Sophistication is a key theme of the rug category’s product introductions – spanning the gamut from pattern design
to weaving techniques.

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Area rug companies are gearing up for a busy, upbeat High Point Market, officially running April 13-17, with pre-opening-day appointments soon underway. Sophistication is a key theme of the category’s product introductions – spanning the gamut from pattern design to weaving techniques. Looks are more beautiful, upscale and on-point, whether in the finest hand-knotted collections or the newest crop of printed machine woven rugs.

In short, rug makers have stepped up their game, bringing luxurious fibers and finishes, fashion-forward colors and more artful themes and custom options to their spring 2024 collection debuts. In the arena of area rugs, showrooms scattered across the High Point Market campus will surprise and delight retailers and designers with a shopping experience on par with the most exclusive international shows.

So, for this edition of our semi-annual Guide to Area Rugs at HPMKT, RugNews.com editors take you on a comprehensive tour of the newest and hottest looks from over 25 exhibitors.

AMER RUGS
IHFC, H-407


The abstract modern Winston wool collection is hand-knotted to create a tie-dye effect. Shown, WIN4 in taupe

Amer will showcase its commitment to traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics with the introduction of 14 new collections at High Point Market. The new collections feature a mix of hand-knotted, hand-tufted, hand-hooked, and power-loomed rugs in a broad array of design styles from traditional to contemporary. Among Amer’s seven new hand-knotted collection debuts is Winston collection, which blends neutral colors and modern tie-dye designs in five styles featuring hues like sand, oatmeal, taupe, ash and gray. The collection is hand-knotted of wool in India in five sizes, from runner to 9x12.

In the hand-tufted wool category, Amer introduces the Chicago collection, in soft textures and natural tones. Two hand-hooked collections, Jackson and Mexico, in New Zealand wool will debut. Jackson offers traditional designs with an abrash texture, and Mexico with high-low texture features abstract designs. Also new are two power-loomed collections: Alaska, made in Turkey of chenille and cotton, and Jordan, woven of polypropylene in Egypt.

The company is also expecting a great reaction to its new Atlantic collection, which is hand woven of 100 percent polyester yarn and washable, and offered in six tonal colorways.


Mexico is Amer’s new hand-hooked lineup of natural-style abstract designs made from New Zealand wool in a high-low
texture. Shown, MEX3 in ivory/beige

ANNIE SELKE
Broad Hall, 300 W. Broad Ave.


The Rufus Stone Kilim is hand woven of undyed wool for the New Forest collection by Kit Kemp x Annie Selke.

Annie Selke will launch New Forest, the latest lifestyle collection in its collaboration with Kit Kemp, co-owner and creative director for Firmdale Hotels. The new lifestyle lineup, inspired by the New Forest National Park in the south of England coordinates beautifully with existing items from the collaboration and new Annie Selke pieces being introduced for spring 2024.

Highlights of the new collection — with natural motifs and names like Rufus Stone, Deer Leap, Dawn Chorus, and Miss Muffett -- are drawn from the historic references, personal memories that inspired them, and include bold and colorful handmade wool and cotton rugs, an array of decorative pillows featuring hand appliqué, embroidery, and cutwork, rug benches, and a linen duvet covers with matching curtain panels. All the pieces showcase the vibrant personality, energetic patterns, and heirloom-quality durability that both Kit Kemp and Annie Selke are known for.


The Deer Leep hand-hooked wool rug from Kit Kemp and Annie Selke is crafted to create a mosaic glass pattern.

CAPEL
Market Square, 112


Capel debuts the hand-tufted Serengeti collection of animal patterns, in looped pile, with finer loops for pattern accents.
Shown, Zebra

Capel heads to spring High Point Market with two brand-new collections. One, Dockside, bolsters the company's top-selling braided area rug assortment adding a fresh indoor-outdoor option. These performance rugs are domestically made of 100 percent polypropylene and the collection is designed to withstand the elements, is washable and stain- and fade-resistant. It is available in four color options in blues, teals, greens, or neutrals.

