EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: RUGS AT THE HOT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST DESIGN SHOW, PART 2

 

NEW YORK --In Part 2 of RugNews.com's exclusive review of the Architectural Digest Design Show, we tour the young rug makers gunning for a slice of the area rug pie.

 

Bole Road Textiles, Castelluxe, Eskayel, Inigo Elizalde Rugs, Kinder Modern, Nordic Knots and Tantuvi provided an alternate take on designs for the floor and each had a unique story to tell.

While most of these fresh faces exhibited in the Arch Digest Design Show's curated, gallery-like Made section, two (Castelluxe and Nordic Knot) exhibited on the main aisles in a new space that grabbed a lot of attention from attendees browsing the show.

 

In case you missed our detailed review of established upscale brands Classic Rug Collection, Creative Touch, French Accents, Jan Kath, Marc Phillips, Nasiri, New England Collection, Nourison, Orley Shabahang, Tibetano, Woven Concepts and Woven Legends, click here to read Part 1 of our exclusive preview.

BOLE ROAD TEXTILES

Brooklyn textile studio Bole Road Textiles caught the attention of designers with an inaugural line of wool area rugs crafted in Ethiopia.

Brooklyn textile studio Bole Road Textiles expands its assortment of Ethiopian handwoven textiles to include an inaugural line of area rugs. The all wool rugs are crafted by a women's weaving collective in that nation. In fact, the company, launched a year and a half ago, only works with female-owned businesses, said Hana Getachew, owner and designer.

"Weaving is part of the Ethiopian culture, but rug weaving and rugs are used only domestically. Typically those Ethiopian rugs are neutrals or black and white, solid colors or in the patterns of the classic woven mesob baskets."

 

 

Hana Getachew, owner and designer of Ethiopian hand-woven textile studio Bole Road Textiles, works with female-owned businesses and found a weaving collective to craft its wool rugs.

 

 

 

CASTELLUXE

 

Castelluxe debuted a leather Greek Key design, with a scratch finish for a distressed effect at the AD Design Show.

 

 

Castelluxe relocated to the main aisle for the 2017 Arch Digest show, and reported better traffic at the booth than a year ago. It didn't hurt to have the attention-grabbing Tira hair-on-hide rug hanging on the wall and studded leather rugs on the floor of the booth. "While the show last year was successful we wanted something off the main aisle, more in the center of the show," said Leon Deutsch, Castelluxe co-founder.

 

The company also debuted a new collection of hand-knotted abstract rugs made of wool,silk and hemp in Nepal.

 

 

 Castelluxe founders Ariella and Leon Deutsch continue to grow the company's hair-on-hide assortment, and add to its hand-knotted range. 

 

 

ESKAYEL

Brooklyn studio Eskayel introduced its new lush-pile, made-in-Nepal Lulu weave rugs at the AD Design Show.

 

 

"We are really focusing on our rugs," said Shanan Campanaro, founder of the Brooklyn studio Eskayel. "We are loving the translation from wallpaper to rugs." At the show, Eskayel showed off its new luxe high-pile Lulu construction of Nepal crafted area rugs. The Lulu weave is available in a variety of qualities, including all silk and all wool.

 

 

 

"We did the show in 2016 and were in the main section, but we like the gallery feeling of Made," said Nick Chacona, Campanaro's husband and business partner.

 

 

 

 

 

Eskayel founder Shanan Campanaro with business partner and hubby Nick Chacona moved their booth to the Made section of the Arch Digest Design Show.

 

INIGO ELIZALDE RUGS

New York custom rug studio Inigo Elizalde Rugs introduced its new Tarmak collection at the Architectural Digest Design Show.

Inigo Elizalde Rugs, a custom New York City based area rug studio, debuted at the Architectural Digest Design Show's Made section in 2017. Headed by Philippines-born Inigo Elizalde, the atelier debuted the geometric-Modernist Tarmak collection, based on photos Elizalde took of airport runways. The young brand specializes in Nepalese hand-knotted rugs, as well as hand tufted rugs, flat weaves and dhurries.

"The response has been great," said Elizalde. "This show is so different from ICFF ... here you are meeting actual interior designers. It's far more personal."

 

 

Inigo Elizalde, head of his eponymous NYC rug studio, is known for his bold graphic designs.

 

 

KINDER MODERN

 

Kinder Modern unveils the first in its Artist Rug collection in collaboration with renowned American ceramicist Cody Hoyte at the AD Design Show. Shown, on the wall is Ray, with Cosmos on the ground.

 

 

 

Kinder Modern, a brand better known for its specialty in vintage children's designs of the 20th century and its own contemporary designs, grows its assortment with a range of bold area rugs by ceramics artist Cody Hoyte -- the first in the company's planned Artist rug collection series.

"We translated Hoyte's work into off-geometric-shaped rugs. They are stunning visuals of the original objects in a new material," said Lora Appleton, founder and creative director.

The rugs are made of 100 percent New Zealand wool with a high-low cut carpet pile that accentuates the pattern. Kinder Modern has a modular line of carpet tiles, which also includes a selection of larger area rugs, with a more playful approach to the floor.
"The Cody Hoyte designs have a topographical element to them. I like to push people out of their comfort zone via bold geometry, strong colors."

 

 

 

Lora Appleton, founder and creative director of Kinder Modern, a company focused on vintage and contemporary children's designs, ups the ante at the AD Design Show.

 

 

Fledgling NY area rug player Nordic Knots offers AD Design shoppers a new take on Scandinavian style, debuting its first cut pile Modern collection. 

 

 

Area rug industry newcomer Nordic Knots debuted at the Architectural Digest Design Show sharing a booth with NYC Swedish antiques dealer Laserow Antiques. Fabian Berglund founder, creative director of Nordic Knots, launched the company alongside his wife, Liza Laserow of Laserow Antiques, and his brother Felix Berglund.

 

"Our latest additions are our cut pile Modern collection rugs in four colorways, made in India of New Zealand wool," said Laserow, whose antique business focuses on Swedish works. "They have a pattern but it is subtle."

Still the company's Classic and Tiger designs --its best sellers -- attracted the attention of passing show attendees. "They are a newer take on all classic Scandinavian patterns, such as stripes, but we done in a fresh way."

 

Husband and wife partners of  Nordic Knots, Liza Laserow and Fabian Berglund at the Arch Digest Design Show.

 

TANTUVI

Brooklyn-Based Tantuvi premiered its hand-woven in India rugs at the Arch Digest Show's Made section.

 

Brooklyn-based Tantuvi, founded by designer Arati Rao, also premieres at the spring fair's Made section with a selection of its hand woven in Rajasthan, India, area rugs and hand-loomed textiles and womenswear. The young textile studio debuted its first area rugs in 2016, a collaboration between artist Adam Sipe and Rao, which was inspired by early experiments in formal abstract animation.

 

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