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WINTER MARKET WATCH
Three New Constructions to be
Introduced at Las Vegas Market

Blossom Lattice in Quince Blossom Red by Martha
Stewart Rugs
Martha Stewart Living
Omnimedia (MSLO) announced the expansion of Martha Stewart
Rugs with three new constructions
and additional hand-tufted designs for introduction at the Las Vegas Market in
February 2010.
The comprehensive new collection includes
hand-hooked rugs, traditional rag rugs, and hand-loomed rugs, and follows the
successful launch of hand-tufted rugs in April 2009. The rugs are manufactured
by Safavieh and will be on display at Safavieh’s World Market Center showroom,
Space A101 in Las Vegas February 1-5, 2010. The rugs will be distributed
through independent furniture and rug stores.
The new offerings feature an array of
styles, including an updated kimono floral motif, a classic corduroy rib in a contemporary wide wale, and an
exclusive high-quality rag rug program unique in the market for its Martha
Stewart signature color palette. With inspiration drawn from Martha Stewart’s
personal homes, the new qualities, colors, and patterns fill gaps in the rug
market identified by Martha and her design team.
“Our new Martha Stewart
Rugs capture the essence of
the brand’s lifestyle and design sensibilities, and at the same time they set
new standards for design and construction,” said Arash Yaraghi, principal of Safavieh. “Each of these new qualities
brings exceptional value to consumers who want quality, style, and greater affordability in decorative home
products, which is especially meaningful in the current economic environment,”
he explained.
Together with Martha Stewart’s design
team, Safavieh has created proprietary effects and exceptional quality in
hand-loomed rugs of wool and viscose. Made in India, these constructions focus
on recreating expensive hand-knotted looks so that Martha Stewart
Rugs retailers
can reach out to an even broader base of consumers. The traditional Wilton
weave has been recreated for Martha Stewart
Rugs in China with an
exclusive hand-hooking process, and the traditional craft of rag rug weaving is
updated with a dense all-cotton braid and signature Martha Stewart color
palette. Both constructions are fresh and fashion-forward and expand the
brand’s reach to a broad range of price points and consumers.
Ragtime (left) and Corduroy by Martha
Stewart Rugs
The design team at Martha Stewart
Rugs has
replicated the simple understated beauty of wide-wale corduroy fabrics in a
stylish and affordable area rug. Hand-loomed in India, Corduroy is distinguished by a
thick and thin rib, with cut-pile rows of eco-friendly viscose (for the
luxurious look of silk) alternating with loop rows of wool. The classic
simplicity of this cut-and-loop design complements casual decorating
sensibilities.
Martha Stewart Rugs breathes new life into
the historic American craft of rag rug weaving with Ragtime. Featuring a new
density of braiding and a distinctive Martha Stewart color palette, this
100-percent cotton collection is fresh, contemporary, and perfect for young,
casual rooms. Five tonal colorways and a cheerful multi-color option introduce
a sense of fashion into this much-loved category.
An antique kimono lavishly embroidered
with dogwood blossoms inspired the graphic four-point centers of the flowers in
Blossom
Lattice (shown at article top).
The overall motif is artfully hand-hooked in China using an extremely dense
micro hook—developed especially for Martha Stewart Rugs—that replicates
100-percent-wool Wilton-weave imported carpets. Blossom Lattice brings the
classic elegance of Wilton woven carpets into the 21st century with two
contemporary colorways: Quince Blossom Red and Garden Pool Blue.
About Safavieh
Safavieh is a leading manufacturer and
importer of fine decorative rugs, offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of designs crafted by
skilled artisans in weaving centers across the globe. Established in 1914,
Safavieh is a fourth-generation family business which began by supplying
antique rugs and historical reproductions. Upon opening its flagship New York
City showroom in 1978, the company quickly became a preferred source for the
world’s most renowned interior designers, pioneering with them the new category
of fashion-forward contemporary rugs. Almost a century later, Safavieh
continues to innovate with diverse and targeted area rug programs for the most
respected retailers in the US and abroad. Through research and technology,
Safavieh’s mission is to beautify the homes of consumers in every budget
category with award winning rug collections of the highest quality, value and
impeccable style. For more information visit www.safavieh.com.
About Martha Stewart Living
Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
(NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with
unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. For additional
information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.
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