Consumer demand for genuine artisan-produced goods is set to rise and remain a key trend in interior design throughout 2020.
The move towards interior products that are created with craftsmanship and skill goes hand in hand with consumer’s expectation that products are being created and sourced in an ethical and sustainable way; one company that meets both of these desires, Obeetee, is now responding to demand from UK designers and developers to bring its beautiful traditionally hand woven rugs to British establishments and is launching here for the first time this month.
With a heritage that spans almost 100 years, Obeetee is one of the biggest names in hand crafted rugs in both the US and India, sought after by an exclusive international clientele, including royalty and oligarchs, as well as grand hotels and government residencies all over the world, who often commission one-of-a-kind creations.
Its exclusive collections are created by its consort of 15,000 highly skilled artisans in the heartlands of India, which the company supports with ongoing community initiatives and training schemes.
Handcrafted creations include intricate hand loom, hand tufted and hand knotted carpets that offer stylish, contemporary floor coverings in a multitude of designs. As well as its popular Moroccan berbers and traditional and vintage styles, its range includes marled stripes, bold botanicals and abstract patterns. Rugs from exclusive collaborations with international design connoisseurs including Abraham and Thakore will also be available in the UK.
Large, specially commissioned pieces will be available directly from obeetee.com, and bespoke collections for the hospitality and contract sectors will also be created for designers and developers.
Angelique Dhama, Chief Marketing Officer for Obeetee, explains: “As a world-leading manufacturer of handwoven rugs, we’re delighted to be venturing into the UK market, which is home to some incredible establishments, some of which have become international institutions launching an exclusive range of premium Indian rugs handpicked for the British customer.
“Our distinguished range for the coming season pushes the boundaries of colour, texture and pattern to bring to life visual masterpieces that are set to become iconic amongst interiors enthusiasts.
“With a truly diverse aesthetic, inspiration is drawn from each individual designers’ surroundings, playing with disruptive settings to create patterns and designs that have become Obeetee trademarks.”
Manufactured exclusively in India using both traditional and modern production techniques, as well as the highest quality natural fibres, all products are hand finished to a superior standard to meet award-winning quality control measures.
“We are given a lot of freedom to play around with ideas and designs,” explains Angelique. “Most of the time we go crazy and we are not tied within specific boundaries. That’s what gives us the freedom to draw inspiration and derive harmony from different sources. It’s a great feeling to know your ideas, however quirky, will be reviewed with care.
“Inspiration can be drawn from everything. It all depends on a person’s mental state and eye for design, and how they are able to draw harmony from the noise they see and hear around them.”
Community Support
Angelique adds: “Our ethos is founded in quality craftsmanship and we are extremely proud of our impressive history. We are passionate about maintaining the time-served creative traditions used to produce our extraordinary woven carpets by our 15,000+ independent weavers across India. Our long-standing community support helps to keep traditional artisanal skills, handed down through generations,thriving in the local communities and villages where our workforce are based.
“In recent years we have developed the bespoke Women’s Weavers initiative, giving women in India the training and opportunities to create an independent income for them and their families, learning valuable skills required to create the iconic handcrafted carpets, and helping reshape the concept of the traditional female role in rural India.
“Our ethical values are also carried throughout the rug production process. Despite having one of the largest and most modern rug manufacturing facilities in the world, we strive to keep our eco footprint small by using locally sourced materials to fuel local factories and treating any residual output responsibly to create minimal impact on the local environment and communities in which we operate.”
For more information on the company’s history, vision and ethos, visit www.obeetee.com