Longtime BDNY rug exhibitors are joined by a dramatically expanded lineup of returning and new players at a bustling show.
NEW YORK -- The 14th edition of BDNY, an annual high-end hospitality fair held each November at the Javits Convention center, boasted its largest lineups of area rug and broadloom specialists to date.
The event surpassed the expectations of surveyed area rug exhibitors, who say that the hospitality sector is booming after the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic that kept consumers at home investing in their residences rather than traveling. That seems to be water under the bridge and high-end hospitality buyers were out browsing and shopping the latest area rug and broadloom trends.
“BDNY immersed the design community with an unmatched energy, welcoming over 10,200 qualified attendees from more than 20 countries—a 5 percent increase from the previous year—and showcasing 140+ new exhibitors. Known as the ultimate platform for innovation in hospitality design, this year’s event further solidified BDNY’s reputation as a must-attend gathering for industry leaders,” Keisha Byrd, vice president and brand director for the Hospitality Design Group, Emerald, stated.
In fact, not only did overall attendance set a record, so too did the carpet and flooring category which jumped to 118 flooring/carpet companies from 84 in 2023, show organizers reported.
The 2024 BDNY saw several former exhibitors, including Crosby Street Studio and Obeetee return following a hiatus, witnessed the debut of fresh faces including Lavin Rugs and Olker Rugs, and the return of both long-running exhibitors and those with a shorter history at the boutique hospitality event.
BDNY veteran exhibitors Nourison, Oriental Weaver and Couristan, all with expressive booth designs, showcased innovative eye-catching floor coverings that offered designers, architects and specifiers the bold color drenched statements they were looking for.
"It's been really busy for us with good quality leads," OW Hospitality president Gavin McDowell, told RugNews.com. Adds Tony Mott, co-principal at New York showroom Crosby Street Studio, "The segment is booming again."
This sentiment echoed across the aisles at BDNY including at Kalaty's stand where the company said that not only was traffic brisk, but it was also up from 2023, when the company made its BDNY debut. Surya's Aldo Altieri, vice president of hospitality, described the event as "outstanding" noting that the Suyra booth brought together Suyra's recently acquired Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Global Views in fully coordinated vignettes.
The rug and carpet exhibits at this sophisticated, well-curated show didn't disappoint and what became immediately apparent is that optimistic and bold designs and colors, including energetic pinks, are trending at the high-end of the market. And it seems that abstract motifs remain a constant favorite, and their popularity shows no signs of abating as rug players continue to freshen up the genre with new styles. Moving in tandem with the popularity of abstracts is the desire for shine in such motifs as a way to impart a luxe finish and highlight accents.
Recycled materials and sustainability continue to gain importance at this fair as they do in the residential sector. Whether crafted of a proprietary fiber or using scraps from the carpet-making process or being fully recyclable and renewable such as pure wool pieces, these eco-conscious area rugs and carpets are here for the long-haul.
Follow RugNews.com in this industry exclusive tour of BDNY 2024's top area rug and carpet exhibitors.
ART OF FLOORS
Art of Floors returns to the boutique hospitality fair showcasing its latest abstract designs crafted of wool and high-luster Tercel.
Hospitality rug and carpet studio Art of Floors, based in Atlanta, returned to BDNY for the third time and showcased its tufting acumen, with most of its featured designs in its Xandari construction, which combines New Zealand wool and Tencel, a high-luster faux silk that is more durable than viscose, with carving and high/low pile as options.
COURISTAN
Couristan's both showcased a coordinated lineup from the company's new Amber Earth (design 277854B on the ground)
and Ambergild's P277017 on the display.
Couristan showcased its new Amber Earth and Ambergild collections at its eye-catching stand, which was an instant hit with hospitality focused attendees. Both lines are inspired by their honey-hued namesake and Amber Earth is the sequel to the company's Ambergild lineup. Both are inspired by the resin often fashioned into gemstones at its varied shades, and designs were paired with deep mauves, purples and earthtones. The extensive collections include a range of motifs from contemporary geometric and stone-inspired styles to references to historic decorative arts, carvings, and mementos from exotic travels.
A BDNY favorite was Couristan's new Ambergild collection's hand-tufted design 277155 HT.
CREATIVE TOUCH
Creative Touch's Baki Ildiz discuses options with Carlos Marichal, with Miami's MM Interior Design Solutions.
Creative Touch returns to BDNY and highlights its newly launched Luna collection of mid-century inspired hand-knotted geometric patterns crafted in a wool pile.The company also had plenty of samples on hand to show its broad offering of handmade rugs, including its trending offering of geometric motifs, in broad assortment of styles from modern to tone-on-tone high-low contemporary designs and updated diamonds. Show shoppers could also browse the company's newest abstract styles and its must-see latest additions to its best-selling Bosphorus collection.
