Fashion For Your floor

If it were ever possible for the world’s top fashion designers to forsake the catwalk entirely, you’d almost certainly find them in their other incarnation: creating unforgettable collections that you can walk on, for famed international home-ware brand, The Rug Company. The globe’s leading name in contemporary hand-made rugs, The Rug Company has collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned creative visionaries; including fashion luminaries such as Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenberg, Rodarte and the late, great Alexander McQueen. Combining traditional weaving techniques with innovative design skill and fashion flair, what results are unique, collectable pieces that are both exquisite and resilient. Think Haute Couture for alongside your wardrobe, not in it!

Incorporating the creative vision of a small, careful selection world-class fashion designers, The Rug Company works closely with this group of creative thinkers to form distinctive pieces that capture the essence of each designer whilst maintaining the traditional rug artisanship for which The Rug Company is renowned.

“We’re fortunate that the quality and craftsmanship of our rugs are so appealing that the most illustrious designers are happy to put their designs on something that will be around for a long time,” says Christopher Sharp, CEO and co-founder of The Rug Company.

One of the very first fashion designers who contributed to The Rug Company’s designer collections was Paul Smith, who still remains associated with the company today. Smith celebrated his 15th year in collaboration with The Rug Company in September 2015 at the London Design Festival where he showcased a preview of his latest collection. Smith is best known for his classic British style with a twist, his idiosyncratic designs are both sophisticated yet playful and translate beautifully and effortlessly into rug designs.

​LOVE Wall Hanging by Paul Smith for The Rug Company 1.00 by 1.00m/ 3’3″ x 3’3″ R27 230

The Rug Company has since partnered with other notable fashion designers like Vivienne Westwood, one of Britain’s most admired fashionicons. Westwood is best known for her punk rock attitude and collections that are cutting edge yet classic. In 2005, her British Flag motif sold out in just a couple of days.

Magnolia Black by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company
Hand knotted Tibetan wool
2.74×1.83m R104 275 or R20 796/m2

Diane von Furstenberg, famed for her iconic wrap dresses, is another fashion designer who collaborates with The Rug Company. Her Climbing Leopard in emerald green remains one of the company’s top sellers.

Climbing Leopard by Diane Von Furstenberg for The Rug Company
Hand knotted silk
2.74×1.83m R217 617 or R43 400/m2

Before his untimely death in 2010, The Rug Company was given the rare opportunity of working with Alexander McQueen. It took three years to produce his magnificent collection, which features hand-woven motifs of feathers, skulls and hummingbirds.

Skull Black Cushion by Alexander McQueen for The Rug Company
Hand woven wool aubusson
56x56cm R10 850

Military Brocade by Alexander McQueen for The Rug Company
Hand knotted wool and raised silk
2.74×1.83m R217 617 or R43 400/m2

Using Tibetan wool, silk and mohair, The Rug Company’s rugs are made by hand in Nepal. The love for craftsmanship, superior quality and excellent service is the winning formula that has enabled the company to establish itself as a leading name in hand-made rugs and continue to attract the attention of the fashion world.

Since its inception in London in 2007, the company has expanded worldwide and opened showrooms in thirteen countries. The most recent of these is the spectacular Cape Town showroom on bustling Bree Street, which opened in April 2015.

Along with an immense array of rugs that cater to all aesthetic sensibilities, The Rug Company encourages its customers to explore the endless possibilities of rug design through the Bespoke Service it offers. Both, the designer collections and in-house designs are available in different textures, colours and sizes and can be custom made to suit individual requirements. An excellent opportunity to add originality along with a fashionable flair to interiors!

To view some of these designer pieces, visit The Rug Company’s Bree Street Showroom.