The other important debut, Serengeti, is a hand-tufted collection crafted in India of pure wool. Featuring a range of animal print patterns, these rugs feature looped pile yarns for strong resilience to traffic, with finer loops to pattern detail. These designs effortlessly combine nature-inspired patterns with neutral, tone-on-tone colorways and textures.


Capel grows its perennially favorite braided rug lineup with the domestically made, indoor-outdoor Dockside lineup,
shown in driftwood colorway.

COURISTAN
SAMS, G-6000A, Salon


Couristan debuts the hand-crafted Hancock collection, crafted of undyed wool, knotted in a loose construction and cut-
pile finish. Shown, 5904

Couristan, which plans a new High Point showroom later in the year, focuses on the handmade category, rolling out a range of area rugs in key design trends including reimagined neutrals, innovative uses of texture, soft geometrics and abstract motifs (read more). Among the dozens of debuts, featured collections are Simone and Hancock, each handmade of 100 percent natural undyed wool. Hancock is knotted in a loose construction and offer a cut pile finish that adds textural elements to geometric and transitional motifs. Simone collection is hand woven of 100 percent natural undyed and sustainable wool. These dhurrie flatweave rugs emulate kilims with a laid-back feel. Designs are simple linear and abstract patterns. Ciora is hand-knotted in a chunky weave, utilizing carved elements for added texture. This pure wool collection's geometric and abstract designs are thickly knotted to lend a modern feel in an earthen color palette.

Kalbarri is Couristan's newest collection of printed rugs, featuring a hand-woven base of the softest blend of wools, including New Zealand wool. These digitally printed pieces recreate the look of  higher-end antique hand-knotted pieces in fashion-forward color palettes with fringed edges. Finally shoppers seeking outdoor pieces, Couristan showcases two lineups that are equally at home indoors. Liguria collection emulates its handmade counterparts with a rich cut/loop pile construction, and Fez offers a neutral color palette in blues, grays and browns with designs that range from fresh takes on traditional to geometric and transitional.


Couristan introduces the printed Kalbarri collection of vintage-inspired motifs on a soft wool base. Shown, 4772-500

CREATIVE ACCENTS
At Thayer Coggin, 230 South Rd.


Creative Accents x Par Ker Made introduces the Natiiv hand-tufted abstract area rug.

Custom rug manufacturer, Creative Accents will introduce its new designer collaboration with creative artist, Parker Heath, CEO + founder of PAR KER Made during spring High Point Market. The collection of hand-tufted rugs will be shown exclusively in the Thayer Coggin showroom. Creative Accents’ custom hand-tufted rugs are made to order in California of US-supplied raw materials, and the new PAR KER made’s collection includes 5 designs taken from a combination of Heath’s abstract artwork that is painted or hand drawn, with bold, contrasting patterns.

Heath’s final compositions embody a Modern Primitive aesthetic seen in the new rug collection with contrasting elements blending modern and contemporary motifs with primal influences. The new rug designs feature exquisite brush work, natural earth tones, organic shapes, and striking modern art motifs.


The Primitiv hand-tufted rug from Creative Accents x Par Ker Made is on view at the Thayer Coggin High Point showroom

CREATIVE TOUCH
SAMS, G-3042


Creative Touch adds a hand-knotted contemporary floral pattern (ABRS-01) to its Modern Art Texture collection.

Creative Touch plans to capture the attention of Suites at Market Square shoppers with a combination of one-of-a-kinds and contemporary as well as Persian and updated traditional area rug designs. One standout from the company’s Modern Art Texture collection is style ABRS-01, an overall floral with a taupe field in wool and accents of purple, yellow, rust, red and green in silk for the motif. The rug is hand-knotted in India.

The popular Bosphorus collections gets a line extension with style A-79-427, which is hand knotted in India of 90 percent wool in a brown colorway and features lots of texture. Creative Touch will also showcase new hand-knotted designs in its Legacy collection which include Oushak designs with updated pattern placement and fashion colors.


