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Las Vegas, Show Recap

Exclusive Las Vegas Market Rug Tour: People & Product

In the industry's only area rug tour of Las Vegas Market, RugNews.com stops by nearly area rug showrooms and finds out who shopped the show and the season's top hits.

Lisa Vincenti
2/10/2023
montage of rug buyers and new area rugs at Las Vegas Market
Rug vendors report strong traffic and positive response to Las Vegas Market rug debuts.

LAS VEGAS -- Rug vendors were pleasantly surprised by an unexpected uptick in market-goers who shopped the winter edition of Las Vegas Market, with many reaping the benefits of walk in traffic, in addition to steady appointments.

The World Market show benefitted from an overlap of major flooring event SURFACES, which opened on Jan. 31, with buyers jumping on the free shuttles to visit both fairs. And the innovations in area rugs and broadloom product rolled out by area rug showrooms proved a welcome attraction.

In fact, plenty of rug fashion trends were on tap at the winter 2023 Las Vegas Market, with the latest colorations, designs, innovative fibers and textures offering market-goers of all budgets and tastes plenty of choices.

RugNews.com, in the industry's most comprehensive area rug review, tours nearly 20 showrooms and spots the buyers shopping the show and discovers the event's most popular area rugs.

COURISTAN


Evan Couri, right, takes a break with Bruce Odette and Lisa Taylor of Carpet Exchange. Shown, Nostalgia NS04/1405
 
Couristan was "pleasantly surprised" by traffic at Las Vegas Market, said Steve Couri, who added that the company had steady appointments but also met with walk-in buyers. The company brought 100 new area rug designs to Las Vegas Market, including new collections, and line extensions of best-sellers. Among the introductions is the market's showstopper: the Canyon collection, which offers a million point construction in eight designs  made of polypropylene and shrink poly. "We came out with a new collection called Canyon, a million point quality, which is from Belgium in eight designs that is 45 percent polypropylene and 55 percent shrink polyester -- this was a home run. We also came out with new designs in our Easton, Everest, Couture, Luxor, Halli, Chalet, Siena and Old World Classics. And in the outdoor category we added new designs in our Dolce, Afuera and Naturalistic collections, and grew our best-selling Covington lineup," Couri said.

For winter market shoppers looking for updated classic motifs, Couristan's long running Old World Charm lineup introduced in fresh colorations. The best-selling performance Covington collection, which offers a loop pile made of polypropylene, added everything from a nautical rope border design to contemporary abstracted linear style in rich, warm tones.


Couristan's new Canyon collection was a home run at the winter Las Vegas Market. Shown, 52407

CAPEL


Beau Presnell, The Rug Gallery, Cincinnati, headed to WMC from Surfaces to shop rugs at Capel with Tom Perraud.
Shown, left, Braymore Jackson 235 Loden and Braymore Edison, 345 Pewter


Capel Rugs had a steady booking of appointments, and also benefited from cross-traffic from shoppers attending Surfaces, said Cameron Capel. In addition, Capel notes that retailers are still placing orders. While the company's stalwart Avanti collection, hand-tufted of wool with a loop pile, continues to attract attention, the company's new Zenith collection, which offers luminous raised designs, was a hit with Vegas shoppers as well. The popularity of Avanti prompted Capel to offer a step-up product. 

"Because Avanti has been so popular, we did a step-up tufted product and added Azari, which offers a higher intricacy of design and smaller tuft -- It gives the retailer a higher-end product to offer their customers," Capel said. 


Also debuting at Las Vegas Market is Bosphorous, a new machine-made lineup of polyester rugs featuring luminous traditional motifs and wonderful hand. Entry level hand-knot constructions continue to do well, notably Capel's Chrise, Braymore and Verve collections. "We are offering traditional with a twist: we are taking traditional patterns and giving them added interest, such as oversize motifs with no borders or fresh colorations."


Capel's new Zenith collection proved a top hit at the winter Vegas show. Shown, Lava (left, hanging), Heriz (right 
hanging), Lineal (foreground), and hair-on-hide Sheridan 3694 (ground, right).