Creative Touch's new hand-knotted Luna collection of minimalist styled geometric motifs is off to a strong start. On the
floor is the hand-knotted Astrid, an all wool chunky flatweave.
CROSBY STREET STUDIO
From left, Michael Patterson and Courtney Klinger of Studio Whitford (Exton, Pennsylvania); Crosby Street's Tony Mott
and Nicholas di Donato; and Whitford's Kacie Montano.
Crosby Street Studio, with a showroom in 200 Lexington Ave., recently began focusing on hospitality more aggressively, said Nicholas di Donato, a principal. The company has been a go-to source for its high-end residential designs for the past 10-plus years but today says that its 50 percent of the companies revenues now come from its commercial/hospitality work. "The segment is booming again," added Tony Mott, principal. Among the featured designs were some its latest hand-tufted painterly abstracts, and new samples of its Memory pattern, which is among its best-selling hand-knotted wool and silk designs on its residential side and has value-engineered for the hospitality segment.
Crosby Street Studio returns showcasing its latest designs including
FERREIRA DE SA
Lauren Christel, left, RD Jones Assoiciates, Blatimore, gets a tour of the Ferreira De Sa stand with Ana Granados. Shown, Duoro
Ferreira de Sa returned to BDNY for its third show in a show stopping display of its cutting-edge luxurious, made-in Portugal area rugs -- which earned the company a 2024 BDNY Best Exhibit Competition award in the medium category. The rug manufacturer revealed its prowess in the tufted category with several uber-textural styles, as well as a shaped abstract design, with the hand-tufted cut and loop Duoro among the favorites. Another hit was the plush, uber-textured undulating ripples design, Bedforms Autumn Winds, from the Fusion, which is tufted fine wool and with hand-carved details. The company uses not only traditional hand-tufting techniques but also has a state of the art robotic-tufted process, in which all the details and finishing are done by hand.
Ferreira De Sa's adds Bedforms Autumn Winds to its Fusion collection of plush, richly textured motifs.
JAIPUR LIVING
Jaipur's Nitesh Chaudhary, walks Gal Vaknin-Raz and Sharon Revivo, both of Studio RB, Valley Stream, through the line.
Shown, in rear, Manchaha collection
Jaipur Living returns to its second BDNY and showcases its artisan crafted, free-weave-designs of the Manchaha collection of hand-knots (showcased in runner sizes). However market-attendees were the first to see the lineups first hand-tufted rugs made of excess rug-making material making it more viable for commercial settings. "We are bring a lot more color to our contract side -- people want color in the lobby and entryway,"said Nitesh Chaudhary, who added, "It's a good show and very good traffic."
The Manchaha collection of hand-knotted free-weave rug designs, shown in runner size, introduces its first hand-tufted designs
for the hospitality market.
JAN KATH
Jan Kath's artist-collaboration Insert Coin collection is trending for its soft pastel palettes hand-knotted of
wool and silk.
Jan Kath, a German studio with a showroom in NYC, featured its signature show-stopping luxurious designs at its BDNY booth featuring a color-drenched art-inspired Insert Coin design, which recasts the work of German artist Raphael Brunk for the floor. These rugs offer 150 knots in wool and silk, which is selling well in its pastel color combinations. Another showstopper hails from its new Spectrum Supreme collection, an extension of its Spectrum collection off gradient abstract designs, which now get paired with decorative bordered motif. The Alta Turn Agra Archway pattern, crafted of wool, silk and nettle, adds new pink and green colorway and layers a traditional floral pattern and abstract painterly pattern. This striking designs coordinate with a striped design, 10 Basic, knotted of wool and nettle, in same colorway.
Jan Kath's spectacular Spectrum Supreme collection introduces a new colorway in its Alta Turn Agra Archway pattern.
KALATY
Shades of green continue to trend and Kalaty's Orion collection's ON1167 in a Tibetan knot weave is a hit for its shimmer
and hand-carved details.
"The show is fantastic and last year was incredible and it's even better this year," said Ariel Kalaty. "More are lookin for hand-knotted rugs in the mid-to-upper price point. People are more willing to take risks and inventory rugs now."
The company showcased two of its top selling collections, Orian and Elara, both hand-knotted of wool and Silkette with hand-carved details. However the big news at the stand was Kalaty's debut of its first hospitality collection, which rolled out with about 50 designs, hand-tufted of wool or an 80 percent wool/20 percent nylon blend yarn.
Green color is very hot and so are earthy tones, always in demand but noticed a highetend demand for earth
Kalaty's introduces its first hospitality collection, which rolled out with about 50 designs, hand-tufted of
wool or an 80 percent wool/20 percent nylon blend yarn.
