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STARK REBRANDS WHOLESALE RUG LABEL AS STARK STUDIO RUGS
Hand-knotted in Nepal, the Hallen rug from Stark Studio Rugs is on display at the 45th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York City through June 1. (Alan Barry Photography) |
NEW YORK -- Stark Carpet rebrands its Concept International label, housed under the company's Prestige Mills division, as Stark Studio Rugs. In fact, the new wholesale brand was soft-launched last month to High Point Market shoppers at a space shared with Tamarian at the Suites at Market Square.
Melanie Hayim of Stark Studio Rugs at the brand's exhibit space during April's High Point Market with Jeremy White of Carpet Source of Winter Park, Florida.
Stark, a to-the-trade carpet, fabric and wallcovering specialist, is tweaking not only the assortment of rugs that will carry the new Stark Studio label, it is also making adjustments to its management team. Taylor van der Mandele, formerly the owner of specialty rug importer, AMS Imports, joins Stark Studio Rugs as its new national sales manager.
An assortment of Stark Studio Rugs on show at the Suites at Market Square at last month's High Point Market.
"Now that our rug assortment is more representative of our parent company we are rebranding as Stark Studio Rugs," said Melanie Hayim, director of operations. We have a lot projects in the works," she continued, declining to elaborate on those plans.
Prestige Mills, which also includes a broadloom program under that name, targets both retail and designer showrooms with its product. Stark Studio Rugs feature elegant transitional designs, ranging from understated geometrics and stripes to batik-like looks -- hand knotted in India or Nepal in a range of materials ranging from pure wool, silk, viscose to blends such as wool and bamboo silk.
Stark Studio Rugs execs, Melanie Hayim, director of operations and Taylor Van Der Mandele, national sales manager.
Stark Carpets recently acquired a machine weaving mill in Pennsylvania, and in the past few years has invested in an area rug program. So while custom remains a significant portion of its business, it has added stocked rugs, including moderately priced ones, to its range.
One example of Stark Studio's designer offerings, the company's Hallen rug, is prominently on display through June 1, at the 45th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House at 125 East 65th Street in Manhattan. Featured in a room by Kirsten Kelli, LLC, the denim blue and silver rug is hand-knotted in Nepal of 60 percent silk and 40 percent wool.
Stark carpets and rugs are also used by designers Billy Cotton, Ken Fulk and Kate Singer in their 2017 rooms for the prestigious show house, which raises funds for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.
The drawing room designed by sisters Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford of Kirsten Kelli LLC for the 2017 Kips Bay Decorator Show House features Hallen by Stark Studio Rugs above, and in the detail below. Room photo by Alan Barry Photography.