Exclusive Stories

For almost a century the American firm Karastan has been providing the style and functionality demanded by American consumers. In examining their history and ethos, Rug Insider wonders what can be learned.

Industrialist Henry Ford has long been the recipient of accolades praising his creation of the assembly line and for innovating production in order to provide design within reach if you will, long before a certain current business co-opted the term. Bringing design within reach, or to the masses, is perhaps the single most praiseworthy effort any company can aspire to achieve.

A continued exploration of a new approach to rug making.

Purchasing a hand-knotted rug or carpet by first determining size, budget, and texture before even considering design or color seems antithetical to traditional rug sales models. In many ways it is. Yet, these same criteria have long been used to steer clients toward in-stock rug purchases. Ali Ghassemi considers these timeless questions as he embarks on redefining the craft of rug making for the modern consumer.

Laurie Downing is no stranger to the world of rugs and carpets. So while her new firm Wool Song brings refreshing, colorful, and stylish hand-knotted carpets to the market, it does so with the knowledge and history of the craft and the industry. On first look, it’s a formula for success.

If you have to ask yourself, “Have I met Ali Ghassemi?” the answer is—with a high degree of certainty—most likely “No.” I vividly remember the first time I met him. After repeated invitations to come to his Toronto, Ontario showroom, the subsequent visit turned into an hours-long presentation on his part. All because of his unforgettably passionate belief in not only what he is doing, but also its importance to the rug industry. This is his approach to truly bespoke rugs. He thinks it should be yours as well. Presented in two parts, the concluding portion appears in Rug Insider Fall 2019.

To talk rugs and carpets with Laura Parker is to enter into an atypical discussion encompassing far more than “Is the rug the right size?,” “Is it within budget?,” or “Can it be made with more orange in it?” In fact there is little typical about Laura Parker—particularly when it comes to rugs. Rug Insider set out to find out why.

When you walk into a room, what happens? What do you feel? What do you respond to? Are you affected by the color? Do you notice the light? How does your mood change?

Noted Interior Designer Meredith Heron has been utilizing rugs and carpets in her interiors for years. Yet time and again she’s found herself unable to find the right product in stock or from a vendor offering the services and accountability she required. She did what any determined and creative business person would do, she started her own rug company catering to those precise needs and wants.

Domotex, the trade fair in Hannover, Germany, long ago established itself as the embodiment of its tagline, “The World of Flooring.” As the brand now expands globally with regional shows in China, Turkey, the United States, and soon Mexico, it is important to analyze what the show offers today’s buyers. Rug Insider asks Lisa Slappey of Pride of Persia Rug Company and Postmodern Traditions in Houston, Texas, to weigh in on Domotex and on the market more broadly.