The family founded flooring company honors a century of heritage, evolution, and vision in shaping the floors and spaces where life unfolds.
Fort Lee, NJ – December 10, 2025 – For 100 years, industry innovator Couristan has woven together tradition, design expertise, and forward-thinking innovation across area rugs, residential broadloom, and a full portfolio of contract and hospitality floor coverings. From its modest beginnings in New York City to a global presence today, the family owned and operated company has weathered wars, economic upheavals, and a global pandemic—emerging resilient and ever-evolving, with its legacy threaded through every area rug and carpet it produces.
A Century of Vision and Resilience
Founded in 1926 by brothers Basil J., Aleer J., and George J. Couri, Couristan began as a small importer of fine handmade Persian area rugs. Their cross-continental journeys—including trans-Atlantic crossings, riverboats, the famed Orient Express, and early automobiles—laid the groundwork for a brand built on courage and vision. Originally named Couri Brothers, the company later became Couristan, a fusion of the family surname and the suffix “-stan,” referencing the historical and cultural influences of Persian civilization and surrounding countries.
“Our founders believed every area rug should tell a story. A hundred years later, we’re still telling those stories—only now, they’re woven for a global stage,” says George G. Couri, Couristan’s Chairman for the past 37 years, and company’s current owner.
Despite the Great Depression and other global challenges of the time, Couristan stayed its course, cultivating a vibrant market for handmade Oriental area rugs from Persia (present-day Iran) and emerged as one of the U.S.’s largest importers of fine quality handmade area rugs from the 1940s through the 1950s.
Innovation Across Generations
In the early 1960s, Couristan embarked on a significant period of diversification, introducing fine-quality residential broadloom—a strategic milestone that would go on to shape one of the company’s most enduring growth engines. During this era, the company also expanded its product offerings with the introduction of 100% wool, machine-made area rugs from Belgium, further cementing its reputation for quality and innovation in the global flooring market.
Offered under its Premiere and Creations™ brands, Couristan’s Residential Broadloom Division spans classic, contemporary, transitional, indoor/outdoor, abstract, and eco-conscious designs. Its Residential Broadloom Division and Custom Rug Program have seen a major resurgence in recent years as more consumers and designers seek made-to-order rugs tailored from high-quality broadloom that combines refined design detailing, performance, and individuality.
“Our residential business has never been stronger. We’re seeing renewed enthusiasm for broadloom and custom rugs that reflect a designer’s personal touch. It’s where our legacy of quality meets today’s culture of customization,” explains Len Andolino, who was appointed President in September 2024 following the passing of the company’s former President and CEO, Ron Couri, in early 2023.
Building on that success and the momentum of its expanding product portfolio, Couristan entered a new era of innovation in 1964 with the launch of its Machine-Made Area Rug Division. The debut of the celebrated Kashimar Collection, which remains part of its portfolio today, marked a major step forward. By combining traditional expertise with emerging weaving technologies, the company made Persian-inspired area rugs accessible to a broader audience, pioneering the concept of “affordable luxury.” Today, Couristan offers a robust portfolio of machine-made and digitally printed collections crafted from wool, cotton, and premium synthetic blends, providing versatile designs and textures for a wide range of interiors.
“At Couristan, tradition and technology don’t compete—they complement,” says Len Andolino. “By maintaining a diversified product mix across machine-made and handmade area rugs, residential broadloom, and our custom rug program, we can serve our customers with the flexibility of today’s market demands.”
Leadership and Strategy
As Couristan enters its centennial year, the company is embracing its roots in handmade excellence while remaining at the forefront of design and innovation. Under the shared leadership of Chairman George G. Couri and President Len Andolino, Couristan is advancing its commitment to excellence with a focus on best-in-class materials, constructions, and product development across its handmade, machine-made, and indoor/outdoor area rug collections along with its residential broadloom and custom carpet programs.
Also a key player in the company’s next chapter is Georgia Couri, a third-generation member of the Couri family, who serves as Director of Business Development and plays an active role across all facets of the business—ensuring the Couristan legacy continues with passion and purpose.
A Pioneering Force in Outdoor Rugs and Carpets
A key milestone came in 2003 with the launch of the Recife Collection—a line of artfully designed indoor/outdoor area rugs. Machine-made from Couristan’s proprietary Courtron™ polypropylene and engineered to resist UV damage, mold, mildew, and water, Recife marked a turning point for Couristan, extending its expertise in interiors to exterior spaces.
