Designer partnerships result in several creative new collections | Rug Report
New rugs from Holly Hunt, Paola Lenti, Rugs USA and Gensler in collaboration with Ben Soleimani take center stage in this week’s Rug Report.
*******************
Holly Hunt is introducing a line of rugs, textiles and wall coverings developed in collaboration with French multidisciplinary artist Christian Astuguevieille.
Astuguevieille’s career spans fashion, fragrance, sculpture, and furniture design. Known for his bold linework and whimsical drawing style, he has extended his boundless creativity with this new collection.
Comprising six original designs, the collection draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of influences, spanning different eras, geographies, and civilizations. From an abstracted toile that hints at folklore to rhythmic, all-over motifs inspired by ceramics, the designs blur the boundary between object and artwork – an approach that has defined the artist’s decades-long practice, according to the company.
“This collection emerged from a long-standing creative dialogue with Christian,” said Jo Annah Kornak, Holly Hunt SVP and executive creative director. “At Holly Hunt, we seek unique, compelling designers to bring a distinct voice to our brand.”
The collection includes:
Les Villages – A modern interpretation of a toile pattern, Les Villages is a luxe velvet textile with hand-drawn imagery depicting bucolic country life. The sketches, which are original artworks by Astuguevieille, give the textile a whimsical elegance. Les Villages is available in four colorways.
Batons – A graphic wallcovering with a hand painted pattern by Astuguevieille. A unique interpretation of his drawings, the bold lines showcase his signature aesthetic as a statement design for rooms. Batons is available in seven colorways.
Village – A modern interpretation of a toile pattern, Village is an allover wallcovering with hand-drawn imagery depicting a lively village scene. The sketches are original artworks by Astuguevieille and create a whimsical and graphic backdrop in a room. Village is available in five colorways.
Inventaire – A sophisticated wallcovering with an allover pattern featuring charming pottery pieces, each one is hand-drawn by Astuguevieille. The bold lines and unqiue spaces reflect his signature aesthetic, a blend of playful and elegant, and create a backdrop that makes a statement in a room. Inventaire is available in two colorways.
Algues Rug – A rug that showcases Astuguevieille’s unique artistic sensibility, a synthesis of the organic and abstract, graphic and elegant. The free-form, hand-drawn design makes a modern statement and adds structure and focus to a room.
Losange Rug – A bold graphic rug that interprets Astuguevieille’s signature hand-drawn artwork, distinctive in its modern and abstract sensibility. The unique shapes and two-tone color palette make it a sophisticated piece of art for the floor in a variety of settings.
*************
At Milano Design Week 2025 this past spring, designer Paola Lenti expanded its rug collection with new designs conceived to harmonize the spaces of the home, both indoors and outdoors. Crafted with carefully selected natural and synthetic yarns, the company said these rugs are durable and easy to maintain.
Collections Dedalo, Nubi, and Field feature intricate compositions of signs, lines, and dots. Through variable stitching densities, each rug “expresses a different chromatic layering—a stratification of color that is never exactly the same,” a company spokesperson said.
Joy is a round design shaped by coiling and stitching a tubular knit with a soft, shaggy texture, and gently sculpted edges.
For outdoor spaces, new additions to the high-tech rugs collection showcase the brand’s signature yarns and geometric motifs, applied by hand. Ayla, Kilis, Wadi, and Asira are mats in natural tones, their texture recalling straw. Decorated with multicolored lines, knots, and lozenges, they echo symbolic patterns rooted in Mediterranean cultures.
Founded in 1994, Paola Lenti is renowned for the innovative twist it has given to design products and for its unmistakable interpretation of color.
************
Rugs USA has launched the Padma Lakshmi x Rugs USA collection which marks Lakshmi’s’s first foray into home design. The selection features 17 designs in various materials like luxe wool, multiple color options, and varying sizes.
From washable designs to timeless textures, the collection is a natural extension of Lakshmi’s values: comfort, authenticity, and effortless elegance.
“I travel a lot for my work. When I come home, it’s my sanctuary where I seek solace and comfort. It is where I want people to feel nurtured. These rugs help create that warmth and welcome,” said Lakshmi. “With this collection in particular, I wanted to have something for everyone, while making sure the rugs still have personality. I’m somebody who lives on the floor, so what’s under my feet really matters to me, and now I get to design that.”
Koorosh Yarahi, Rugs USA CEO, said the partnership celebrates Lakshmi’s refined personal style and Rugs USA’s passion for accessible design.
“Padma brings her global perspective and appreciation for craft and storytelling to this collaboration, both values that resonate with us at Rugs USA,” he said.
************
Designer Ben Soleimani has partnered with design firm Gensleron an exclusive hand-knotted collection.
“Every hand-knotted rug in this collection is a study in balance—between performance and beauty, innovation and tradition. It reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability and function at the highest level, without compromise,” said Soleimani.
For decades, Soleimani said he has been continuously pushing the boundaries of performance and innovation. He has created a performance fiber technology made from upcycled PET bottles that is virtually indistinguishable from natural wool, according to the company.
Soleimani said his approach to natural materials is equally uncompromising. His New Zealand wool is globally regarded not just for its superior quality and resilience, but for the humane, pasture-based care of the sheep that produce it, resulting in a more ethically rooted product.
“In the creation of this collection, we tapped into the global Gensler network in order to bring forth diverse design viewpoints including the modern, contemporary, organic, and industrial,” said Daniel Stromborg, Gensler product development design director. “Our goal was to infuse the collection with a range of sophisticated and memorable designs that would create rich layers of color and pattern to both commercial and residential spaces.”
