fall 2020 final cover.qxp_001 FALL 2006.qxd 8/26/20 3:08 PM Page 1 AREA Fall 2020 High Point Market I.H.F.C. #D-329 October 13-21, 2020 FINE ARTISANAL HANDCRAFTED RUGS HIGH POINT OCTOBER 13 - 21* IHFC, G-369 *CLOSED SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 ATLANTA LAS VEGAS NEW YORK HIGH POINT KALATY.COM The Reddington Collection To fi nd your local sales rep, feizy.com please call 800.779.0877 @feizyrugs EXCLUSIVELY RUGS. BY DESIGN. HIGH POINT | LAS VEGAS | NEW YORK | OWRUGS.COM ® High Point Market October 13 - 21, 2020 IHFC B uilding, H407 Indoor/Outdoor by Market Square Tower, 110A Harounian Rugs International 700 Collection S7-01 Cream/Gey | Sunbrella® is a registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc. Sunbrella performance is built-in Stain Resistant – Stain resistance is integrated into Sunbrella yarns, so our rugs sustain lasting protection against spills and messes. These rugs are pet friendly and children friendly. Fade Resistant – We make sure our beautifully rich colors stay that way by solution dyeing Sunbrella fibers with color and UV stabilized pigments. Other yarns that are piece-dyed add color at the yarn level which can fade over time. HRI stands behind our Sunbrella Rugs with the most comprehensive warranty in the 5 Industry as the only performance brand to YEAR guarantee against loss of color and strength. LIMITED WARRANTY www.hrirugs.com [email protected] 800-682-3330 fall 2020 final final.qxp_001 FALL 2006.qxd 8/26/20 2:57 PM Page 6 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK To my dear colleagues, These are indeed very trying times. While the pan- ensure that all of their buildings achieve and main- demic has affected everyone worldwide, here in the tain the highest possible level of cleanliness and san- United States much of our population has been itation to ensure the health and safety of exhibitors, forced to make dramatic changes to their lives and buyers and staff. As a result, IMC buildings can now livelihoods in response. The effect safely open for business while on our industry is that many retail- addressing customer concerns. ers have been forced to make the ORIA member companies difficult decision to lay off have also taken extra measures to employees and reduce their work- help their retail customers ‘weather forces. the storm.’ Many of these are As mandated lockdowns went described in this issue’s merchan- into effect across the country, dising article, starting on page 42. retailers scrambled to initiate Remember: we are all in strategies designed to bolster sales, this TOGETHER! such as beefing up their online One lesson I have learned presence and deploying new tech- from our current situation is not to nologies to improve the buying take certain things for granted. The experience for their customers. Their focus now is to shutdown, in particular, has given me time to reflect be wherever their customers are—whether that be upon my priorities—both personal and professional. online, in-store or on social media. As we continue to navigate these uncertain times we The ORIA and the International Market Center have an opportunity to look at how we conduct our (IMC) have been working vigorously, too. The IMC lives and consider whether there are better or more has enacted several measures to help exhibitors and effective ways to achieve our goals. And let’s do buyers during this uncertain and unprecedented time. what we can to maintain a positive attitude, invent These include rent suspension and rent rebate pack- our “New Normal” and get “Back to Business” better ages for tenants during certain months. They have and stronger than ever! also assembled a team of health and safety experts to Be Well and Stay Safe. Kami Navid President - Oriental Rug Importers Association, Inc. 6 Fall 2020 fall 2020 final final.qxp_001 FALL 2006.qxd 8/26/20 2:57 PM Page 7 Fall APublished by REAthe Oriental Rug Importers Association, Inc. 400 Tenafly Rd., #699, Tenafly NJ 07670 • 201-866-5054 •www.oria.org President Kami Navid Vice-President Hari Tummala Treasurer Behrooz Hakimian Secretary Michael Riley Executive Director Lucille Laufer AREA Advisory Reza Momeni, Chrm. Committee Dennis Dilmaghani Editor-Emeritus Archie Cherkezian Editor-in-Chief Lucille Laufer Editor Sally James Contributing Author Alix Perrachon Contributing Author Carol Milano Contributing Author Ellyne Raeuber 26 Production Artistic Color Graphics 6 From the President’s Desk 34 History & Heritage The Carpet And The Connoisseur, Revisited 14 In the News 42 Merchandising New Products Gallery 15 Extraordinary Measures For Extraordinary Times 18 Market Preview 46 Directory October High Point Events 25 Calendar & Index to Advertisers Cover: An elegant textural ivory ground carpet featuring an interlocking geometric motif—whose mocha hues echo the 26 Design