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Rug Insider Magazine
News for the Rug and Carpet Professional 
Building on the legacy of its founder Carol Sebert, artfully established and proudly Canadian custom carpet house Creative Matters is kicking off the new year by rolling out a broader path grounded in the company’s roots but strategically positioned to command new opportunities that lie ahead—both in North America and across the pond.
As the daughter of a rug wholesaler, I have vivid childhood memories of visiting customers with my father, sitting on a stack of rugs while the men attended to business. There were rarely women present in these spaces—but it wasn’t until I joined the industry years later that this struck me as odd.
From Saturday, September 9 through Monday, September 11, the New York/New Jersey area rug trade was abuzz with the arrival of the annual Autumn trade shows. Cover Connect New York took place in Manhattan, and The Rug Show was held in Secaucus, New Jersey. The two trade shows offered up a combined total of nearly 70 exhibitors, with area rug vendors from the United States and abroad convening on the shows, and displaying their freshest rug offerings.
As the muggy days of Summer fade and the weather turns crisp and mild we look forward to what autumn has in store. For many, it’s the back-to-school season, and those who have been working remotely from home, or with a hybrid schedule, return to the office on a regular basis. For the area rug industry, Fall means a busier schedule of showroom visits, appointments, and product introductions, and perhaps most significantly, the return of the Fall Rug Markets.
RUG INSIDER touches in with Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media, who curates the Fall 2023 edition of ANDMORE’s TrendWatch program at High Point Market. #HPMKT
Hand-knotted, low-pile area rugs dominate at the close of 2023. Most examples have a worn appearance—think stonewash or sun-washed—which makes them a shoo-in for heavily trafficked areas in the home. Yarn combinations combine Tibetan wool and silk at the higher price points; look for wool and cotton in the mid-range. Texture is as engaging as color. The knots vary in size, so colors appear in soft focus. Plus, look for hand-serging and fringe treatments.
Rug Insider checks in with Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media, who curates trends and educational programs—FIRST LOOK: West at Las Vegas Market and TrendWatch at High Point Market—for International Markets Centers.
Blues are poised to dominate in the seasons ahead, as water-inspired varieties feature prominently in PANTONE®’s home forecast for 2024. The current ’90s-era denim throwbacks are worth noting as an inspiration source, too. Area rugs done up in hues that evoke favorite denim washes, rinses and finishes send immediate cues to the homeowner: comfortable, relaxed, and livable, especially in high-traffic areas.
Couristan | Siena Ombré
Siena from Couristan features two million points of yarn per square meter. Hand-washed for a soft and luxurious finish, each eclectic design is machine-made using a unique blend of 85% viscose and 15% shrink acrylic.
Abstract patterns remain so popular and useful in residential interiors. Swaths of painterly brushstrokes, landscape impressions, and designs that evoke atmospheric phenomena or processes that occur in nature are especially timely. Here, magnification is key—these artful patterns appear to be culled from microscopic examination.
Interesting material mixes catch my attention, especially varieties that elevate one or both materials. Weaves that incorporate jute and chenille, for instance, boost up jute and give it new tactility and allow for more pattern expression.
Unique Loom | Chenille Jute
Unique Loom’s medium pile polyester Chenille & Jute rug is hand braided in India. SKU #3192134 incorporates an expressive palette of ivory, pink, navy blue, yellow and green.
Neutrals never fall out of favor, and what I’m drawn to is minimal designs done in warm hues. Best varieties have broad applications—they suit Coastal, Lodge, Southwest, or Modern interiors, for instance, with equal ease.
Kaleen | Jara Collection
Named for the Hindu goddess of household happiness and prosperity, the Jara Collection depicts a variety of all-over linear and diamond patterns that inspire joy. These shag, all-wool floor coverings are expertly handwoven by artisan weavers. Options include area rugs in standard size and custom sizes within the parameters of 15 feet wide and 50 feet long; and Broadloom applications.
Lastly, favor for traditional patterns and design elements is growing. Older Millennials have likely purchased the home they plan to own for the foreseeable future, and this commitment to home stirs up emotion and desire for stability. Incorporating traditional patterns and motifs—with a light hand—is one way to create certainty and convey commitment.
Jean Stoffer × Loloi
The Bradbury Collection by Jean Stoffer in collaboration with Loloi has small-scale motifs that create eye-catching dimension. Power-loomed of polypropylene and polyester in Egypt and Oeko-Tex® certified.
The Summer 2023 edition of Las Vegas Market runs July 30 – August 2, at World Market Center Las Vegas.
lasvegasmarket.com
Facebook.com/lvmarket | #LVMKT
@lasvegasmarket | #LVMKT
Julie Smith Vicenti, Nine Muses Media owner and creative director
Area rug companies expand and elevate offerings of sustainably-made styles. Recycled plastics-made fibers are not new to the world of area rugs. For a while now, suppliers have been developing and promoting these products to promote not just for their sustainability attributes but also their inherent performance benefits—namely, extra softness and resistance to fading and staining— all of which are highly conducive to today’s family- and pet-friendly lifestyles.
The Met has chosen Exquisite Rugs to design a collection based on the museum’s variety of historical art. Uniquely designed rugs are truly pieces of art, and to celebrate that fact, Exquisite Rugs is creating an exclusive line of rugs based on art from The Met.