DALYN


Dalyn featured its new Odessa collection, made with shrink poly for textural motifs, and showcased in its entirety in Vegas.

Dalyn's showroom was full of new products -- and buyers. The company's Yarra collection was attracting retailers' attention. Yarra offers a tight million point construction machine-made of polyester, and the latest additions, Yarra 3, feature a trending mix of warm and cool tones, with classic medallion motifs made of space-dyed polyester for depth and shading with a super tight construction. Also, the 9x13 is foldable for drop ship.
 
Also gaining attention was the brand-new Odessa collection, made with a shrink polyester for textural motifs.  A counterpoint to the traditional designs of Odessa were the geometric motifs of the carved Carmona collection, made of plush soft-touch polypropylene.


Carmona by Dalyn offers a range of geometric and organic motifs for shoppers seeking plush designs kicked up with 
carved details.


DYNAMIC RUGS


Dynamic Rugs debuted the new Hudson collection, a market-hit for its neutral palette, raised pattern and shine. Shown 1450

Dynamic Rugs introduced 13 new collections for Vegas shoppers that included the company's first machine-washable collections (Elise and Rhythm), which attracted buyers. Among the top two new introductions were the company's Hudson collection, cross-woven of polyester and shrink polyester with textural motifs, and Masai, machine-made of heatset polypropylene in Belgium, which features simple geometric carved designs and a dense, plush pile. Rugs in those collections offer neutral color combinations and textured styling. In this category as well are Octo, made of polyester and shrink polyester, and Renaissance, a collection of high-low designs machine-made of viscose and shrink polyester. Finally, Dynamic Rugs' latest hand-tufted polyester and wool Symphony collection continues to trend for its tight loop construction, textural motifs and neutral tribal-style geometric motifs.


Dynamic Rugs' new Symphony collection features a tight loop and shiny accents that buyers gave a thumbs up.

FEIZY


John Feizy and long-time colleague Marcel Bassirian of Marcel de Claremont Rug Gallery, Palm Desert, California,
raise a toast to fete Feizy's 50th anniversary at the company's celebratory Sunday event.


The big news at Feizy was its 50th anniversary party, feted alongside many of the company's best and long-standing clients. Mike Riley, president, told RugNews.com: "Vegas had one of the best turnouts we have seen since well before Covid -- Saturday to Monday were extremely well attended. And, Wednesday had more than double the usual pre-Covid Wednesday traffic. We were extremely pleased -- we also had some key players visit from Surfaces and a couple from the Builder Show as well."

Among the hits are the company's new Ronin collection of heirloom-quality hand-knotted rugs crafted of wool, with many designs offering vintage-styled traditional motifs in soft colorations. In addition, the company had a strong response to its loom knotted Eastfield collection, as well as its recently introduced hand-knotted, designer-oriented Revolution series, grown since its launch last year. Eastfield rugs are hand-woven of wool and viscose and offer abstract patterns and tonal striations.



A big hit in the Feizy showroom was its new heirloom-quality hand-knotted Ronin collection.
 
HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)


Greg Jordt, left, and Lee Houranian, with daughter Jessica, take a break in front of the company's hand-knotted Lola
collection, which proved a top seller at market for its oversize Oushak patterns and textural thick yarn.

HRI execs report that traffic was steady at HRI's spacious Las Vegas showroom, and was pleasantly surprised by even a "very good" Wednesday, again from Surfaces buyers stopping by World Market Center. There were dozens of fresh designs for Vegas shoppers to review and among the top hits was a tonal blown-up Oushak motif collection debut called Lola, hand-knotted of wool and including various thicknesses of yarn for ultra textural styling. The company also introduced the hand-loomed  Aba, offering a very tightly woven, heavy construction of wool with some viscose blended in for a smooth finish. Aba includes Swedish-inspired geometric designs. Also popular were richly colored "clear" classic designs from the company's hand-knotted Antique Heriz lineup, and the blown up Oushak motifs of the new hand-knotted Splendid collection.