Creative Touch keeps growing a customer favorite, Bosphorus, with a spring line extension with the hand-knotted A-79-427.

FEIZY
309 N. Hamilton


Among the featured introductions Feizy is presenting at spring market is the high-end hand-knotted Holden. Shown, 69CNF

Feizy is gearing up for a busy spring High Point Market with a full schedule of special designer-driven events and several new area rug collections making their market debuts. Among the showcased collections debuting are Deja, Holden, and Kasbah, each of which addresses a lifestyle trend identified by Feizy as being important for 2024 rug buyers.

An illustration of Feizy's avant-garde trend is Holden collection, Feizy's Fine assortment of high-end hand-knotted rugs. Holden is crafted of wool in India with a MAP of $11,107 in 8x10. Sizes begin at up to 11'6" x 17’6", with 8- and 10-foot runner and 8' round.

From Feizy's Lifestyle collection come two new collections (Deja and Kasha) that address Feizy's Organic Oasis trend. Deja is machine-made in Turkey of polyester and polypropylene and carries a MAP of $689 in 8x10. Available sizes range from 2x3 to 9' x 12’8”, with 2’6” x 7’3" runner. Finally, Kasbah is hand-knotted in India of wool, with a MAP of $3,507 in 8x12. Other sizes are 2x3, 5’6” x 8’6”, 7'9" x 9’9”, 8'6" x 11’6” and 9'6" x 13’6”.


Feizy continues to expand its high-quality machine-made assortment adding Deja. Shown, 39PJF in green

Global Views & Studio A Home
IHFC, D220


Artfully incorporating tones of deep green in honor of its namesake gem, the Malachite rug debuts at Global Views.

Global Views and sister brand Studio A Home will both introduce new area rugs to complement their cross-category lines of designer interior furnishings, from furniture to accent pieces and accessories. The Malachite rug by Global Views draws inspiration from the natural formations of malachite and is crafted from hand-tufted wool to bring the beauty of nature into the home. The Searchlight rug by Global Views showcases a captivating pattern inspired by an original hand-drawn sketch from the company’s creative director, George Sellers. Crafted with care, it is constructed entirely from 100 percent hand-tufted wool.

Studio A Home introduces the Burst rug in ivory and blue, and ivory/black colorways. The rug is inspired by the iconic motif found on 1970s mid-century modern cast bronze doors, and hand-tufted in a wool and viscose blend with a 100 percent cotton backing. Global Views and Studio A Home area rugs are offered in sizes 5x8, 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, 11x14, and 12x18 and 12x15 mansion sizes can be custom ordered.


The hand-tufted wool Searchlight rug’s inspiration is a hand-drawn sketch from Global Views’ creative director, George Sellers.

HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL (HRI)
IHFC, D431


HRI introduces the textural hand-knotted Nepali collection of graphic designs. Shown, NE-41 silver/ivory

"Our appointments are trending higher than last year," said Greg Jordt, EVP sales and marketing, HRI. "It is looking like this is going to be another strong spring market for us. We are very positive going into this market."

For High Point attendees HRI is continuing to expand its fashion-forward hand-crafted area rug introductions. Among the featured highlights anticipated to be a market favorite is the new Nepali. These rugs are hand-knotted in 100 percent wool in India and offer a heavy texture and graphic designs done in four colorways.

Another major High Point introduction, which features HRI's highest knot count is Retro, hand-knotted in a finely woven 100 percent New Zealand wool pile. Retro's classic motifs are rendered in soft washed on-trend colorations in three colorways (blue, camel and gray). Finally, HRI's Chelsea collection of intricate floral patterns with borders is expected to be a top choice as well. This collection of wool hand-knotted rugs incorporates a variety of colors and understated patterns. All three collections are stocked in 6x9, 8x10, 9x12 and 10x14, with 2' x 1'6" sample swatches, and all are available in custom sizes.


