues to expand on the success of its Naturals collection with more new rugs that incorporate jute with other fibers. Mesa is made of jute and wool, with a subtle color peeking through the natural hue of the jute in an oversized crosshatch pattern. Prairie combines jute with New Zealand wool in a sophisticated look: a chunky, textured border surrounds a solid flatwoven center.
LR Home also expanded its hand-knotted wool rug offerings with Symphony, made of New Zealand wool. One Symphony rug features a pattern of floral medallions in a colorway that includes beige and green combined with accents of terra cotta. Market shoppers are loving the evolution of the company’s furniture with high-end looks from whitewashed French chairs to artful stone tables. Textile products from throws to decorative pillows and poufs were woven throughout display areas showcasing the company’s total home cross-category positioning. In this category designer Stacy Garcia's licensed products were a hit with buyers.
LR Home expands its hand-knotted lineup with Symphony, made of New Zealand wool, and featuring oversized,
raised floral motif
LOLOI
Loloi introduces first rugs along celebrity designer Brigette Romanek at spring High Point Market. Shown, Orly
Many of Loloi’s design partners were on hand to meet fans, sign books, and show off their rugs, including the company’s newest partner, interior designer Brigette Romanek. Romanek showcased four handmade rug collections, all rendered in highly textured, warm neutrals. Frida is hand-knotted in wool and cotton, with a chunky texture and a choice of solid colors in warm neutrals ranging from a creamy light natural to a darker graphite. The Dana collection has a shaggy texture accented with stripes and height variations in the weave and is made of wool and cotton with nylon and polyester. Orly is a soft 100 percent polyester range woven in a variegated striped pattern with a border carved into the pile. And Knox, made of wool, cotton and polyester, has a subtle checkerboard pattern.
New from Jean Stoffer X Loloi is Grace, which features a tightly rendered geometric pattern over a neutral ground. Companion patterns David and Daniel were displayed together; Daniel is hand-loomed of viscose and wool face in India, while David has a more contemporary look and is hand-knotted of 100 percent wool. Both have variations on a geometric block pattern and colorways based on browns and grays.
Loloi's program along Jean Stoffer added Grace collection and showcased companion patterns David and Daniel in a display.
MOMENI
Pure Salt X Momeni -- a customer favorite for its natural, earthy vibe -- added new collections for spring High Point.
Momeni featured a variety of weaves and design styles for spring High Point market-goers, and also hosted events alongside licensing partners from Pure Salt and Novogratz.
The popular Pure Salt collaboration added a new natural fibers collection, crafted of undyed or tea-dyed fibers, including jute that’s been treated to feel like wool, and linen.
Other well received introductions include the company’s Estelle rug, crafted of viscose and wool, with intricate, traditional designs printed on the neutral base. Ombre, as the name suggests, is a solid-colored rug densely tufted of 100 percent wool, with the tonal colors gradually fading.
Finally, Momeni's Ariana collection -- named after VP Aria Momeni, who hand-selected one-of-a-kind rugs to be reproduced -- is printed onto a machine-made polyester base. These rugs, previewed in a few months ago in New York, offer lush colors, detailed patterns, and subtle wearing to give the look of a vintage rug without the price tag. The vintage originals are also available for sale.
Momeni's Ariana collection reworks a curated lineup of one-of-a-kind rugs to be reproduced and printed onto a machine-
woven base.
NOURISON HOME
Nourison grows its assortment of luxury area rugs adding to its Christopher Guy program with Sampiatrini collection.
Market shoppers flocked to Nourison’s busy showroom for a look at the company’s newest additions to its popular proprietary Prismatic collection, hand-tufted in 50 percent New Zealand wool and 50 percent Luxelle. In addition, the company's high-quality Whisper collection, hand-knotted of wool, was a success for its traditional Persian designs in contemporary neutral colorways.
Another big hit was the Christopher Guy Sampiatrini collection, which was unveiled in four organic neutral colors. Hand-knotted of alpaca and llama wool, the rugs are heavily textured and luxurious.
Nourison unveiled four new traditional designs in the bestselling Infinite collection, and they clearly received approval from High Point Market shoppers. “This is a luxury power-loomed collection, and it's resonating with buyers,” Marra said. Woven in a medium pile in 92 percent polyester and 8 percent polypropylene, infinite is a buyer favorite for its luxurious hand, fashion colors and serged edges.
Another instant hit was Heritage Vine, hand-knotted of vegetable dyed yarn with traditional designs in all the right palettes.
Nourison's bestselling Prismatic collection's newest addition was market favorite.
OBEETEE
Obeetee debuts Quartz collection, hand-tufted of wool in a solid neutral with carved lines.
Obeetee moves its focus towards emphasizing its handmade rugs to meet the shift to this category by its retailers. “The machine-made market is saturated,” says Stephen Hoberman, chief executive of Obeetee. “Everyone coming into our showroom is looking for good handmade.”