For shoppers looking for contemporary styles the company's new Horizon collection of abstracted linear designs of wool with viscose highlights, and the Wildlife collection of hand-knotted animal prints, were top-selling looks.


HRI's new Horizon collection, hand-knotted of wool and viscose, attracted plenty of attention.

JAUNTY


Jaunty's Kami Navid and Dorann Prachyl pose with Teri Sutterfield of Moore's Home Furnishings, Kerville, Texas. Shown,
Cyprus CY-14 in forrest

Jaunty's Kami Navid was pleased with traffic at the show. The company showcased its four latest collections: Alberta, Benchmark, Tango and York. "We introduced four new collections, mostly wool with some wool with viscose, Alberta, Tango, Benchmark and York.
 And the hand-woven Benchmark, a Soumak weave, with hand-woven tuft-on motifs, proved a market favorite. BE10 was a top choice followed by BE19." Navid told RugNews.com. The company's Jayden collection, crafted of jute with accents of viscose to give it a nice hand, also is trending; as is Nova, which offers a rustic look, hand-woven of wool. Finally, the recently introduced Alberta collection of abstract designs with sculpted edges, debuted straight-edged designs that were hits at Vegas.


Jaunty's hand-woven wool Nova collection uses thick yarns for added texture and a rustic look. Shown, NOV-06

KALATY 


Kalaty debuts new designs in the hand-knotted Elara and Equinox collections Shown, ER375 (R) and ER376; on
the floor, EQ-588

The Kalaty showroom was full of fresh hand-knotted designs for Vegas market-goers, and indeed much of the focus for winter Las Vegas Market was on expanding the company's best-selling hand-knotted collections. Among the popular choices for market were the latest designs added to the hand-knotted  Equinox collection, which offers fashion colors and broken transitional motifs, in a Tibetan-knot weave using premium wool and Silkette with hand-carved finish. The modern borderless modern erased-effects and high-low carving of the Elara collection continue to attract attention. These pieces, in tonal motifs, are hand-knotted in a Tibetan weave using a combination of premium wool and Silkette with a loop-and-pile weave. Finally another customer favorite hails from Kalaty's new Soumak Chroma collection of double-sided Oushak and Southwest-inspired designs rendered in fresh upbeat colorways. These rugs are hand-knotted in a Soumak weave using 100 percent premium wool yarns on a cotton foundation.


Kalaty reworks iconic Southwest rug patterns into contemporary statements with the latest Mojave collection designs.
Shown, mv-726

KALEEN


Lynn and Chelsea Herberts of Banner Carpets Canada get a tour of Kaleen's new LUXE rugs with Blake Dennard.
Shown, Darya


Kaleen focused its Las Vegas Market showroom on highlighting its hand-knotted collections with a notable expansion of its high-end hand-knotted LUXE by Kaleen collection, which adds several new textural designs, including Moroccan inspired looks. The company also introduced buyers to its indoor-outdoor broadloom brand Home & Porch.

At market the latest additions to LUXE -- including Jara, a lineup of hand-woven wool shag rugs in a variety of all-over linear and diamond patterns -- proved top designs. With buyers appreciating that the  LUXE pieces are available in standard sizes (8x10, 9x12, and 10x14x plus an 18”x18” designer sample) and custom sizes within the parameters of 15 feet wide and 50 feet long. In addition, The hand-knotted Ali collection remains a top seller for its traditional geometrical floral patterns, rendered in a jewel-toned color palette. In addition, the company's Hererra collection of traditional motifs offered in muted neutral color palettes and distressed detailing continues to be a winner.



Kaleen's hand-knotted Herrera collection, with its tonal patterns, was a favorite at winter market. Shown, HRA-01

KARASTAN


Staging experts Chelsea Stewart and Skylar Bonnette of Harmony Home Staging, Bozeman, Montana, check out the
latest rugs in the Stacy Garcia Home collection by Karastan.


