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Show Recap

Designer Liora Manne Amps up Fashion in Winter 2020 Trans-Ocean Rugs

Fashion rugs across machine-made and hand-tufted rugs at winter markets were a hit with buyers.

By Carol Tisch
2/18/2020
Blue rug
LAS VEGAS -- Retailers on the hunt for fashion across machine-made and hand-tufted rugs at winter markets found a profusion of new collections falling within popular price points at Trans-Ocean's showroom.

The company, which shows in the Gardens at Atlanta Market and at Las Vegas Market, is already fine-tuning designs for mass merchants attending next month's New York Home Fashions Market, March 23-26. For NY market week, Trans-Ocean showcases its latest rugs at its 267 Fifth Ave., Suite LL106, showroom.

The Agate design in gold (7100/09), part of the new Soho collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean, retails at the entry level price point of $125 in 80 percent polypropylene/20 percent polyester.
Trans-Ocean has been growing its indoor rug business, and pumping out product to keep its customers ahead of fashion trends. "We don't save new items just for markets. We're coming out with new product constantly, and the cycle is moving faster and faster. The lifecycle of the product, depending on the placement, in general is a lot shorter than it used to be," said Stephen Hoberman, vice president -- business development at Trans-Ocean. "I would say two out of the three items are new -- just over the last three or four months." 

FIVE NEW INDOOR COLLECTIONS

Bold colors drew Las Vegas shoppers to the textural Fiesta collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean. Wilton woven in Turkey, the polypropylene range in accented with shrink polyester in several colors. Shown, Medallions in red (7360/24)

"In the past year, we've probably turned over about 65 percent of the indoor business in terms of new SKU's and new items. It's pretty dynamic." To that point, Trans-Ocean introduced five new indoor collections in Las Vegas, all designed by Liora Manne, and all maintaining a visual identity that buyers associate with the company."Our goal is to be sure we have designs that are unique, curated, interesting, and different. We work very hard three months before market to make sure we achieve that. Typically, buyers tell us, 'This is good. I haven't seen this at every other showroom.'" 


Trans-Ocean introduces the soft-touch, tactile Taos collection Wilton woven of 50 percent high denier polypropylene and 50 percent shrink and shiny polyester for elegant luster at $160 retail. Shown, Glacier (8582/12) in ivory.

"We're able to maintain our niche and edge because we have a dedicated, talented design team that understands our business best," Hoberman continued. "And we focus on a couple of really good factories that can best translate our service commitment and Liora's vision. Fortunately, especially on the machine-made side, we're starting to see a bit of a pendulum swing back towards a little bit of higher quality product."

The cut and loop pile Bhutan collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean features graphic designs like Moroccan Diamond (6942/44), hand-tufted in China of 70 percent polypropylene and 30 percent acyclic pile, and retailing at $299.

Hoberman told RugNews.com that many retailers had trouble maintaining profit margins last year because of the race to the bottom in price points. "It really bottomed out, especially in Q4 in terms of costs of products. So, the market did a little swing back towards higher retail -- not all the way up, but there's a little bit of an appetite for it, especially at Las Vegas Market. Not everybody is coming here looking for the cheapest thing." 


Wilton woven of high denier polypropylene for a soft hand that feels like a microfiber, the new Ashford collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean premieres in versatile designs like the multi-color Abstract (8134/44).

OUTDOOR RUG INTROS

"Our outdoor rug business is running like a machine," Hoberman explained. "We're very much in tune with the fashions: the colors that will be emerging; the designs that people are looking for. We probably have the most comprehensive outdoor collection in the industry. That goes for the lower tier where we easily have over 100 SKUs, all the way up to your fashion/high-end outdoor rugs."

The striking new Banana Plant design (1724-44) from Trans-Ocean's outdoor Capri collection is hand-hooked of weather-resistant fibers in a mix of 80 percent polyester and 20 percent acrylic.

In both Atlanta and Las Vegas, two big highlights for Trans-Ocean were Christmas scatter rugs and mats, and lake and lodge designs. "The novelty business is still strong for us," Hoberman continued. "We've also expanded pillows for this market for the first time in a while. The new pillow line coordinates with the rug motifs."


The polypropylene Marina collection by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean gets new Wilton woven tapestry looks for winter 2020 like the multi-colored Fall in Love (8083/44).


Intricately shaded yarns combine with textural tight loops for visual appeal in the hand-hooked outdoor Ravella collection's new Ipanema design (2285/03) in blue/gray. The line is hand-tufted in China of 70 percent polypropylene and 30 percent acrylic pile.
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