Handmade, Previews

Jan Kath Pushes Beyond Cutting Edge with 2021 Rug Debuts

Bochum, Germany-based Jan Kath rug showroom hosts a virtual 2021 showroom event featuring the atelier's ground-breaking fashion introductions.

Lisa Vincenti

2/3/2021

Among the Jan Kath 2021 debuts is its Spectrum collection of high-color designs. Shown, Alta Turn Agra Archway

BOCHUM, Germany -- Luxury showroom Jan Kath Rugs is hosting a virtual rollout of its cutting-edge 2021 area rug introductions in place of its popular A Family Affair event, held annually in January at its Bochum showroom.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and resulting restrictions on gatherings and travel, the rug atelier produced a virtual event featuring a eye-opening video with showroom and rug tour led by founder Jan Kath. Kath, the son of a carpet dealer, has hosted A Family Affair in his 14,000 square foot space since 2016, and has become a go-to source for original, cutting-edge rugs.

"I have to admit that I was super skeptical when my brother David came up with the idea to create a mobile zoom sales strategy," Kath told RugNews.com. "Nevertheless I followed his guidance and surprisingly it worked out extremely well. We probably were not able to attract a whole amount of new customers, but people who are aware of our qualities, collections and textures, got the idea and bought heavily into our new collections. We are happy to say that we did an 80 percent turnover in comparison with our traditional physical presentation that we had the years before."

In place of his company's annual A Family Affair event, Jan Kath created a virtual showroom and rug tour of his latest introductions.

For 2021, he adds another chapter to the company's re-interpretation of classic rug styles in series such as Erased Heritage and Polonaise, now forerunners to the stunning Savonnerie Surprise collection of modern renditions of early 17th-century hand-knotted Savonnerie carpets, which were first woven in an old soap factory outside Paris. In addition, Jan Kath debuts Spectrum, a stunning assortment of vibrantly colored abstract styles and layered looks.

"Me and my team, we have worked hard and we have come up with quite a few new really crazy ideas," Kath said. "Every year we have pushed the boundaries a little bit further-- we have managed in these days to come up with two incredible great new collections." said Kath.

"Our Spectrum collection inspired by the Northern Lights and a 20 years flight over the Nordkapp from Ulanbattar to Moscow have left deep marks," Kath explained of the color-drenched range. "Since then I have been trying to find a technical way to translate this more than fascinating color play. Only now after 20 years of experimenting and going deep into weaving and textures are we able to do so.

"We have reached the technical understanding of how to produce such extremely complex carpets -- people loved it and a lot of our clients bought into this collection. It is really one of the most challenging collections -- one of the most challenging projects we ever have touched," Kath explained.

Jan Kath's color drenched Spectrum collection gets a special display treatment in the company's German HQ.

"Savonnerie Surprise is the logical continuation of our Erased Heritage project, which we started more than 10 years ago," Kath said. "We began in the 14th century and now have arrived just before the French Revolution.This chapter will receive further updates and it will then slowly but surely melt into Art Nouvelle and Art Deco and will finally arrive in the 21st century.

"Savonnerie describes the topic or the chapter of handmade carpets made in Europe," Kath explained. "What we technically do and try to achieve is to be as close as possible to the original texture, original color, this is what Savonnerie Surprise is about to be."

The new Savonnerie Surprise collection (shown, Tentation) features the original carpet's colors, textures and motifs but in a thoroughly modern manner.

Kath, in the video tour, also showcases new additions to the company's successful Artwork collection, called Geometrics, and highlights its growing collection of Berber-inspired rugs with new designs as well.

Jan Kath's Berber-inspired Le Maroc Blanc has become one of its most important collections.

"Le Maroc Blanc collection became a very important pillar on which our company stands -- we try to be as authentic as possible by using the original raw materials, original colors and original weaving techniques," Kath said.