Focus: Ray Booth furnishings’ wood trim—brings richness and warmth to this contemporary space. Photography by Pieter Estersohn. ”The Rug Is The Foundation” Courtesy of McAlpine. Material submitted for publication will not be returned unless specifically requested. No article shall be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the Oriental Rug Importers Association, Inc. Subscription price (for the trade only) is $30 for one year and $40 for two years in the United States. In Canada and Mexico the price is $35 for one year. The price for all other countries outside the U.S. is $60 for one year, payable by check drawn on a U.S. bank. Remittance must be attached to subscription order. Individual copies are available at $10 per issue. AREA 7 LIVE BEAUTIFULLY. style: Botan Multi LAS VEGAS | HIGH POINT | 800.845.8877 | karastanrugs.com introducing the momeni basics collection momeni.com Your resource for ne hand-woven rugs (201) 863-8888 www.teppteamusa.com CAPEL2020 RUGS TexpressionsAdventures in Texture WWW.CAPELRUGS.COM | 800-334-3711 fall 2020 final final.qxp_001 FALL 2006.qxd 8/26/20 2:57 PM Page 12 FROM ORIA HQ The ORIA reports with deep rugs. The company was a sadness the passing of long-time member of The Babak Aziz who succumbed Oriental Rug Importers after a year long battle with Association (ORIA). cancer on June 4, 2020. Friends and family Born in Tehran in describe Babak as ener- February 1966 to Ebrahim getic, loving and full of Aziz and his wife Malih, Babak (Bob) Aziz fun. In a tribute to Babak Babak was introduced at an 1966-2020 by his sister-in-law Melody early age to the rug busi- Zar Aziz, she remembers, ness. His father owned a “You loved life. thriving rug export business in partnership with Everything about it. You always knew how to his four brothers. Founded in the 1960’s, Aziz have a good time. [You] always made the most Bros. had offices in both Tehran and New York. out of every day. You also never gave up. Not Babak’s father and two brothers managed the even in your final days.” Tehran offices where Babak spent his summers. Known for his warmth and humor, In 1979, when revolution in Iran forced Babak was a cherished friend and devoted the Shah into exile, the family resettled in Great uncle. Although he had no children of his own, Neck, New York. Babak’s father continued his he loved spending time with his niece and partnership at Aziz Brothers. Meanwhile, Babak nephews and those of his friends. attended Great Neck High School and went on Bazmeh Davoudian Liviem, wife of a to study business at SUNY in Stony Brook, NY. close friends, remembers his wonderful love of Subsequently, upon the dissolution of children, “You delighted in my kids’ lives like the company, Babak, his father and brothers you did so many children of your friends and established a new company, Ebrahim Aziz & family. You were my kids’ “bonus uncle.” Sons. Founded in 1986, the company enjoyed Babak is survived by his brothers succes as an importer in the US specializing in Bijan, Bahman, Bhram and Behrouz, two sis- handknotted rugs from India, China and ters-in-law, four nephews and one niece. He will Pakistan as well as a limited business in Persian be missed. 12 Fall 2020 fall 2020 final final.qxp_001 FALL 2006.qxd 8/26/20 2:57 PM Page 14 IN THE NEWS product JAIPUR LIVING is introducing a stunning new col- NOURISON is pleased to announce two recent lection with Australia-based designer Jenny Jones. appointments to their growing hospitality division. Reconnext by Jenny Jones features seven designs Geri Cymbalsky has joined the company as Director across nine rugs—each with its own fascinating back of Hospitality Brand & story. The launch went live on the Jaipur Living web- Product Development, site in September as part of its autumn launch of 44 reporting to Jonny Persian hand-knotted rugs. They join other recent Peykar, VP Hospitality. introductions including a trio of exquisite collections In this newly created with design icon Barclay Butera. Brentwood, Malibu, position, Cymbalsky will and Newport are named for the prominent neighbor- have responsibility for hoods in California and designed specifically to com- directing manufacturing plement Butera’s relaxed, yet sophisticated furniture and sourcing capabilities line Barclay Butera for Lexington Home Brands. in both broadloom and Geri Cymbalsky “Jaipur Living has been a dream to work area rugs. She will have with,” Butera said. “From the product development additional responsibility process to the final product, our collaboration has for overseeing brand resulted in a magnificent collection of rugs that will standards program devel- work seamlessly with my Lexington Home Brands opment with major lodg- Collections,” Butera said. For more about these col- ing brands. lections and more, visit the Jaipur Living website.