NEW YORK -- The Rug Show New York is becoming a must for U.S. dealers and designers who are looking to tap a broad range of both domestic and international resources for their clients.
So said shoppers queried by RugNews.com at the annual event, held in September at the Jacob K. Javits Center in NYC. Elizabeth Vehko, co-owner of Shaver-Ramsey Fine Rugs in Denver says the Rug Show NY is a must. "You have to come to this show because it is the only one in the U.S. to feature many of these high-end vendors," said Vehko, who was looking for a broad range of styles from vendors including French Accent Rugs, Tamarian and Pacific Collection.
International brands exhibiting only in the U.S. at the Rug Show NY included 36 Knots of Canada, Knots Rugs of London and Turquoise Mountain of Edinburgh -- all debuting at the New York fair. Among the prestigious labels that returned to the Rug Show from overseas were H.O.C., Jaipur Rugs, Rug Star, Tissage and Zollanvari. They join an esteemed assortment of domestic rug vendors who use the show as an essential platform for rolling out new collections and collaborations.
Fine rug gallery buyers shop the Tamarian booth at the Rug Show New York.
"At the Rug Show you get to see nicer lines than in Atlanta," said Charlene Nigohsian, with Nigohsian Carpet & Rug, based in Needham, Massachusetts. "And, here, I get to see things that are not in Atlanta. I love Atlanta, but a lot of showrooms have pulled out. This is the second time I have been to the Rug Show and I love it -- I've done really well here."
With a roster of designer seminars, the Rug Show saw a boost in attendance by interior designers this year, in addition to a bump in antique carpet collectors and buyers visiting the new Antique Pavilion. The Annual Party, a must for attendees and exhibitors, was held at the PHD Terrace Roof Top at The Dream Mid Town for the 2019 edition of the show.
RugNews.com continues the coverage in Part 2 of the industry's most exhaustive guide to the people who made this year's show a success. If you haven't checked out Part 1, with exhibitors from Amer to Knots Rugs, click here.
LAPCHI
Aliya Chatur of Salari Fine Carpets shops Lapchi's high texture contemporary designs with John Tracy, Claude Abbott and Nathan Tucker of Lapchi.
LOOMS OF PERSIA
Looms of Persia's Nooshin Akhaven Farshchi with The Scarab team's Tara Klaers, Rohann Million, and Larry Stone.
MOMENI
Victor Khalafi of Gabberts Furniture, Reza Momeni of Momeni and Alex Hosseinnia of Dallas Rugs take a pause from shopping one-of-a-kind designs.
NEW MOON
Kamran Tari of Main Street Floors visits Erika Kurtz of New Moon and checks out the ever-popular Menagerie rug, now available in a new blush tone.
PACIFIC COLLECTION
Fritz Langauer of Oritop with Fred Hazin of Pacific Collection pose in front of an artfully woven Suzani carpet design refreshed with fashion colors.
RUG & KILIM
Jacqueline Cox of Tapis Decor in Minneapolis, Cyrus Nazmiyal of Rug & Kilim, and Jessica Young of Tapis Décor review the rug maker's renowned Scandinavian kilims.
RUG STAR
Jeff Deutsch of Artisan Rug Gallery, Jurgen Dahlmanns of Rug Star and Jack Schmalfeld of Artisan Rug Gallery, pose in front of an Afghan-made classic sporting the German studio's irreverent use of modern color.
S&H RUGS
Buyers from Tabriz Oriental Rugs, Hadidi Rugs, Borhani Rugs, Persico Rugs and Royal Antique Rug Gallery review the newest updated traditional hand-knotted designs from S&H Rugs at the company's busy 2019 Rug Show stand.
SAMAD
Oscar Isberian of Chicago's Oscar Tatosian poses with David Samad of Samad, Sarkis Tatosian of Oscar Isberian and Malcolm Samad of Samad.
STARK STUDIO RUGS
Steve Codella of Stark Studio Rugs, Charlene Nigohsian and William Fallon of Nigohsian Carpet and Rug.
TAMARIAN
Jesse Kohler and Ned Baker of Tamarian with Hasan and Mahmud Jafri of Dover Rug & Home in Massachusetts, and Geoffrey Duckworth of Tamarian.
TUFENKIAN
Mike Massmann and Jeremy White of Carpet Source in Winter Park, Florida, with James Tufenkian and Louis Tarantino of Carpet Source. in front of their favorite Urban Fresco collection design.
TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN & LABEL STEP
Bulant Ozozan Turquoise Mountain, Nathan Stroupe of Turquoise Mountain, Matthew Bourne of Christopher Farr, Sanjay Purohit Turquoise Mountain.
WOOL & SILK
Leela Dominoski and Driscoll Robbins of Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpet in Seattle and Erbil Tezcan of Wool & Silk at the rug maker's show stand in front of the new graphic Fusion rug.
Shea Dunigal of Floor Design in San Francisco, and Anabel Valdez Perconti, owner, the Vogue in Louisville, Kentucky, take a break from a line review with Erbil Tezcan of Wool & Silk Rugs.
ZOLLANVARI
Ashley Kamen, of Acheo Gallery in Key West, florida, with baby Zadie Rae Haskell, shops for the rug maker's hot-selling Gabbehs with Zollanvari's Stephanie Diehl and Ryan Persand.