From loom to launch: A new era in rug design unfolds | Rug Report
Colorful and exotic new rug launches, a Rising Stars program and a preview of next month’s Cover Connect New York – all in this week’s Rug Report.
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Portugal’s Rug’Society has launched a new collection it calls Reflections of Earth, a curated selection of rugs inspired by the textures of landscapes, the rhythm of different cultures and the silent language of place.
“Each rug design is an abstraction—rooted in memory, movement, and geography,” a company spokesperson said. “They are visual journeys – maps of feeling and fragments of heritage, woven with artistic instinct and global perspective. For interiors that connect to the world, without leaving home.”
The collection includes:
The company has also launched a new rug collection that it created specifically not to match. The curated selection is about contrast, depth and presence.
“Whether abstract or figurative, each rug carries layered meaning built to spark imagination, stir emotion and ground bold interiors in something unforgettable,” a company spokesperson said.
The collection includes:
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Designer Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs has teamed up with rug and textile brand Loom & Co. for an exclusive collection of boldly patterned rugs.
For Gross, the collaboration solved a challenge she faced for years.
“As a designer, I’ve always struggled to find carpets with the kind of bold, joyful color my clients and I love,” she explained. “I’ve been a long-time customer of Loom & Co., and their quality is unmatched. This partnership gave us the opportunity to create rugs that are both sophisticated and fun- vibrant pieces for people who want to live joyfully and surround themselves with color.”
At Loom & Co., that shared passion for color is at the heart of the brand’s philosophy.
Co-founders Lissa Mitchell and Mckinsey Cavuoti recall how naturally the collaboration came together. “When Jenna Gross slid into our DM’s about working together, we were instantly excited,” they said. “The result is our most vibrant – and arguably happiest- collection yet, one that’s certain to make your home and your mood a hundred percent brighter. Honestly, it’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you see these rugs.”
The collection is available exclusively online at loomandco.com.
–By Lauren Roses
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The goal of luxury carpet and rug brand Stark‘s newly launched Stark Rising Stars Program is to champion the next generation of interior designers. The program offers one national winner $25,000 in funding and product credit, with regional winners also receiving cash prizes. Other prizes include mentorship opportunities with industry icons like Mark D. Sikes, Jay Jeffers and Marie Flanigan.
For the third-generation family members who are now running the company, CEO Chad Stark and Creative Director Ashley Stark Kenner, this program is deeply personal. “The program is designed to be a tribute to the generations before us, a thank you to the designers who’ve been integral to our company’s journey, and a way to support the creatives who will carry the design world forward,” they said.
Founded in 1938, the Stark family built the company on the desire to provide carpets and rugs of craftsmanship, quality and design, according to the family. The mission for the Rising Stars Program is to support emerging designers who embody the company’s legacy of excellence and innovation that align with the company’s core values which include key phrases such as: “Figure It Out,” “Next Level” and “Measure Twice, Cut Once.”
Judges include Ashley Stark, Andrew Torrey, Caitlin Kah, Francis Nicdao, Jamie Drake, Jake Jeffers, Kendall Wilkinson, Lucy Penfield, Marie Flanagan, Mark D. Sikes, Randy Kemper and Tony Ingrao. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31, and the award recipients will be announced this December. Interested designers can apply here.
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The 5th annual edition of Cover Connect New York returns next month with 45 high-end rug brands.
The show, which is sponsored by Cover magazine, will take place from Sept. 13-15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and The Altman Building, both located on West 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.
“While the market does not feel entirely predictable right now, we have reached a point when the sheer scope and richness of the rug industry is undeniable,” said Lucy Upward, Editor of Cover magazine.
Nine new brands join the 2025 show: Couristan, Kaleen, Olker Rugs, Outalux, Pacific Collection, Sattar Rugs, Service Buddy, The New England Collection and Via Star Rugs.
European companies Battilossi and Paulig return, along with Knots Rugs from the UK and many North American companies—such as Momeni, Rug & Kilim, Tamarian, Lapchi, Anadol Rugs, French Accents, New Moon, Samad Rugs, Harounian Rugs International (HRI), Harcourt Collection, Wool & Silk, Zollanvari and Sumaq Alpaca.
Cover Connect New York is open to buyers from area rug galleries, furniture retailers and department stores along with interior designers.
To encourage early visitor registration, the show is running a series of prize drawings beginning the week of Aug. 18. They include dinner for two at Aqua New York, a spa day at Bathhouse Flatiron, lunch for two at Nar and copies of Stephen Ellcock’s Book of Textiles: The Karun Thakar Collection.
– By Jennifer Marks
