Category archives: Challenges & advice
A Breath of Fresh Air
Photographer Wesley Vorster took these beautiful pictures of interior designer Temi Stallings’ stand at Decorex Cape Town. Temi used our luxurious long-pile Shamshi rug as well as a Fibre Designs wool and silk design rug to give her interpretation of the theme “A breath of fresh air”.
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Highlights from Domotex 2010
Keeping his eyes on rug developments and trends throughout the world, Pierre Antoine says that designer Ulf Moritz is spot on with his predictions for the 2010/2011 season.
Moritz presented a talk on floorware trends at the recent Domotex fair in Hanover, Germany. He believes AUTHENTIC, DRAMATIC, DECORATIVE and EXCLUSIVE are the four keynote trends that will stand out in the 2010/2011 season.
“AUTHENTIC best describes carpets made of natural materials featuring organic structures that appear almost handcrafted.
DRAMATIC. This avant-garde look, which is strongly influenced by fashion and lifestyle trends, make a big, almost emotional impact on the viewer.
No less eye-catching, but more romantic, are the carpet designs representing the DECORATIVE trend, which translated appealing, imaginative patterns based on romantic and folklorist influences in a distinctive and original style idiom.
As the name suggests, the EXCLUSIVE design trend is the display category for top quality to luxurious traditional carpets featuring classic patterns, value and timeless quality.”
Another presentation by architect and designer Hadi Teherani, from Hamburg, also got us thinking. “Teherani believes that the fifth architectural façade is no longer the roof, but rather a plane which is much closer to the people: the floor,” says Pierre.
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Fight Those Festive Flops
You have organised the perfect party. Your guests are nibbling away at the scrumptious bites you prepared while enjoying a glass of wine from the Cape winelands. Aaah, there is nothing like a good festive get-together….until someone spoils wine all over your favourite Fibre Designs rug.
Fight those festive flops by taking the appropriate action. Listed below is a general spot removal procedure. If the origin of the spot is unknown, begin with step 1. If the origin of the spot is known begin at the appropriate step allocated in the list.
Never use a circular motion to remove a spot as this destroys texture. The final step should always be to rinse with clear water, blot dry and to put white paper towels over the damp area. Put a brick, or suitable weight object on the pad of towels to keep the pad in contact with the carpet. This allows any stain wicking up from the backing to go into the towels rather than remain on the carpet surface. Allow to dry, remove the brick and towels and brush up the pile.
List of Steps
Step 1: Unknown and greasy spots.
Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife. Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Stop if the spot is removed. If not, go to step 3.
Step 2: Water based spots.
Blot up as much of the spill as is possible. A wet vacuum is useful if a large quantity of liquid was spilled. If the spot has dried, saturate the tufts in the affected area with tap water (do not over wet). Allow to remain for about 1 minute and blot. If you are removing the spot with water, continue until the spot is completely removed. Blot dry and apply the paper towels. If it is not completely removed go to step 3.
Step 3:
Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife. Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If the spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed. Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture, spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and allow to dry.
If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for one (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.
A. Blood, ketchup, cheese, chocolate, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soft drinks, soy sauce, starch, toothpaste, water color and white glue.
Blot with white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution. Saturate spot using spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing begin with step 3 of general procedure. All solutions for removing blood must be cool.
B. Beer, coffee, perfume, tea and wine.
Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with the white vinegar solution. Saturate spot, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture. After neutralizing go to step 3 of general procedure.
C. Egg, excrement, urine and vomit.
Remove as much of the stain as possible by using a spoon or dull knife. Blot up as much of the stain as possible, then neutralize by spraying the affected area with the ammonia solution. Care should be taken to remove all protein matter. Blot to remove excess moisture and go to step 3 of general procedure.
D. Candle wax or other types of wax.
Spread brown paper (such as grocery bag) or a terry cloth towel over the area and iron with the setting on “warm.” The wax will be absorbed into the paper or towel. Remove any traces with alcohol or dry cleaning fluid.
E. Chewing gum.
Freeze the gum using an ice cube. Shatter the frozen gum with a knife handle and vacuum. Some citrus based products have been demonstrated to break down the stickiness of gum so that it can be removed.
H. Nail Polish.
Remove as much of the nail polish as possible using a spoon or dull knife. Apply a non oily nail polish remover to a clean white cloth and gently rub (in only one direction at a time) or blot the spot. Continue until spot is removed. Do not allow nail polish remover to get to the latex backing. Go to step 3 to remove nail polish remover.