HRI's Chelsea collection of intricate floral bordered designs is hand-knotted of wool. Shown, design 209 in light blue and silver

JAIPUR LIVING
C&D Building at 201 W. Commerce Ave., Suite 4N


Jaipur adds two designer abstract pieces to the After Glow collection by Kavi. Both are hand-knotted of rayon and wool
with intricate weaving details. Shown, Seride

Jaipur Living introduces myriad new designs for the Spring 2024 High Point Market, among them two designer abstract rugs, Seride and Rhiain from In the After Glow by Kavi. Both are hand-knotted in India of 60 percent rayon made from bamboo and 40 percent wool with intricate weaving details with a lustrous finish in fashion-forward warm neutral colorways.

A big push in the Jaipur showroom this season will be the company’s distinctive Fine Fibers collection, which covers the gamut from Mongolian cashmere, to silk, nettle, alpaca and New Zealand Wool. New to discover are the Aion, Hemara and Vivre collections. Aion combines the softness of cashmere with the durability and resilience of New Zealand wool, and one of the collection’s new designs if Atropos. Also on show will be the Hemara collection’s Cachemira design, hand-knotted in India of 100 percent cashmere wool, and the Vivre collection’s Dulcet design, also in cashmere wool.


Jaipur showcases its new Fine Fiber rug collection, which features sumptuous yarns. Above, the cashmere and wool
Aion AIO03 design.

JAUNTY
IHFC, D329


The new Jaunty Sterling collection hits all the right color notes with its Timber pattern and green colorway with rust accents.
Shown, SL16 in timber

Jaunty offers myriad new fashion looks for designers in an array of weaves and yarns. The Malibu collection is hand woven in India in an innovative wool and PET blended yarn and debuts in four heathery abstract motifs. The new Parker and Normandy collections are hand woven in India of wool with highlights of viscose. Parker comes in four contemporary graphic but subtle patterns in Tusk, Eggshell, Platinum and Smoke, while Normandy launches with three neutral abstract motifs (Ash, Oat and Shadow). Finally, Jaunty’s Sterling collection is hand-tufted of wool pile, also in India, in four colorways and textural patterns, Autumn, Timber, Wave and Dew.


Malibu Denim from Jaunty showcases hand-woven artistry with an ombre ground and textured accents. Shown, MB375 in dawn.

KALATY RUG CORP.
IHFC, G369


Kalaty's new Ventura collection of high-energy abstracts is a high-end power-loomed collection crafted of wool. Shown, VN-1395

As Kalaty continues to celebrate its 45th anniversary raising a toast each evening with showroom guests. The company is also rolling out a range of new and innovative area rugs. Among the featured debuts, styles ranges from updated-traditional patterns, high-energy contemporary abstract and graphic designs, as well as new transitional styles. Constructions range from hand-knotted and two new hand-bound high-end power-loomed wool collections (Blooma, with classic updated-traditional floral patterns, and Ventura, a group of ten high-energy abstract and modern designs).
 
New hand-knotted collections include: Celine, a 100 percent premium hand-spun wool collection of updated-traditional designs; Forte, a modern-meets-traditional collection made of a combination of wool and Silkette; and Kosta, an eclectic group made of a wool-Silkette blend. In addition, Kalaty is introducing a range of new patterns to several existing high-end hand-knotted collections.


Power-loomed of wool and hand-bound, Kalaty's Blooma range features distressed style floral motifs. Shown, BM-1375

KALEEN
Showplace, 2345


Kaleen expands its LUXE series with the pen-and-ink inspired motifs of Nectar, which is hand-loomed. Shown, NEC-01 navy

Kaleen continues to expand its handmade focus and adds 36 fresh styles across four new collections to its high-end LUXE rug brand for High Point shoppers. “Today, LUXE spans 65 designs, each available in multiple colorways, and all hand-crafted of 100 percent pure wool,” said COO Monty Rathi. “We shared previews of the new LUXE collections on swatches and sample racks, and our customers all went crazy for them,” Rathi noted. "We expect that trend to continue at High Point Market."