Today, Couristan’s outdoor portfolio encompasses a comprehensive range of indoor/outdoor broadloom constructions and companion area rug collections, all produced with performance-driven materials such as Courtron™ polypropylene, recycled PET, and weather-resistant polyester blends. Most products in this segment feature structured flatwoven constructions, complemented by select hand-loomed and hand-woven styles that add texture, depth, and variety.
“When we developed Recife, our goal was to create area rugs that could truly stand up to the outdoors without sacrificing beauty or quality,” George G. Couri recalls. “It was exciting to see something so innovative take off, opening new ways for people to enjoy our area rugs and for us to explore new markets.”
Handmade Heritage
Discerning consumers continue to seek the distinctiveness and lasting value that define Couristan’s handmade area rugs. Every piece tells its own story of patience and precision—from loom to room—woven with the care and character of the artisan’s hand. Beginning with the careful selection of premium yarns and the meticulous dyeing process, these pieces are shaped through centuries-old weaving traditions that connect past and present in every thread.
In 2025, Couristan deepened its commitment to this enduring art form by launching several new handmade collections, each a reflection of the company's roots and renewed creative spirit. The assortment spans approachable hand-tufted styles to sophisticated hand-woven and hand-knotted designs—modern heirlooms that honor age-old techniques while embracing today’s palettes, textures, and performance attributes. Accents of soft pink, deep indigo, and vibrant turquoise breathe new life into traditional motifs, while sustainable constructions in undyed wools and chunky, tactile finishes celebrate the raw beauty of natural fibers and the skill of the artisans behind them.
Couristan’s design and sourcing teams continue to collaborate closely with weavers around the world, traveling regularly to uphold quality standards, support generational weaving communities, and ensure each piece embodies Couristan’s hallmark balance of heritage and innovation.
“We’re bringing the past forward, honoring our heritage while charting a course for innovation, design, and meaningful connections with our customers,” Len Andolino explains.
Contract & Hospitality Excellence
Couristan’s Contract & Hospitality Division, established in the 1960s, has grown into a trusted resource for many of the world’s leading hospitality brands, including Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, and IHG Hotels, among others. The division specializes in Custom Woven Axminster Carpets in 80% Wool/20% Nylon and Solution Dyed Nylon, Hand-Tufted and Hand-Loomed Area Rugs in 100% Wool or Solution Dyed Acrylic for Indoor/Outdoor, High-Definition Printed Carpets in 80% Wool/20% Nylon or 100% Nylon, Machine-Tufted Solution Dyed Nylon Infinity, Colorpoint and CYP Broadloom and Area Rugs, and Axminster and Print Tile systems crafted for worldwide hotels, resorts, guest suites, casinos, cruise ships, private clubs, and public spaces.
With more than six decades of experience, Couristan combines advanced manufacturing capabilities with a seasoned design team to deliver flooring solutions that balance aesthetics, durability, and brand distinction. Each project is guided by Couristan’s dedication to quality and design integrity—offering bespoke designs, premium Wool-Nylon Axminster Blends, and cutting-edge Printing technologies that bring hospitality interiors to life with beauty and purpose.
Sustainability, Ethics, and Quality
All Couristan handmade area rugs comply with strict No Child Labor policies, verified through rigorous inspections. Eco-conscious materials and processes reflect the company’s century-long commitment to responsible manufacturing, ensuring every product is created with respect for people and the planet.
Within its Contract & Hospitality Division, Couristan upholds internationally recognized environmental standards—participating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects, supporting the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) recycling initiative, and offering products certified under the CRI Green Label Plus program for superior indoor air quality.
Across all divisions, Couristan continues to improve its environmental performance by monitoring compliance with regulatory standards, investing in cleaner technologies, conserving natural resources, and advancing recycling and waste-reduction efforts. These initiatives, combined with employee training and supplier collaboration, reflect the company’s enduring promise to operate with integrity while delivering products that exemplify quality, responsibility, and timeless design.
“Our legacy isn’t just in the area rugs, broadloom, and custom carpets we make, but in how we make them,” George G. Couri adds. “Doing things the right way has always been part of the Couristan fabric, and we maintain that ethos for the future.”
Looking Forward to the Next Century
With manufacturing centers, offices, and design studios across the globe, Couristan offers seamless service. Its New Jersey headquarters and state-of-the-art warehouses further support efficient worldwide distribution.
“A hundred years is a milestone, but for us, it’s also a beginning,” says George G. Couri. “As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, it’s remarkable to reflect that our family business has been part of that American story for a full century. We’re still as curious and committed as our founders were — only now, we’re weaving that spirit into a new era of design.”
For more information, contact Larry Mahurter, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising, at: 800.223.6186 ext. 569 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