The Quartz collection is hand-tufted wool in a solid neutral with carved lines rendering geometric patterns. Shadows is another hand-tufted wool collection and features undulated textured lines woven into a solid neutral body. Mahogany is hand-knotted of wool, cotton and jute in warm natural colors, with simple patterns like oversized checkerboard and patterned stripes. Assente is hand-tufted of PET for an easy-care option and has simple, contemporary motifs like repeating arches accented with diamond shapes. And the Lino collection, hand-tufted in tonal abstract geometrics, illustrates a color direction for the company: “We’re going with warm colors, rather than cool blues and greys,” says Hoberman.
Obeetee introduces
Mahogany collection, hand-knotted of wool, cotton, and jute in a range of styles.
ORIAN
Orian introduces Miles, which features its densest construction and highest pile rugs.
Orian’s designers have been busy with a variety of new introductions in a range of constructions. Miles represents the densest constructions and highest pile the company offers (and one of the heaviest machine-made rugs in the industry). It’s machine woven of polypropylene and features transitional modern geometric designs and neutral colors that include bright white, black and gray. The nylon-bound rugs have an infinity edge, so the pile of the rug extends to the very edge, concealing the serging.
Rhett, which also features a high pile but a less dense construction, includes three designs with two colorways each. “We knew Rhett would be a home run,” notes Jess Sheehan, creative director of Orian. “It has an easy palette of black, blue, white and tan in updated, modern abstract designs.” Axel, meanwhile, is a tonal look with a subtle cross-hatching pattern. The rugs are pet-friendly and easy care, woven in a dense medium pile that Sheehan says has always done well for Orian.
Finally, i
n indoor-outdoor, Bergen uses a new yarn technology the company developed and patented called Dreamfiber. The synthetic yarn has the look and feel of wool. The looped construction uses a combination of skinny and thick yarns for a high-low, detailed patterns.
Orian's Rhett has become a customer favorite, featuring a high pile and three designs with two colorways each.
ORIENTAL WEAVERS
Oriental Weaver's new power-loomed Kiera collection was a hit for its rich coloration and textural Persian motifs.
Oriental Weavers placed the spotlight on four new collections at its High Point showroom, which was remodeled into a striking, more comfortable and workable space in time for spring market.
The new Echo and Kiera collections are both power loomed in Egypt. Echo debuts with 12 designs, in a space-dyed, and textural polyester yarn in subtle neutrals and tonal blues. Designs range from modern geometric to organic abstracts, and traditional Persian styles. The Keira collection uses multi-tonal and shrink polyester yarns for its eight new Persian motifs.
OW’s indoor-outdoor Naples collection is machine woven of polypropylene and market shoppers loved its unique weaving technique which allows for almost endless color and texture possibilities. The Windham collection showcases six vintage traditional designs in tonal color palettes featuring subtle shades of green, blue and gold. It is hand loomed in India of wool and viscose featuring a luxurious hand and a lustrous finish.
Oriental Weavers introduces Echo in a range of designs from organic abstracts to Persian styles. Shown, ECH11
RUG & KILIM
Rug & Kilim's Scandinavian collection showcases a geometric pattern, hanging, in its boucle texture and fashion-forward
green palette.
In Rug & Kilim’s Suites at Market Square space RugNews.com met with Cyrus Nazmiyal just before a panel discussion the company sponsored got underway featuring designers Alexa Hampton and Robin Gannon. The event drew new customers to the booth which the New York studio had decked out with its various Scandinavian collection assortment, as well as its designs from its Oushak and Modern Classics lines.
One of the company's best of market rugs, from the Scandinavian collection, featured a geometric grid pattern in a boucle texture with trend-right green palette. Woven of a nubby yarn and rendered in saturated neutrals, the rug features rows of patterned squares for a subtly contemporary look.
S&H RUGS
S&H Rugs returned to High Point introducing shoppers to its latest hand-knotted pieces such as this broken Persian pattern
S&H Rugs, which returned to High Point Market after a hiatus, lured buyers in with displays of its vast assortment of hand-knotted rugs. In its SAMS booth, the hand-knot specialist offered everything from modern plaid designs to bold abstract looks and a range of updated traditional designs in some of S&H Rugs' most popular collections: Mamluk, Oushak and Sultanabad.
"We’re always trying to 'reinvent the wheel' making it interesting, yet desirable and beautiful," said Ori Wilbush, founder of S&H Rugs. Two showstoppers were a dramatic broken Persian pattern and a striking crocodile pattern in tones of green from the company’s Safari collection.
S&H Rugs' crocodile pattern from the Safari collection proved a showstopper with interior designers and buyers.
SAFAVIEH
White rugs trended in the Safavieh showroom, which featured its latest abstracted high-low hand-loomed options.
