When looking at which rug in the inventory sells best, most companies know exactly why the winner is at the top of the pile, the figures demonstrate an undeniable truth. For companies like Anadol Rugs and Pampas Leather, who specialise in certain types of carpets (angora Oushaks for the former and hide rugs the latter), the top rug is a premium example of what they excel at. Put very generally, you could say that customers head to Zollanvari for amazing colour and quality, Lapchi for beautiful texture and clever technique, Rug & Kilim for the best Scandinavian design kilims, Creative Matters for custom perfection, and to Tamarian, STARK and Ashley Stark Home for an interior designer’s classic dream-rug. Furthermore, the quality and understated elegance of Warp & Weft’s signature rug Veranda sums up the company’s identity.
The majority of the designs by Wool & Silk are done by joint owner and artist Erbil Tezcan, so it comes as no surprise that the selected rug, Strawberry Moon, has a very creative aesthetic with the layered use of ancient Asian writing and modern gra ti symbolism. The painterly rug movement that has been around over a decade is still important today, evidenced in the rugs of HRI, Nourison, Feizy and also French Accent’s mid-century modern inspired design. The perennial love of traditional rug patterns is well represented by New Moon and Lulu and Georgia, while Creative Touch’s long-term favourite Bosphorus design proves that with rugs, texture is, and always was, everything. In the first part of this series, we celebrated the 25-year anniversary of Samad’s ever-popular Jewel rug from the Golden Age collection by announcing that it is a company best-seller. Malcolm Samad is keen to point out that long-since its 1999 debut, ‘it is still programmed in seven colourways’, proving that when a classic design really works, it never goes out of style.
In the summing up of this collection of 21 best-sellers, I cannot help but notice that many of the longer-term popular designs follow the idea that blue and neutral colourways will always sell well in the US, while newer designs hint towards more recent interior looks, like the green colourway of S&H Rugs’ choice. But ultimately, these examples collectively demonstrate the amazing variety of innovative rugs our industry continues to produce.
Warp & Weft
Designed nearly 20 years ago, Veranda has withstood the test of time, becoming Warp & Weft’s signature rug. Himalayan wool, Indian mulberry silk and a ‘Swiss Wash’ finish elevate this minimal, timeless design.
Harounian Rugs International
Blues and neutrals are perennial favourite colours in the US, so it is perhaps no surprise that Rosewood RO-1275 Blue – Beige is a best-seller for HRI. This art-inspired design is hand-knotted in New Zealand wool and finely spun viscose which adds a 3D look.
Rug & Kilim
Of this winning design, Ori Wilbush of S&H Rugs says: ‘The balance of the green shades is perfect in this design. Being made out of pure silk also gives it another dimension, depth, sheen and vibrancy for the most desirable, luxury texture’.
Lulu and Georgia
The Kate rug by Lulu and Georgia is a traditional design with a durable, lowpile high-quality wool construction to o er timeless appeal. An eye-catching centerpiece for an interior that requires a deep earthy palette.
Jaipur Living
A recent best-seller for Jaipur Living is the Aposio APS02 rug from the First Light collection, which aims to create a serene atmosphere. The pastel palette and soft materials like wool, silk, and viscose evoke the feeling of summer sun.
STARK
Hand-knotted in natural fibres such as sunpat, nettle, linen and allo, STARK’s striking Akio rug is rich in texture and tones with a soft handle and earthy shades of sand, jasper quartz and warm ivory. A STARK winner!
