HIGH POINT — Rug importers at the recent High Point Market reported a notable rebound in business following the February removal of the 50% tariff on Indian goods, with many exhibitors citing stronger-than-expected traffic and renewed buyer confidence.
While uncertainty around global events and rising costs tempered expectations heading into the market, several vendors said the early days, particularly Thursday and Friday, proved unexpectedly busy, signaling a shift in momentum.
That renewed optimism was matched by a noticeable evolution in product, with exhibitors leaning into texture, pattern and customization while also highlighting craftsmanship and heritage.
Australian-based Armadillo showed for the second time in High Point at the 313.Space. The brand introduced its new Linea collection that marks the brand’s first foray into patterned rugs, featuring hand-knotted, Persian-inspired designs with a minimalist, contemporary twist.
Cappadocia Rugs, a fourth-generation family rugmaker from Turkey, showed for the third time at the Suites for Market Square. The vertically integrated company remains closely connected to its production source, providing a direct link between hundreds of artisans and the finished product. Each rug is hand-knotted using wool and natural dyes.
The company showed several new rugs this market, including the Antalya rug, a refined interpretation of Oushak design with a softer palette and low pile, and the Pure Luxe design that offers a more sculptural surface.
The Loloi showroom in the International Home Furnishings Center featured a harpist and clarinetist to provide soft background music for marketgoers. The company’s new Rifle Paper Co. x Loloi collections, called Eden and Courtyard, use what it calls CloudPile technology for a plush, “buttery soft” feel. Rifle Paper is known for its detailed floral work.
Loloi’s new Winchester collection is power-loomed of 100% polyester pile and is noted for rich colors that blend traditional, abstract and floral motifs in what one reviewer from Sphere Trending called an “understated departure from expected neutrals.”
Getting back to its roots and showing the company’s soul, art and history took center stage for Jaipur Living at the C&D Building, according to Chief Marketing and Digital Officer Zoe Glade, who said the reaction had been very positive to the company’s new True Hue collection that is handloomed with 100% New Zealand.
“It’s dense, velvety pile feels exceptionally soft underfoot, while a luminous wool sheen gives the surface a polished glow,” Glade said. “From different angles, the rug reveals pronounced tonal dimension, creating a refined foundation with tactile depth and elevated simplicity.”
The company’s new Iconic collection is a series of modern, hand-tufted rugs featuring bold, abstract designs and irregular, sculptural shapes. The rugs are crafted in India from a luxurious blend of New Zealand wool and silky viscose, which creates a “shimmering” finish with high-low textures. Many rugs in the collection, such as the Sabah and Hokona rugs, feature unique geometric motifs and non-traditional, irregular silhouettes that serve as a focal point in a room.
The first Cover Connect Pop Up in High Point showed at the Centers of High Point|Russell building and featured a selection of six high-end rug brands, including Tamarian, Creative Matters, Anadol Rugs, Wool & Silk, Samad and Label Step.
“We believe it’s important to educate consumers about the story behind the rug,” said Creative Matters Managing Partner Ali McMurter. “From the sheep shearing to the yarn spinning and dyeing, to the hand weaving and finishing, once consumers learn how handmade rugs are made, they are more likely to understand the higher pricing points.”
The Momeni showroom in the IHFC was awash in color with the new Tigris, Milano, Figaro, Cove, Axle and Reed collections. The company’s new Alfresco collection, made in India from PET, reveals beautiful themes including swans on a lake, puffy white clouds and butterflies.
The new Novogratz x Momeni Icon collection offers a vibrant color palette and a vintage-inspired flair, with each rug crafted from 100% durable polypropylene to allow for both indoor and outdoor use.
Taking center stage in the Nourison Home showroom near Interhall was the Ravello collection. This Persian-inspired rug is hand-loomed with high-low detailing that adds a subtle sense of depth.
Designers lined up to find out more about Nourison Home’s Reserve Custom Studio. Originally launched in 2022, the high-end custom rugs are available in 500 colors and 300 designs.
“The new state-of-the-art technology offers designers an instant view of what the custom rug will look like,” said Feryal Rehman, the company’s vice president of marketing. “And the number of colors and designs to choose from offers almost limitless possibilities.”
Showing in IHFC, Jaunty Rugs offered 70 new rugs this market, while Harounian Rugs International (HRI) showed six new collections that each offer three to four designs and come in four to five sizes.
HRI’s new Eden collection blends traditional and transitional motifs that undergo a specialized washing process that softens the pattern and tones, creating faded variations.
“This treatment gives every rug a unique character while enhancing durability,” said Diana Samuels, HRI director of operations.
For its part, Jaunty’s new Rio collection received positive reactions, including the Rio Green rug for its unique aesthetic and machine-tufted textures and the Rio Celeste, which features a dimensional loop pattern in various neutrals.
With tariff pressures easing and buyers returning, exhibitors said they were leaving High Point with a clearer sense that the rug industry is regaining its footing.