Safavieh's showroom saw plenty of action from buyers shopping its cross-category products including furniture, lighting, decorative accents, its new broadloom range and of course, area rugs. Some of the highlights from the Safavieh showroom include Bedford, a collection that ranges in designs from geometric patterns to abstract and floral motifs. With nine designs in four colorways, the collection is hand-loomed on an Axminster loom using a viscose-blend yarn. The latest additions to the bestselling Jewel of India collection were popular at High Point for their subtle, vintage-style floral motifs in jewel tone colors.
The company also has a new addition to its Signature collection. The viscose rug, which features a short fringe, is power loomed in a 2-million-point construction for a finely detailed pattern that’s semi-erased for a antiqued look.
Bedford collection rugs were in the spotlight at Safavieh's High Point showroom, and buyers gave thumbs up to the abstract designs
SURYA
Surya debuted its new Frank Lloyd Wright collaboration hand-made rugs inspired by the architect's iconic Prairie style.
There’s always plenty to see in the busy Surya showroom, and for designers and retailers shopping High Point its handmade qualities stole the show, Hand-knotted 100 percent wool hits included Sinclair (a riff on the company’s popular Once Upon a Time collection) and Anelka, featuring traditional patterns in in a low-pile weave. Finesse is hand-knotted of wool and viscose in a cut pile with a cross-hatched design with patches of erased pattern.
A stylish vignette showed off the company’s luxurious additions to its Frank Lloyd Wright x Surya collection. Lush, earthy solid-colored rugs have subtle patterns of geometric lines and circles carved into them celebrating the architect’s Prairie style.
Highlights from Surya's Becki Owens partnership were arranged in a vignette featuring three handcrafted collections: Moab, Davey and Gina. These rugs are hand-knotted of 100 percent wool or a wool and viscose mix, with neutral colors, a dense texture and subtle geometric patterns that work in a contemporary or transitional setting.
Becki Owens x Surya celebrated another line extension for the duo at High Point adding several hand-knotted designs.
TRANS-OCEAN
New to the popular Monaco collection, the polypropylene Striped Border features concentric solid borders over a ground
that captures the look of jute
Trans Ocean continues to build its assortment of rugs beautifully designed by Liora Manné. In the Marina collection of polypropylene and polyester rugs, Watercolor Pond is a new offering for High Point shoppers, featuring an Impressionist-style design of dreamy florals on a watery blue background. Also within Marina, Hallo Holland is a tapestry weave in a colorful pattern featuring a detailed and realistic floral bouquet on a solid dark blue or light beige background. And within the Monaco collection, made of polypropylene for indoor/outdoor use, Striped Border pattern has a series of concentric solid borders over a textured neutral ground that has the look of jute.
Finally, there are always new additions to the company’s popular scatter rug collection, Frontporch. This market, a highlight was Pelican, featuring the water bird perched in front of a colorful sunset.
Trans-Ocean'
s Hallo Holland, featuring a detailed and realistic floral bouquet, was a market favorite for its cheery motif.
UNIQUE LOOM
Unique Loom adds
Eco Traditional, crafted of PET recycled yarn, with traditional designs and vintage look.
In the Unique Loom showroom, new additions to the Ultra Vintage collection were a highlight for market shoppers. These vintage rugs have been altered with overdyeing or shaping to create an updated, modern look, and buyers scoured the showroom to see what was available. Eco Traditional, another highlight, is produced from PET recycled yarn to create traditional designs and a weathered, vintage look.
Another PET collection, Eco Bohemian, got kudos for its fresh playful looks in the performance category. Unique Loom also reported success with its Atlas Moroccan collection, hand knotted with a high-low texture.
Ultra VIntage by Unique Loom was a market hit for its update of old carpets with new colors, some rugs with cut out shapes.
WELL WOVEN
Callum from Well Woven
is cross-woven collection of Oriental designs created of multiple types of microfiber yarn, including
space-dyed yarns.
One of the most important introductions from Well Woven was Callum, a cross-woven range featuring Oriental designs created of multiple types of microfiber yarn, including space-dyed yarns for rich depth of color. Twelve patterns are available in the line, which have a color palette heavy in subtle neutrals with accents of earth tones or blues and greys. The company also banked on the success of its Apollo Botanical bird-motif rug with an additional design debuting at High Point. Printed onto a flatwoven base with a nonslip backing, the rug depicts foliage and intricately drawn tigers superimposed over a traditionally patterned red and blue Oriental rug design.
Well Woven has added new designs to its Crayola license which are styled to be used throughout the home. One of the market hits featured stylized rainbows printed in bright colors on a pale neutral background.
Well Woven continues to expand its colorful Crayola licensed rug program adding new printed designs styled for use
throughout the home.
-- Don't miss Best-Selling Rugs at High Point Market -- Part 1