Shanghai scintillates during the month of May, its distinctive skyscrapers reflecting their busy surroundings in the spring sunlight. The National Convention & Exhibition Center is testament to this, and as I stood before it on the first day of DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFloor, I started to anticipate what awaited me beyond its gleaming, mirrored facade. After attending last year’s impressive edition, my expectations were high for Asia’s largest flooring event.
The mega-show offers everything imaginable in the realm of flooring, with many this year clearly taking heed of the keynote theme, ‘live with nature’ through their innovative products. This is particularly true of rug brands which were seeking to be more sustainable by incorporating sisal and jute in their designs. While machine-made rugs and carpets dominated the show, there were also companies offering exciting handmade and handtufted options. One standout was Mahesh Exports, which
featured a mix of minimalistic handmade carpets manufactured using a combination of wool and jute. The brand’s owner, Chirag Maheshwari, explained that not only does using jute appeal to a more eco-conscious clientele, but it also allows for interesting experimentations with texture. This seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the show, with textural complexity being favoured above intricate designs.
Adjacent to the Mahesh Exports stand was that of Bikaner Carpets, another Indian brand exclusively producing handmade rugs. Its new Paradise Collection was a hit amongst those seeking monochromatic pieces. Further down the hall, Karupannya Rangpur Ltd., whose workforce is comprised entirely of women, was attracting swathes of visitors with its handmade sisal and jute rugs in a variety of shapes and sizes. Other eye-catching rugs could be found at the Bulckaert stand, which was hosting designs from the playful Salsa + Beat Collection by Paulig. These were immediately recognisable for their pastel colour palettes and chunky wool.
Once the last day of the show drew to a close, I decided that my initial expectations had been met. The next edition is set for 26–28 May 2025, and it will be interesting to see what new trends will emerge in 2025.