Femina collection offers a crisp and clean, soft and plush, back to basics styling. Featuring loose linear patterns these pieces are hand-knotted in ivory. Also, hand-knotted is Calisto that has a unique texture and is full of dimension. Available in blue, charcoal, green, natural and blush with shades of white for subtle contrast. Nectar offers graphic designs reminiscent of pen-and-ink sketches. Presented in three dark-and-white patterns, these hand-loomed pieces are available in beige, navy, silver and taupe. The hand-woven Alma offers tonal colors (blue, charcoal, gray, ivory and white) and a thick nubby texture. LUXE area rugs are stocked in three standard sizes, and custom size and broadloom applications.


The hand-knotted plush and soft Femina collection features loose linear patterns in ivory. Shown, FEM01

KARASTAN
IHFC, D443


Karastan expands its outdoor Salt Life label to the indoors with three collections. Shown, Bonaire Hidden Cove

Karastan heads to spring market and will feature its recently introduced Salt Life program. The lineup launched as an outdoor range of area rugs and expands to include three indoor performance collections. Bonaire by Salt Life offers five designs, Pelican Bay, includes four designs, and Dunes seven designs.

The company also expands its indoor assortment with two additions to its Bobby Berk collaboration with Voyage, an import from Turkey in 11 patterns; and Halcyon, woven of 100 percent polyester in Turkey, featuring eight patterns.

Sentiment by Stacy Garcia offers four patterns that are domestically made of Smartstrand triexta yarn. And Garcia's popular Rendition collection introduces three new line extensions, all crafted of Smartstrand triexta fiber. Another new introduction: larger runners have been added to Karastan's best-selling designs, such as Euphoria Newbridge Sandstone, Soiree Torrent Rose Gold, Spice Market Petra Multi, and others. These runners are made in the US and are sized 2’6”x10’.


Karastan expands its indoor-outdoor performance assortment with the Trade Winds design from the Salt Life label.

LIORA MANNE
IHFC, IH506


Liora Manne creates an immersive InterHall booth display featuring designs from her beach-themed Outer Banks collection.
Shown, sample swatch

Liora Manne returns to InterHall and will unveil her latest collection, The Outer Banks, which promises to immerse market-goers in its namesake vacation spot along the coast of North Carolina (read more). The collection, as well as the company’s show space, promise to transport visitors to a coastal paradise, where wall coverings, floor coverings, decorative art, and accent pillows harmonize to create a dreamy seascape of elegance and ease.

The booth design seamlessly integrates Manne’s various textile applications, offering a fully immersive floor-to-ceiling experience. This revolutionary concept empowers clients to effortlessly transform any space into a “dreamscape” utilizing signature Lamontage textiles.

LOLOI
IHFC, D320


Among the new additions to Joanna Gaines x Loloi is the Rae collection. Shown, RAE-04
 
Loloi grows its partnership with Magnolia Home’s Joanna Gaines with six new collections debuting at High Point Market. From the Joanna Gaines x Loloi program are the Charlie collection hand loomed in India of 100 percent post-consumer polyester, and the Nico collection, a dynamic jute lineup with hand loomed with raised alternating lines of wool and cotton and finished with a playful fringe. The Rae collection is hand-tufted of undyed wool, with classic lines and a gently ribbed texture.

Market shoppers will also find additions to the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines x Loloi program, including the Gigi collection, power loomed in Turkey of polypropylene and polyester pile, the Jones collection hand-tufted of wool pile in India with a low pile base and hand-tufted design, and the Mona collection, featuring a framed design of traditional motifs and medallions in muted palettes. Mona is power loomed in Egypt of polypropylene and polyester.


Joanna Gaines x Loloi adds Nico collection, a jute hand-loomed with raised alternating lines of wool and cotton. Shown, NIC-01

-- Continue reading RugNews.com's The Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Rugs at HPMKT -- Part 2