"Market went great! We saw a significant increase in foot traffic," said Tracy Pruitt, VP of design. "Pandora was received exceptionally well. People love it." Pandora, Karastan's first new SmartStrand collection in four years, features a space-dyed effect, durability, and a built-in lifetime stain resistance, in a sumptuous softness. Other big winners include Memento, an assortment with plenty of texture and striking coloration made with space dyed polyester, includes a super shrink yarn for high-low and cut and loop construction. Memento offers distressed designs of abstracted cross-hatched linear pattern. Other successes include Davina (a range of classic geometric and ornamental designs in a neutral color combinations) and Bowen, part of the Scott Brothers Home program, which includes geometric motifs in a high-low, cut and loop construction.


Karastan's Pandora collection topped the charts at their Vegas showroom for its rich jewel-tones and updated
traditional motifs.

LOLOI


Amber Lewis, right, greets fan Andrea Kout, The Mansion Interiors, Coraville, Iowa, at a special event at the Loloi
showroom rolling out her latest rugs, pillows and first wall art designs.


Loloi's showroom was packed for a special meet and greet with licensing partner Amber Lewis as attendees of Las Vegas Market queued up to take a picture with the SoCal designer who launched her program with Loloi in late 2018. Lewis introduced several new area rug collections for market-goers and rolled out her label's first wall art pieces and pillows. The hand-knotted Briyana collection resonated with buyers for its subdued earthy colorations, simple geometric motifs, and ribbed texture. Loloi also took Lewis' favorite vintage rugs and recast them in a cozy CloudPile construction.

Among the best-selling Loloi label introductions at the winter show was the new Cassian collection. These solid rugs are handwoven in wool and cotton with an asymmetrical gridded pattern and high-low texture. The higher, shaggy pile takes cues from Moroccan designs, rendered in neutral colors.



Loloi's Cassian collection of simple geometric motifs hand-knotted wool and cotton topped the charts.

NATCO HOME


Nebraska Furniture Mart's David Chambers (far right), Patricia Patricia Wojtkiewicz (center) and Erica Perna, get a
tour of new Natco products with Mark Ferullo (second right) and Rick Dailey (left).


Natco Home offered new designs in its best-selling collections Stonington and Oklahoma. Stonington, made domestically, is a lineup of plush textural designs in neutral earth tones, and it added fresh global geometric styles. The company's popular Oklahoma collection also had a line extension including a checkerboard design. Nonetheless it is the company's Velveteen, which is now fully in stock, that is proving a run-away success. These rugs, which feature geometric and updated tradtional motifs, are machine-washable, water-repellant, and have an ultra soft hand.

Retailers at the show were also excited to see Natco's first rounds, which are being rolled out in designs from best-selling collections, including Adore.


Natco debuts its first round rugs and they were an instant hit at Las Vegas market. Shown, Adore collection rug

NOURISON


Nourison hosts influencer Farah Merhi, founder of Inspire Me! Home Decor, who poses with fan Loreta Sargsyan of
LOR Interiors Crescenta, California, at the rug maker's meet-and-greet event.


Nourison reported a successful winter market and had plenty of eye-catching new rugs to show buyers. Among the draws to the Nourison showroom were a special meet-and-greet with influencer Farah Merhi, founder of Inspire Me! Home Decor. Nourison, which has an existing rug program, took the opportunity to grow that assortment with two new collections geared toward a broader retail audience. The new Brushstrokes was a favorite for its elegant contemporary looks, plush texture and subtle sheen.

In addition the company's best-selling hand-tufted Prismatic rolled out several new designs including two softer, earth-toned abstract patterns (PRS35 and PRS36), which resonated with buyers. Finally the debuting Abstract Hues collection, a line of abstract space-dyed rugs with variations in color a subtly ribbed pile, and Elegant Heirlooms collection, which features classic Persian patterns in soft colors with fringe edges and a silky sheen, were resonating with buyers, who also gave a thumbs up to the new Natural Jute collection of simple foundational flatwoven pieces.


