Two Wins & Two Special Mentions @ GDA 2018

The prestigious German Design Awards 2018 were announced at the end of October 2017. Zollanvari International have won two Awards and two Special Mentions  for Best Product Design in the category of Home Textiles and Home Accessories. These double Wins/ Special Mentions are an affirmation of Zollanvari’s commitment to furthering the art of carpet design and weaving.

The aim of the German Design Award is to identify, present and honour unique design trends – a competition that advances the design scene. The German Design Council, the expert body for brand and design in Germany, grants the German Design Award, and is

one of the world’s leading authorities for communication and brand management in the field of design. The 45-strong expert jury apply stringent criteria in  their selection of the winning products that range from overall concept and design quality to utility, longevity and sustainability.

Tribal Maghrebi Zigorat Pelt 2: Winner

The innovation in the design of this carpet, one of three in the collection, is the fusion of three tribal traditions to create a contemporary look. The technique of Zigorat carpets with high pile and flatwoven (kelim) ends is combined with two design traditions: that of  Persian gabbehs – geometric motifs of squares and rhombuses that have been enlarged – and Berber rugs – animal pelt effects seen in weavings from the Rif mountains of Morocco.

Rapture 4: Winner

This pure silk carpet is the latest contemporary design from the multi award-winning Kundan Pure Silk® Collection made in India. The design concept embodies the company’s quest to create carpet art. The intention/inspiration was to simulate complex abstract paintings and patterns. What is innovative is the totally realistic recreation of brush strokes and colour crossovers. The carpet is executed in the most exquisite organic silks and overdyed with layers of translucent colour, creating a unique, multidimensional, shimmering texture.

Kyoto Art Deco 2: Special Mention

This is a Persian tribal rug that looks East to Japanese meisen kimonos with abstract and geometric designs – intricate and bold patterns in sophisticated colour combinations with complex ikat- like embellishments. This design, part of an extensive collection, is testimony to Zollanvari’s commitment to push the limits of contemporary designer-carpet weaving in Iran. Translating the meisen designs from woven silk to knotted wool was complex and convincing their weavers in Iran to learn how to achieve the complex, stippled colour blending – a novel departure from the tribal designs of southwest Persian gabbehs – proved a huge challenge. Art Deco 2 depicts ‘huge brush strokes, painterly marks, optical illusions, layering and 3D effects’ and is woven using the finest Persian highland wool – hand-carded, hand-spun and dyed using 100% natural dyes – from the Zagros Mountains in southern Iran.

Graffiti 2: Special Mention

According to Wikipedia, Graffiti ‘(plural of graffito) are writing or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or painted illicitly on a wall or other surface, often within public view’. The Zollanvari Graffiti line takes inspiration from ancient gabbehs, pile rugs traditionally used as bedding characterised by an abstract design that rely on playful geometry. In this carpet archaic gabbeh motifs have been transformed into a thoroughly contemporary bold design in a combination of cool pastel and zany vibrant colours. The effect is a totally on-trend carpet ideal for today’s interiors.