I. Soot, graphite, copier material.
Vacuum using crevice tool of vacuum cleaner to remove the soot. If all, or most, of the soot has not been removed, call a professional cleaner. If vacuuming has removed all particles go to step 1 of general procedure to remove any traces.
Stains That Can’t Be Removed
Acid toilet bowl cleaners, acne medication, alkaline drain cleaners, chlorinated bleaches, hair dyes, iodine, insecticides, mustard with tumeric, plant fertilizers and stains of this nature cannot be removed as they have permanently altered the carpet’s color.
If in doubt, call Antoine Persian Carpet Cleaning & Restoration Studio at 021 418 1054.
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Colour your world
Choosing the right colour for your Fibre Designs bespoke hand-woven rug plays a vital part in creating the specific mood that you’ve chosen to live with. It evokes emotion and stimulates the senses.
To help you choose your colour consult our ARS Wool Colour System or alternatively the Pantone Colour Reference System. You will be able to write down the relevant colour code to easily refer to the colour you have chosen for your rug.
Click here to access the ARS Wool Colour System.
Click here to access the Pantome Colour Reference System.
Use this guide to assist your colour selection and specification process. This chart is a reference guide only. The  colours on computer screens may vary slightly based on the graphics card and monitor used in your system. For true accuracy, it’s ideal to use the Pantone Colour Publication or ARS Wool Colour System.
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Detour Ahead
Getting to Fibre Designs might prove to be a bit more difficult than usual. The construction work at the new Cape Quarter extension has led to the closure of part of Dixon Street, which will only re-open in November.
In addition to this, Jarvis Street is also undergoing an exciting revamp. Soon you will be walking on a cobbled Jarvis Street. The street has been divided into two sections. Whilst the one section is being cobbled the other will be open to traffic. However, there is no space available for parking.
Some parking is available on upper Dixon Street though. Give us a call if you are planning on dropping off any rugs for restoration or cleaning. We will gladly meet you outside to collect the rugs from your vehicle.
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Li Edelkoort inspires Cape Town
International trend researcher Li Edelkoort recently visited Cape Town during which she addressed delegates of the Design Indaba Conference and Exhibition. The Dutch-born Edelkoort is a consultant to many brands from around the world, amongst others Philips Electronics, Nissan, Virgin and Estée Lauder.
She was also named one of the world’s “25 Most Influential People in Fashion” by Time magazine.
We decided to match up some of our lovely rugs with what Edelkoort has identified as the trends for Summer 2010.
“evanescent elegance – dressing in clouds”
One can disappear amongst the millions of soft and luxurious yarns of this metallic super waves rug.
“tachistic energy – dressing in stains”
This vibrant hemp bast fibre rug has a worn-out look with a touch or red energy.
“watercoloured florals – basics as botanicals”
Although not a strictly floral design, this Wool Tight Loop rug looks like a vast green field.
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Ten commandments of good design
Earlier this year myself and Pierre had the privilege of working with the students of the Design Time School in Observatory on a rug project. Each student had to design and manufacture a rug that is not only functional but also sensitive to the environment. We were amazed by what the students had come up with. (Be sure to keep an eye on our blog next year for more information on this.)
All the students’ hard work were just recently exhibited at their year-end function at the Baxter Theater. Pierre was the guest speaker for the event and touched on, amongst others, the need for industry to work closely with students, a creative bunch, particularly in times like our present economic environment.
“Innovation in product design is of the utmost importance in times when retail is down. There is a definite need for dialogue and a very close relationship between industry and educational houses,” says Pierre. “Students provide innovative ideas whilst industry provides street knowledge and direct market feedback.”
Pierre referred to the ten commandments of good design by Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer which I would like to share with you:
1. Good design is innovative. It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty just for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all of a product’s functions. Current technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.
2. Good design makes a product useful. The product is bought or used in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimize the utility of a product’s usability.
3. Good design is aesthetic. The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.
4. Good design helps us to understand product. It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self explanatory.
5. Good design is unobtrusive. Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.
6. Good design is honest. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.
7. Good design has longevity. It does not follow trends that become outdated after a short time. Well designed products differ significantly from short-lived trivial products in today’s throwaway society.
8. Good design is consequent to the last detail. Nothing must be arbitrary. Thoroughness and accuracy in the design process shows respect toward the user.
9. Good design is concerned with the environment. Design must make contributions toward a stable environment and sensible raw material situation. This does not only include actual pollution, but also visual pollution and destruction of our environment.
10. Good design is as little design as possible. Less is better, because it concentrates on the essential aspects and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
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