Atlanta — Each season, the rug industry seems to step further away from its heritage in classic Persian design. This summer, buyers at the July 11–14 rug market here will see more contemporary styles than traditional.
Released from the design formalities that have constrained rugmaking for centuries, modern stylists are flaunting their freedom. They are abandoning the old rules of form, symmetry and balance.
The economics of manufacturing and distribution have a lot to do with the move to more free-wheeling styles.
New machine-made and hand-tufted rugs can be made quickly and distributed through multi-store channels at a fraction of the cost of traditional hand-knotted rugs. Today's rugs are inexpensive, so the financial risks of introducing inventive designs are not as great as in the past.
As a result, rugs have become fleeting fashion. At an average retail price of less than $600, they are almost ephemeral and disposable.
New rugs reflect such diverse influences as abstract expressionist painting, mid-century textiles, the organic world, Asian culture, a blooming garden, the dots and dashes of technology. Even Andy Warhol, surfer dudes and professional golf inspire rug designs.
Texture is a big part of this season's fashion statement. Motifs are outlined with drop stitching or hand carving. The shag comeback has reached alarming proportions. Rugs are embellished with appliqués, embroidery and beading. Shag is combined with plush, leather is combined with wool, wood pieces are inserted on a wool background.
It's not a totally wild ride, of course.
This season's color palette is safe, dominated by beige earth tones, browns and rusts. Mauve and eggplant are moving in as fashion colors. Red continues to be the most prevalent bold statement, but there also are splashes of pink, magenta and bright blue.
Traditional styling isn't dead, despite the modern surge. Old-line patterns still account for a healthy portion of rugs sold in the United States, and especially worldwide.
At every market, there are new interpretations of classic hand-knotted designs. The challenge for most producers working in traditional Persian and European forms is to transform expensive hand-knotted rugs into affordable machine-made and hand-tufted constructions.
Modern Movement
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CENTRAL ORIENTAL: Urban from the Interlude collection is machine made of heavyweight heat-set polypropylene, $249.
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SURYA: The Naya collection features clear colors in '70s graphics, and is hand tufted in India of 100% wool, $399.
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COURISTAN: Tropical Swirl from the Scala collection uses an advanced multicolor weaving technique, in New Zealand worsted wool, $899 in 5′7″ by 7′10″.
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MOMENI: The New Wave collection features tsunami-scale patterns, hand tufted in China of 100% wool, $498 in 5′3″ by 8′.
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KAS: The Signature collection features sleek, urban contemporary designs, in hand tufted and hand carved wool, $499.
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DELOS: From the Intrepid collection, this rug is hand tufted and hand carved in China using high-quality wools with mercerized cotton accents, $999.
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LIORA MANNE: Sweeping Swirls is hand made in the United States of felted acrylic using the patented Lamontage process, $1,490 in 6 by 9.
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FEIZY: The Piazza collection pays homage to cubist and op art movements, and is hand tufted in China of wool yarns, $390.
Flower Power
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HOMEFIRES: Folk Art Floral Pot by Jennifer Brinley, $350, is paired with the Sunflower accent rug by Gail Flores, $55 in 2 by 3. Both are hand-hooked wool and made in China.
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RUG MARKET: Sunflower from the Bloom collection is hand tufted of cotton flannel, $299.
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ENDLESS KNOT: Fiorella Spring is based on classic Tibetan designs, and is hand knotted in Nepal, $2,400 in 6 by 9.
Classy Classics
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BOKARA RUG: The Manchuria collection is hand knotted in China from Mongolian wool in patterns reminiscent of Persian Bidjars, $1,695 in 6 by 9.
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KALATY: The Bahar collection features Jaipur and Agra styling interpreted in hand-tufted constructions of New Zealand wool with silk highlights, $599 in 5′3″ by 8′3″.
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KARASTAN: This Agra design from the Ashara collection is woven in the United States of skein-dyed New Zealand worsted wool. $1,499 in 8-foot round.
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EBISONS HAROUNIAN: Peshawar is an antique replica of Zeigler Mahal and Sultanabads made by Afghani refugees in Pakistan, $1,299.
Tailor Made
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828 INTERNATIONAL: PGA Tour Home is the importer's new licensed group of hand-hooked wool rugs, $299.
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CAPEL: Chincoteague is flatwoven of 85% rayon and 15% chenille, and made in India, $199.
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NEW MOON: City Lights from the Mirage collection is designed by John Kurtz, and hand knotted in Nepal from hand-carded Tibetan wool, from $3,600 to $5,900 depending on knot count and silk content.
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RUGS AMERICA: Spectra from the Rainbow collection is hand tufted in China of 100% wool, and washed to produce a unique surface effect, $379.
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SHAW LIVING: The Impressions collection is machine made in the United States of olefin fiber, with subtle sculpturing outlining the pattern for added dimension, $449 in 5′5″ by 7′8″.
Fleur de France
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CLAIRE MURRAY: Canterbury Bells is hand hooked in China of 100% wool, $199 in 3 by 5.
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HELLENIC: Marseilles is machine made of fine-denier heat-set polypropylene yarn and faux silk to create a wool-like look, $299.
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HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL: The Monaco collection is hand tufted in India of 100% wool with viscose highlights, $499.
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NOURISON: European-inspired designs are featured in the Ashton House collection, power loomed of New Zealand wool using multi-color weaving techniques, $500 in 6 by 9.
Ain't We Got Fun?
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COMPANY C: The Casco Bay Navy rug features the flags of Maine's Down East yacht clubs, and is hand hooked in China. The design also is available in coordinated bedding textiles.
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FOREIGN ACCENTS: Tasha Kiddz collection is a group of lively, child-in-mind patterns, hand tufted in China of modacrylic fiber, $248 in 4 by 6.
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FUN RUGS: Surfer dude Dean Miller has a licensed collection, machine made of nylon with anti-flame and stain-resistant properties, $39 in 31″ by 47″.
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NEJAD: A sailboat design is part of the Bright Beach collection, hand tufted of modacrylic yarn and made in China in an extra-thick pile, $299.
