With most big design events deferring offline activity until 2021, the rug industry calendar for 2020 has been sparse if not non-existent. We can only hope that the viewing of new rugs in person and meeting up with likeminded colleagues can restart in the new year. One event that many will be happy to see taking place on 13-16 January 2021 is Family Affair, Jan Kath’s annual event held at his showroom in Bochum, Germany.
Since 2016, Kath has opened up his 1300 sqm headquarters for a week in January, showing his entire portfolio of around thirty collections to international rug retailers, architects, designers and journalists. For those who have not attended the show, it is a chance to get to view Kath’s extensive range of rug handwriting and how the collections work together in a relaxed setting. Over the last five years ‘Family Affair’ has established itself as an important part of the carpet industry calendar and a great meeting of professional rug minds. Furthermore, one can meet members of the Kath family and the JK company team—there is a distinct family vibe. Arrange your visiting dates to suit you and turn up to be looked after by Kath and his impressive team for a day or two.
Kath’s spacious showroom not only allows for many rugs to be seen in situ but also for a reasonable yet limited number of visitors to be present at any one time, taking into account Covid-19 safety regulations, which will be strictly adhered to throughout the four days of the show. Organised around a set visitors schedule, the event will be ideal for those with different travelling and safety requirements.
Son of a carpet dealer, Kath is rooted in the carpet tradition. Many of you will be familiar with Kath’s designs and in particular the Erased Heritage collection, in which antique patterns are reinterpreted in contemporary ways using the highest level of craftsmanship. A recent off-shoot of these rugs is the beautiful Polonaise Collection and for Family Affair 2021 a new chapter will open in the shape of the Savonnerie Collection, reinterpretations of the 17th-century designs made in France and Britain.
Alongside this new offering, peruse your favourite designs from collections such as From Russia With Love, Ballpoint Art, Common Threads, and the more recent Yantra, Gorski and Spectrum rugs. Keep in mind that hand-knotted is not the only quality on offer—Kath’s hand-tufting services are there to be considered.
For rug buyers, designers and journalists out there wanting to get a comprehensive picture of Jan Kath’s work and see the new collections, please fill out a request form to organise your January visit to the Bochum showroom. We hope this event will mark a good start to the rug calendar of 2021.
