| TOUR THE RUG SHOW AT HIGH POINT WITH RUGNEWS.COM, PART 1
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HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The spring 2018 Rug Show at High Point Market, held April 13-18 on the top floor of the Suites at Market Square, made an impressive statement with over 20 leading exhibitors showcasing an international perspective on design, from prized classics to fashion forward contemporary styles.
In fact, Richard Amatulli of Amatulli & Sons told RugNews.com he viewed the second installment of the Rug Show at High Point as a positive move for the industry. "High Point is already a destination for the rest of the home furnishings market and could become an important destination for an invigorated rug industry.
"There has always been a rug vendor presence but not in this quantity," said Amatulli, who has been attending the spring and fall editions of High Point since 1986. "Some rug exhibitors have been in High Point since the late '80s and early '90s but never have so many come at one time to test out the market.
"Personally I thought the show was a great step in the right direction. The caliber of rug dealers has always been first class and with the addition of the NY show dealers, there's an announcement to the home furnishings world that rugs are back."
Visitors stopping by the Rug Show pavilion where treated to award-winning designs from top European shows, presented to U.S. audiences for the first time. In addition, plenty of domestic players unveiled fresh looks and designs crafted specifically for this market.
Make sure not to miss RugNews.com's The Rug Show at High Point tour Part 2. ANADOL 
Anadol grabbed High Point shoppers' attention with it's popular finely knotted Oushak collection in designers' favorite pale pastel tones. 
Suat Izmirli, principal of Anadol, showcased the company's top hand-knottsd looks for High Point Market.
ANDKHUY
Traditionalists found lavish classics at Andkhuy's Rug Show stand, including this tree of life design in the Aryana quality.
Abdul Sattar Karimi of Andkhuy Rugs displayed his California studio's signature styles.
BRINK & CAMPMAN 
First-time exhibitor Brink & Campman showcased a broad selection of fashion looks including directional flatweaves at The Rug Show at High Point. 
Brink & Campman's Jasper Kempers, left, posed with Mark West of Louis de Poortere. Brink & Campman recently named de Poortere its exclusive sales network partner in the U.S. (read full story). CARAVAN RUG CO. 
Caravan Rug Co. brought its West Coast flair to High Point, including this showstopping erased geometric in high contrast colors. 
Jay Nehouray of Caravan Rug Co. headed east from Beverly Hills with designs ranging from flatweaves and traditional looks to bold contemporary styles. CREATIVE MATTERS 
Toronto-based Creative Matters introduced High Point market-goers to its high end style. On the floor, the Arashi rug in rusty brown and beige, and a design from the Architecture collection hangs on far left. 
Creative Matters' Ana Cunningham and Sandra Ciganic-McKinney, conducted a series of Art Day events hosted by The Rug Show and Cover magazine during the spring Rug Show at High Point Market. EDELGRUND 
Known in international design circles for its award-winning Alasht flatweave rugs, Swizterland-based Edelgrund dazzled with its unique, colorful designs. 
Edelgrund's Maryam Ebrahimi showed the latest looks to Carey Kirk of Carey Reid Kirk Interior Design & Interior Architectural Services, based in Maryland. HOC 
Rug Show newbie HOC, based in Belgium, focused its booth on a range of contemporary designs in chic neutral and pastel color combinations. 
HOC designer Fabi Hens celebrated the studio's debut at The Rug Show at High Point with Eileen Hampshire of Art to Walk and husband, John. Hampshire bought the icy pale blue rug behind them at the show. LAPCHI 
Lapchi's John Tracy flipped through a stack of stunning area rugs from the rug studio's collaboration with Italian designer Maurizio Battilossi. 
Italian designer Maurizio Battilossi made his High Point premier alongside Sara Ann Bopp and John Tracy, both with the Oregon-based Lapchi, the maker of his area rug collection. LOOMS OF PERSIA 
Looms of Persia displayed its artistry in reworking iconic Persian looks for contemporary audiences. 
New Jersey-based Looms of Persia's M. Ebrahaim Akhavan Farshchi, Mahtab Akhavan Farschi and Arjang Moghaddam played host at their Rug Show at High Point Market stand. LOUIS DE POORTERE 
Louis de Poortere's Antiquarian collection, launched at Domotex 2018 and shown for the first time in the U.S. at High Point, re-edits old rugs in fashion colors based on forgotten patterns in three classics styles: Hadschlu, Bakhtiari and Heriz. 
Mark West, North American operations director (left), and Alan Russell, sales director, Louis de Poortere, introduced the Belgian label's new Antiquarian collection to High Point market-goers.