When the Tal Family, started Designer Rugs out of a factory in Marrickville, NSW, it was their bold dream of creating hand-knotted rugs akin to artworks that propelled the endeavour into existence in 1986. Their vision resonated deeply with the design world and beyond, and soon after that, Designer Rugs was commissioned to create a carpet for St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne ahead of the Pope’s visit, followed by another prestigious project for Parliament House during the Queen’s Bicentennial visit.
Designer Rugs’ reputation for exquisite design and unparalleled craftsmanship soared – they weren’t just rug makers; they were creators and artists, weaving vibrant hues into the restrained interiors of the 80s and challenging norms with their bold, unconventional approach. This commitment to excellence led them to collaborate with Australia’s leading architects and creatives. From fashion designers to tapestry makers, jewellers to fine artists, Designer Rugs embraced diverse collaborations, pushing creative boundaries and shaping their hand-knotted collections in exhilarating ways.
Three decades on, this ethos still underpins Designer Rugs’ hand-made offering, with the dedication to artistry, premium materiality and the artistry of hand-tufting underpinning their exquisite practice. Made with a wide range of premium materials, their rugs pay homage to the enduring artistry of hand-weaving, a patient artform passed down through generations, and yielding stunning designs where time-honoured methods intertwine with contemporary design sensibilities.
The result is a range of high-quality hand-dyed wool rugs whose intricate patterns and subtle variations exude a sense of enduring elegance and uniquely personal quality. The recently released Kiruna Collection embodies this philosophy beautifully.
A tapestry of childhood memories and Scandinavian folklore
Made with Tibetan wool and bamboo silk, the hand-knotted Kiruna Collection marks Designer Rugs’ third collaboration with Anna-Carin McNamara, the visionary interior designer behind ANNA.CARIN who seamlessly blends Nordic aesthetics with Australian sensibilities.
Drawing inspiration from the nomadic tradition of storytelling through rugs, where myths and poems were woven into the fabric, the designer infuses her creations with personal narratives from her childhood, reimagined and abstracted through the craft of hand-weaving. In this collection with Designer Rugs, inspired by the rich heritage of the Sami people of northern Scandinavia she experienced during her childhood journey to Kiruna in Sweden, Anna-Carin creates a charming tapestry of precious memories and cultural motifs.
“In Australia, we have grown increasingly respectful of the First Nations peoples, recognising and appreciating their rich cultural heritage. This collection is my way of raising awareness about the Indigenous culture in my country,” explains Anna-Carin. “It’s my small attempt to respect, honour and bring some awareness to the existence of these semi-nomadic peoples.”
Drawing inspiration from Sami clothing, tools, and crafts, the designer reimagines these objects through a contemporary lens, creating visually captivating and culturally resonant rugs. Each rug translates an elusive childhood memory into the fabric of the design through an unpretentious design language that intentionally embraces inconsistent, child-like expression. Infused with the designer’s stories, the ambiguous shapes are transformed into symbols imbued with intricate and deeply personal meaning.
Nature: A thread of connection
At the same time, this sense of nostalgia and wonder is anchored by a powerful connection to nature – a theme that resonates throughout the designer’s work, and for good reason. “Every solution in design can be found in nature,” Anna-Carin enthuses. “What we aim to create in our homes is an echo of that deep, intrinsic connection we feel when immersed in nature. It’s about bringing that life force, that sense of belonging, into our living spaces.”
The designer encapsulates this life force in each rug by artistically augmenting specific objects or memories. “Knifer” (knife) is inspired by a small utensil with a reindeer horn handle, while “Fjell” (mountain) – by a carved wooden spoon. “This design references a little wooden ladle gifted to my brother Kalle,” the designer explains. “It included carvings in a diagonal uneven pattern that looked like mountain tops with little huts spilled over them.”
“Trewa” (tree) is based on a reindeer leather coin purse with an embroidery pattern resembling tree roots, and “Blom” (flower) is inspired by a doll dressed in traditional Sami clothing. “I was lucky enough to be gifted a little doll dressed in traditional Sami clothes, embroidered mittens, little fur boots with pointy upturns at the toe, a hat with ear flaps and bands of lace and ribbons,” Anna-Carin says. “Over her shoulders, she had a scarf with tassels and embroidered flowers, which is where I drew my inspiration for this design.”
Translating memories into floor art, together
To bring these deeply personal mementos to life in a tactile form, Anna-Carin and Designer Rugs embarked on a collaborative and creative process – although the designer admits that this creative partnership felt much more significant than that. “Working with Designer Rugs feels like being part of a tribe,” she smiles. “Shaun, Yosi, Lia, and the entire team are more than collaborators – they’re like family to me.”
Through a collaborative process, the team expertly translated Anna-Carin’s raw sketches into digital formats, opening up a world of possibilities for experimentation with shapes and colours. “There’s a natural rhythm to the patterns, a geometry that feels intuitive and deeply connected to the rhythms found in nature and within ourselves,” Anna-Carin explains. “This is where the Designer Rugs team comes in. With their expertise, we bring the designs to life, experimenting with different colours and materials to add that final layer of depth and richness.”
Designer Rugs’ diverse portfolio of hand-woven rugs, spanning styles from organic to geometric and floral to textural, showcases their unwavering commitment to artistic expression. At the same time, their collaborative approach and outstanding design capabilities empower designers like Anna-Carin to translate their unique visions into exquisite custom creations that transcend their existing collections. Finally, this stunning collection is a striking reminder that Designer Rugs isn’t simply a rug company – they’re careful listeners and dedicated storytellers who weave personal narratives, cultural motifs, and cherished memories into exquisite floor coverings that surpass the practical dimension of floor coverings.
Kiruna Collection
https://www.designerrugs.com.au/designer-collections/anna-carin/
Designer Rugs
www.designerrugs.com.au