Hanover, Germany – Handmade carpets – whether traditional, modern or antique – add charm and a touch of luxury to the home. The sheer diversity of materials, patterns and colours available is a source of inspiration for new product designs and collections. DOMOTEX in Hannover, Germany, which runs from 17 to 20 January 2015, will span both traditional and modern carpet design to offer the world’s biggest display of handmade carpets.
Exclusive carpet designs star in Hall 17
New concept for the Carpet Design Awards
International jury of experts selects the Award winners
The elite of the carpet design community roll out their best creations
Designers are creating some excitingly modern, original and even futuristic designs that contrast beautifully with the fresh, minimalist style that prevails in modern homes. However there is still keen demand for new interpretations of traditional patterns. Hall 17 of the Hannover venue will be occupied by the elite of carpet design, including Floor to Heaven, Jan Kath Design, Makalu, Obetee, Reuber Henning, Hossein Rezvani, Rug Star, Wool & Silk Rugs and Zollanvari. They will be joined by new suppliers in this display segment – for example, Ayka, Chevalier and New Moon – all keen to prove their expertise.
Carpet Design Awards now with Innovations@DOMOTEX
For the past ten years, the best and most original artisan carpets have been celebrated by the internationally renowned competition Carpet Design Awards. Now, in line with a new concept that takes effect as from DOMOTEX 2015, Carpet Design Awards will be featured together with Innovations@DOMOTEX in Hall 17 to create a hub for new, interestingly designed handmade carpets. Bringing these two events together under one roof will offer exhibitors additional opportunities for the presentation of their products and for communicating the quality of these products to a trade audience. Quality and innovativeness will become an even more striking focal point.
Jury member top designer Michael Sodeau
The jury of international professionals from the design community and the carpet industry select the three best products on the basis of eight criteria: design, design concept, materials, realization and production, structure, quality, sustainability and brand identity. Chairman of the jury is Michael Sodeau of the Michael Sodeau Partnership. Top designer and Londoner, Sodeau is a winner of the Red Dot Award. The jury also includes Jochen Ehresmann, carpet specialist from the famous Munich furnishing store Böhmler, the American author and design journalist Linda O’Keeffe, who also writes for the New York Observer, and Michael Pourvakil from Weavers Art, Toronto. Pourvakil is one of the leading pundits in Canada’s carpet industry and boasts specialist knowledge of dealers in high-quality handmade carpets. The final jury member is the design and lifestyle expert Ross Urwin, founder and creative director of Infrastructure in Hong Kong. The 24 carpets of the finalists will be exhibited in a special section of Innovations@DOMOTEX area in Hall 17. The winners of each category will receive their award during DOMOTEX on Sunday, 18 January 2015.
Traditional carpets for sophisticated homes
At DOMOTEX exhibitors encounter keen interest in the historic patterns of traditional Oriental carpets. In fact, handmade Oriental carpets are currently experiencing a renaissance. The characteristically intricate patterns and warm colour palette are back in fashion. These masterpieces of craft and design not only match antique furniture – they can also look perfect set against traditional or highly modern furnishings and interior styles. Traditional carpet designs dominate in halls 15 and 16, while antique carpets will be showcased in Hall 14. They all have their own unique history and are appreciated as beautiful and precious works of art that fit well into contemporary home interiors. In short, trade visitors can look forward to an amazing array of rare and precious handcrafted items.
Source: DOMOTEX