LAVIN RUGS
Lavin Rugs continues to introduce buyers to its new rug brand and showcased a selection of designs alongside Quorum International.
The fledgling rug brand Lavin debuted in a booth with Quorum International at BDNY. The Lavin brand falls under the umbrella of lighting bigwig Quorum, which also owns Cyan Design, a home décor and accessories company, and Oxygen, which manufactures decorative commercial lighting fixtures. In turn, the entire Quorum home furnishings group is a subsidiary of Davoil, Inc., a privately owned holding company based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Lavin, which premiered its first rugs at the fall 2024 High Point Market with a new permanent showroom, introduced BDNY shoppers to a sampling of its offering, which included two abstract motifs, one with a broken linear style, the other a marble-like pattern. The company's rugs are produced in Turkey and India.
LIORA MANNE
Liora Manne walks Alison Corcoran from Hilton through her proprietary and fully customizable Lamontage product offering.
Textiles and flooring studio Liora Manne's booth was humming with activities as architects, designers and specifiers came to browse or learn more about her innovative Lamontage product, which can be used to create everything from wall coverings, floor coverings, pillows and now tote bags. Featured prominently were designs from the Dreamscape collection's Outer Banks series of seaside inspired -- and spa friendly -- motifs. Also on show was the Astrid lineup of confetti like patterns from Manne's new REvolution collection, made with recycled PET fibers from plastic bottles and recycled apparel materials.
Textile and flooring studio Liora Manne showcased its Dreamscape collection's Outer Banks series at BDNY.
NANIMARQUINA
Nanimarquina's Karen Hong takes time to catch up with designer Nduka Alberi, with Stonehill Taylor. They stand in
front two of the three designs from the best-selling Tres collection.
Spain's Nanimarquina, a long-time BDNY exhibitor, wanted to showcase its variety and offering, showcasing its indoor and outdoor constructions, as well as offering of recycled PET fiber rugs and shaped designs. New for market was its plush high-low Colorado rug, hand-knotted of Afghan wool. The company also showcased its Tres collection of three designs in an outdoor quality and the Shade collection in rectangle and round shape on the floor. Nanimarquina recently received its GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard certification -- a rigorous quality assurance system based on on-site inspection and certification of the entire textile supply chain.
Nanimarquina introduced the hand-knotted Colorado to BDNY shoppers as well as its first ottoman.
NOURISON
TKTK
NOW CARPETS
\
NOW Carpet's top-selling Feelings collection adds a new recycled option to its best-selling Feelings collection.
Spanish brand NOW Carpets expands its popular Feelings lineup to include a new recycled option crafted of recycled polypropylene. The company showcased the new fiber in a a bold color palette at the 2024 hospitality show.
The company also expanded its award-winning Landscape collection, designed by Arik Levy and which won BDNY's Best in Show in 2022, adding a new gradation effect to the ground and a fresh color palette. This hand-tufted piece is crafted of New Zealand wool with bamboo silk and a gradation of 14-16 colors.
Arik Levy's award-winning Landscape for NOW Carpets adds a new colorway and graduation effect for BDNY 2024.
OBEETEE
Obeetee introduces the Terra collection of hand-woven abstract patterns inspired by sand and sea.
Obeetee returns to BDNY after a five year hiatus, and the company is "super happy with traffic, we got to see some old friends and make new connections," Patricia Carreras Ben-Zvi, president of Obeetee North America, told RugNews.com. "People want brighter colors and texture." Obeetee debuted the hand-woven Terra collection of textured abstract motifs, inspired by organic textures of the sea and sand.
“The variety of the designs in the collection reflect the range of styles our hospitality customers are looking for. And with Obeetee’s forward-looking design coupled with our production capabilities, we are able to deliver these quality constructions at scale,” she explained."
OLKER RUGS
Noman, right, and Adnan Nasim, founders of the US division of Olker Rugs win an Inspire Award for Best Carpet and
Flooring. Shown, Tribute
Brothers Noman and Adnan Nasim green introduced BDNY shoppers to their new fledgling rug label Olker Rugs, the US division of the family's Afghan rug business. The company earned an Inspire Award in the Best Carpet and Flooring category for its textural hand-crafted designs. Olker rugs, which also participated in the fall High Point Market at the Suites at Market Square, focused on its weaving acumen, introducing its Tribute collection which features three weaving techniques: cut pile, flatweave and embroidered weave to create an understated
"People come to us for our play on textures," said Adnan Nasim, noting that clients also turn to Olker Rugs for its modern take on classic Moroccan-inspired designs and its kilims, all crafted with 100 percent Afghan wool, which is lab tested to be AZO FREE, a textiles dye banned in the U.S., Canada, the European Union, India and China.
