Boutique Design | boutiquedesign.com

(September 2010) posted on Wed Nov 25, 2009

The Kashmir Collection and Common Threads Rug Collections

By Catherine Tandy

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Designtex has launched two lines, The Kashmir Collection, inspired by the mountainous region of Kashmir India, and the Common Threads Rug Collection, a philanthropic collaboration with ARZU Studio, a non-profit that creates jobs in poor rural villages, solely woven by Afghani women.

The designs of the Kashmir Collection are echoes and interpretations of motifs from a series of antique woodblocks collected by Designtex’s Vice President of Design, Kimberle Frost. The bold, repetitive patterns are produced with a durable cotton/polyester construction and treated with NANO-TEX to resist spills, rendering the fabrics ideal for hospitality applications.

“For this collection I explored different resources to meet a desired price-point without having to compromise aesthetic value,” explained Frost. “Through this exploration I was able to create a remarkably affordable collection.” The patterns include Bunta, Kalanga, Sari, Gujarat and Sarong which feature muted jewel-like colors like burgundy, navy and fuchsia.

The collaboration with ARZU is a remarkable one indeed which celebrates the centuries-old tradition of weaving for many Afghan families which enables women to care for their children while simultaneously earning wages. Each rug, woven withsymmetrical Turkish knots or asymmetrical Persian knots, can take up to a year to make. There are six designs: Unity, Prosperity, Connectivity, Humanity, Diversity and Relativity, each available in three colorways. The handspun wool comes from local sheep in Ghazni (central Afghanistan) and absorbs the natural dye in an uneven manner, creating variegated color, textures and an undeniable individuality. The looms are provided by ARZU which can accommodate rugs ranging from 2’ x 3’ to 12’ x 18’.