THE RUG COMPANY DATES TO 1997, BUT THE STORY
begins with a reconnaissance trip the Sharps took to Nepal
when they were trying to create a rug business. “We found this
legendary weaver who never once talked business, only about
the process of rug making, and how some people were okay
using brittle wool but he never would, praising the work of a
certain wool carver,” Suzanne remembers. “We thought he was
going to be thrilled to work with us, this young couple interested
in the same quality as he was, but we gave him our card and
waited and waited.” Christopher continues, “Finally, a month or
so later, he said okay. He had needed to check with his Lama,
and when he finally went out to see him, his Lama held our card
and told him, ‘This is the best thing that will ever happen to you.’”
By all accounts that Lama was right, and The Rug Company
today employs some 200 people in Nepal. “We believe that
‘trade, not aid’ is the best way to help people,” says Christopher.
“Give them skills and a living, and that act of empowerment will
help a community exponentially, benefiting four or five people
for every one worker.”
“Nepal has an open work border with India,” he continues.
“Previously there was a good textile industry in Nepal, but now
that’s all gone to China, creating a fragile economy. People
assume manufacturing in the developing world is not good,
but when it’s done right, and we are committed to that, it’s the
best way you can support people. We try to give our weavers
a consistent workflow. We found a clinic in Kathmandu where
they can have inoculations, and they’ve all visited New York
or London. We’re part of RugMark [the organization that fights
against child labor in the industry], but even that isn’t enough,
because there’s a cultural difference, and some Nepalese
believe that giving a kid a trade is better than having nothing. So
we have an external guy do surprise visits and assess conditions
and lighting, just to make sure we’re doing all we can for our
team.”
The Rug Company offers a wide array of contemporary
designs and custom pieces, working with celebrated designers
such as Kelly Wearstler, Allegra Hicks, David Rockwell, Martyn
Lawrence-Bullard and Tom Dixon, who push the boundaries of
rug design. Both Christopher and Suzanne have a keen interest
in contemporary art, which also informs their vision. “I’ve always
loved that quotation, ‘Don’t look back, it’s not where you’re
going,’” says Suzanne of her team’s design philosophy.