ORIENTAL WEAVERS
BDNY attendees check out the high resolution digital prints received by clients designing a custom carpet.
OW Hospitality's booth was humming at BDNY and its showcased new Empirical collection, of intricate, layered designs and rich colorations. "The vibe of the booth is modern vintage and it's been very much on point with its vintage revival theme, which we tied to both sustainability and ancient craft," said Gavin Gavin McDowell, president, who noted that the OW played up its prowess in the Axminster category. With a gallery-styled booth design featuring samples of custom-design paper prints sent to the client for approval, the hospitality player wanted to illustrate how Axminster rugs are part of an old craft where pattern is part of the weave structure.
OW's Empirical collection features a vintage revival theme tied to the craftsmanship of Axminster carpets.
ROYAL TAI
Thai textile artist and designer textile artist Mook V (Ploenchan Vinyaratn) helps Royal Thai take home BDNY's Best in Show
award for her stunning wall textile, which informed the lineups debut eight rug collections.
Royal Thai, a vertically integrated rug manufacturer based in Thailand, owned by a team that formerly was associated with Tai Ping, returned to BDNY showcasing an eye-popping collaboration alongside Thai textile artist Mook V (Ploenchan Vinyaratn), whose textile weaving studio spent 450 hours creating the tapestry displayed in the Royal Thai booth and from which the hand-tufted rug collection sprung. In fact the Mook V collaboration, titled Tactile Vernacular, earned Royal Thai and the artist the Best of BDNY 2024 award. Mook V recreated traditional needlework patterns from Norther Thailand as the inspiration for her intricate oeuvre, which was used to create eight collections and 38 designs.
Mook V by Royal Thai debuts Tactile Vernacular, a collection inspired by traditional needlework patterns from Norther Thailand,
Mook V's textile wall hanging, which formed the foundation for her first rug line, took 450 hours to weave.
SURYA
"The show has been outstanding", said Aldo Altieri, vice president of hospitality, told RugNews.com. "Having all three brands together has been great.and showing how the lines coordinate has created buzz."
BDNY was Surya's first opportunity to present its newest brands under one umbrella to the hospitality sector, and included the 2023 acquisition of Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, purchased in 2023 and re-introduced to High Point shoppers in October, and Global Views, acquired in spring of 2023.
Laying the foundations of the vignettes is Wellbeing, a solid rust-toned hand-loomed rug, crafted of wool, upon which rests the elegant, curved Giselle sofa from MG+BW. Surya also showcased the on point Kavita round rug, offering abstract motif of wool and viscose for shimmer.
Surya's well-being rug sets the foundation for a warm organic vignette featuring upholstery from MG+BW and accessories
from Global Views.
Surya's round Kavita area rug, hand-tufted of 50 percent wool and 50 percent viscose for sheen, features a textured
abstract design that remains a top-choice with buyers.
TIBETANO
Tibetano's minimalist geometric patterned Artel in chic colorway, isl hand-tufted of wool and polypropylene blend yarn for added durability
Tibetano, which has a showroom in Manhattan's Flat Iron district and in Englewood, New Jersey, returns to BDNY showcasing two full size beauties in its booth, On rug, Artel in chic colorway, is a plush hand-tufted minimalist mid-century inspired geometric crafted of wool with polypropylene yarn for durability. Another is the Moroccan-inspired Lazio, a heavily textured hand-knotted wool design in olive. According to Rebecca Rebecca Nazar, co-owner, says the hospitality market has been "booming" with texture being among the most sought after features in its rugs.
Tibetano's hand-knotted Lazio hand-knotted rug in olive, features the texture that remains in demand.
WARP & WEFT
Renowned designer Clodagh stops by the Warp & Weft booth to learn more from Michael Madapati about the company's
AquaSilk fiber.
Long-time BDNY exhibitor Warp & Weft's stand featured a stunning water-motif design -- Cape Cod Ocean -- crafted of the company's recently debuted AquaSilk fiber. AquaSilk is the New York atelier's eco-conscious fiber made from reclaimed plastic waste. Designed for boutique hospitality, commercial, and residential spaces, AquaSlk combines durability with luxurious softness. The innovative and luxurious fiber has made waves since it rolled out at last year's BDNY. It is made from plastic ocean waste, reflecting Warp & Weft’s dedication to sustainability, and is ideal for commercial and hospitality settings with key attributes such as water-resistant, stain-resistant, and flame-retardant. AquaSilk can handle extreme conditions while remaining quick drying, with vibrant color retention, and easy cleanup.
Warp & Weft's Cape Cod Ocean, crafted from fibers made of reclaimed ocean plastic waste, made waves at BDNY.