La Manufacture Cogolin’s new rugs: Q&A with Sarah Henry

Set to feature in the COVER 82 issue out this March, Managing Director of La Manufacture Cogolin & Tai Ping EMEA Sarah Henry provides the answers to all the questions we have about their new rugs

1. What was your immediate reaction in first seeing the new designs?

I’ve been looking at these designs for years, looking for the right time to use them. We didn’t select these two rugs when we launched the Jardins à la française collection by Henri Gonse back in 2014 because the designs are quite different from the others in the collection, but they are some of the strongest in the series, so we decided to present them now as an add-on to the collection.

The original gouache drawing for the Eyrignac rug is stunning, very painterly – which we really worked to translate into the rug design. The Chambord design delivers a strong graphic statement, especially when presented in contrasted colours. I’ve actually only seen it in black and white. We softened it a bit by using dark brown for the design and light beige for the ground, but it’s still quite graphic.

2.How do you think Chambord and Eyrignac successfully blend heritage with a modern sensibility?

Both designs are inspired by classic Savonnerie designs and formal French garden design, but they are surprisingly modern. They were designed in the 1930s, when designers like Henri Gonse or Christian Bérard were simplifying the details of classic patterns and breaking traditional Savonnerie codes, while still using them as inspiration. Designs like this are timeless and as relevant in 2026 as they were in 1936. 

3.What stands out to you in the motifs and colour choices?

I was inspired by the original colours of the renderings in our archives and adapted them a bit to be more rich and warm, to fit with an earthy winter colour palette that unites several different designs from our 1930’s archives that we have released over the last several months.

4.How effectively do the materials and textures convey craftsmanship and depth?

The materials and textures are as important as the designs of our rugs. We’ve produced the rugs in qualities that are very ‘Cogolin’, using our signature thick pile for the Eyrignac rug and a chunky loop for the Chambord rug, similar to the original qualities of the rugs when we first produced them in the mid-twentieth century.

La Manufacture Cogolin has a very unique approach to materials and textures, quite different from contemporary hand-knotted or hand-tufted rugs. We love high-quality wool and work with interesting yarns in order to add texture and depth to our rugs. 

5.Where do you see these rugs sitting within today’s interiors and design landscape?

These rugs can be used in anything from a classic design scheme, to modern or contemporary. It’s the advantage of timeless design.

You can find La Manufacture Cogolin’s Chambord and Eyrignac designs in our upcoming issue, COVER 82, as part of our New Rugs section. You can access the new magazine digitally from 6 March on Exact Editions, with physical copies dispatching slightly later in the month.

Q&A conducted by Libbi Kettle