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IN THE
SPOTLIGHT
ART AND BEAUTY Calling them just carpets and rugs doesn’t do them justice. The high degree of artisanal skill that goes into the products made by Luxury Carpet Studio approaches the level of art, and has won recognition from fashion houses, luxury hotels and megayacht owners by Micaela Zucconi - ph. Courtesy of Luxuru Carpet Studio
To side, two kinds of personalised artisan-made carpet for superyachts and cruise ships. The carpet in the middle is made using the “embossing” technique that enables the creation of a unique 3D effect. Hand-stitched cord weaves generate precious compositions for luxury outdoor spaces
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uality, creativity, vision, competence and experience
the design and moves on to a careful choice of materials, manufacture,
– but also skilful coordination and teamwork combi-
tests and certification (required for product safety, like the International
ned with flexibility and the ability to offer a product of
Fire Standard) and finally client services and logistics. “We deal with the
outstanding excellence. The Luxury Carpet Studio is
large fashion houses who choose us to help beautify their boutiques and
an Italian company that since 2012 has successfully occupied a special
showrooms. We have twelve on our books, to be joined by another three
market niche – rugs and carpets, almost always made-to-measure and
this year. Then there are the world’s most important shipyards with their
always with a rich artisanal input, for clients seeking a blend of refined
mega- and giga-yachts, private aircraft owners, large hotel chains like
aesthetics and unequalled functionality. The company’s founder and
Hyatt, Bulgari, Marriott and Sheraton, as well as residential complexes and
CEO is Vincenzo Solenne. It is based in the industrious town of Brianza,
prestige homes”. The choice of materials and manufacturing techniques
home to many other successful brands. Solenne already had a very clear
are crucial factors in meeting specifications and requirements - wool, silk,
idea of his future when he was a student of economic science at Naples
combinations of select materials along with dyed nylon solutions, and
– he wanted to become an entrepreneur. And that’s exactly how things
innovative recycled and recovered fibres with fantastic aesthetic potential.
worked out, after finishing a master’s degree in sales and management
Production is handled by workshops and ateliers in China and Hong Kong
at the IED in Milan then training in London and Hong Kong. He went
with a long tradition of artisanal production. In order to identify them and
on to join a company in Brianza producing fabrics and carpets, and this
forge an enduring collaboration Solenne used his previous experience in
experience proved to be decisive, as Solenne developed a passion for a
Asia and a great deal of travelling. The artisans are skilled in all the tech-
furnishing product that demands a profound knowledge of luxury fabrics
niques required by the company’s repertoire of products. These include
and the techniques required to process them. This led to the foundation
handtufting, (a technique combining the traditional mastery of fabric ma-
of the Luxury Carpet Studio, a company designing and manufacturing
king with modern technology), handknotting, handloom and Axminster
high quality rugs and carpets intended for refined, cultured settings
& Wilton (carpets with a very dense pile, with the yarn machine-woven
where the demand was for extra-luxury products combining innovation
into the carpet backing). These techniques have a high artisanal content
and tradition. The final result was a high-end brand of great excellence
and are often genuine made-to-measure works of art. “But always with a
manufacturing products based on long, painstaking development and
watchful eye on the environmental impact”. The brand’s current commit-
work. These products are available with personalised colours, dimen-
ment is to use over a period of a few years only natural materials, recycled
sions, textures and materials or as items from collections developed
fibres and non-polluting dyes, cutting waste and creating an ethically
in collaboration with designers and architects. The process starts from
responsible relationship with those working for us”. www.luxurycarpet.it
The brand’s experience in the sector enables it to select the finest yarn for the project, ensuring the highest international quality standards with prestigious luxury products that combine beauty, refinement, elegance, design and artistic value
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questions to Vincenzo Solenne CEO of Luxury Carpet Studio What imminent projects are you most excited about? There are three, mainly – converting part of our production into recycled products in line with the dynamics of the circular economy, opening a new branch in the UK and becoming world leader over the next three years in the megaand giga yacht markets. Which yacht-building yards do work with most frequently? Heesen Yachts, Sanlorenzo, Palumbo Group, ISA Yacht, Montecarlo Yachts, AB Yachts, CBI Navi, Maiora, Gulf Craft and Baglietto. Where do the raw materials you use come from? As well as the recycled materials, is it possible to source ethical materials of animal origin? It depends on the type of raw material – for example, the wool we use is premium quality from New Zealand, from monitored farms that emphasise animal welfare and responsible land management. These are prestigious, select materials, mainly of natural origin. What colours and patterns are the most popular? It varies on the basis of the project under consideration. For yachts it’s light, natural colours that are most in demand, while the fashion industry mostly looks for more accentuated colours. Clients in the more traditional hospitality sector demand colours that offer greater ease of maintenance and cleanliness. For residential projects, though, it depends on the architect the final client is collaborating with. As for patterns, 3D patterns are especially prized by yacht builders and their clients. Many mega-and gigayacht projects use this type of pattern, made using refined yarns like a woolsilk blend and 100% silk. Do you think carpets will also come back into fashion for furnishing home interiors? Can they become an artistic element, a vital part of the interior’s decorative concept? Furnishing home interiors with carpets is something we don’t often see in the Italian culture, but it’s more widespread in the other parts of the world we work with. I think carpets can make a comeback, thanks to the influence and artistic trends of other cultures. They certainly have the potential to become a key element in interior decoration.
Bottom, left. The Zen model from the Kyoto collection inspired by spirituality of Zen gardens. Bottom, right, rugs from the Outdoor collection, perfect for yachting lifestyle
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