Buyers gave a thumbs up to a new earth-toned Prismatic design showcased at the Nourison showroom. Shown, PRS35

SP ORIAN


SP Orion grows its collab with influencer Erin Vogelpohl who reviews her My Texas House rug newcomers alongside 
new Orian CEO Scott Dahl. Shown, Hampshire Plaid

Orian Rugs' new CEO Scott Dahl and recently appointed Jenny Rogers Alton, EVP sales and marketing, and Paul Rutherford as SVP, were on hand to introduce the new team and the company's latest rugs to Las Vegas market-goers. Among the most popular choices were trending styles in new color combinations added to the company's popular Gemstone collection, which is domestically made.  

In addition the company's Knitwear performance construction, which uses different thickness yarns for textural motifs in neutral color combinations, continues to gain traction as does its ultra textural Crochet collection of performance rugs, which features a flatwoven ground with pile motifs in both neutral colorways and also designs with vibrantly colored elements as part of the ground.

Finally, Orian's licensed collection alongside influencer Erin Vogelpohl, founder My Texas House, grows her assortment adding fresh outdoor options, including subtle plaid designs, to the line.


Orian expands its popular domestically made Gemstone collection with several new designs. Shown, Excalibur 

RUG & KILIM


Rug & Kilim's second generation, Sina, far left, and Cyrus Nazmiyal, center, with Brittany Nazmiyal, introduce Weavers Art's
Michael Pourvakil and son, Bahador, far right, to the rug showrooms latest designs.

Rug & Kilim returns to the Expo at World Market Center and reports positive appointments. Among the newness on display is the Rez kilim collection, a series of all wool panel flatwoven rugs that are customizable. The company also offered a sneak peek of Rez 2, which offers solid pile with a flatwoven border that could also be fully customized.

In addition, Rug & Kilim a long-time purveyor of Moroccan rugs, grows its assortment in that category adding fresh pile designs in vibrant color options or classic ivory and black. Finally, the Scandinavian collection's Watson construction, crafted of wool and banana silk, with a unique texture, was featured at the booth in a geometric Deco design rendered in off white and soft browns.


Rug & Kilim, which showcases its pieces in the Expo Center, rolled out new Moroccan pile geometrics.

SAFAVIEH


Safavieh continues to add to its Lauren by Ralph Lauren program adding a dozen new designs for market-goers.
Shown, LRL1402N


Safavieh offered plenty of fresh area rug fashion for Vegas market shoppers, including tufted and power loomed line extensions to the coveted Lauren Ralph Lauren Collection, and new hand-loomed outdoor and power-loomed designs in the Martha Stewart program. Lauren adds 12 new tufted designs, the 1600 power-loomed series, and the new 1400 range power-loomed of space-dyed polyester.

The company grew its 2 million point offerings with expansive new additions to the Signature collection, both hits with designers, and also expanded the 1.5 million point Diamond collection.

In the hand-knotted category, Safavieh introduced new designs and colorways to the best-selling Oushak, Sultanbad and Izmir and Samarkand collections in new on-point colorways.



Safavieh showcases sizable introductions in the indoor-outdoor category for the Martha Stewart Collection. Shown, MSR0327F

TRANS-OCEAN


Buyers loved the Soho collection's newest additions for their raised luminous motifs. Shown, Tiles 7033-03

Topping the list of market best sellers designed by Liora Manne for Trans-Ocean were debuts in the Soho collection made up of clean, modern patterns in soft hues and lustrous raised textural motifs. Buyers also loved two winning designs added to the top-selling in-out Capri collection, On Holiday and Marker Stripe, both flatwoven and hand-tufted in a polyester/acrylic blend. The vibrant weather-resistant designs feature intricately shaded yarns and are treated for additional fade resistance.

Showstoppers from the popular indoor-outdoor Marina collection were Mums, a decorative botanical design, and Sunflower, featuring a black background with bright decorative gold oversized blooms.


Trans-Ocean by Liora Manne introduces a playful oversize leaf design in its top-selling Capri collection of performance
rugs. Shown, On Holiday

Safavieh HRI Tower