Turkish rugs: STEPEVI adds a contemporary twist
When it comes to high-quality, handwoven and hand-tufted carpets and rugs, it is pretty hard to beat the Turkish brand STEPEVI. The art of handweaving and hand-tufting rugs and carpets is a fundamental part of Turkish culture. Nobody can pin down the exact beginning of this tradition, but what we know is that it has to do with the cultural influence of nomadic tribes: after all, centuries ago these were roaming all over Turkey, Anatolia and all of the surrounding regions, together with their flocks of sheep. Of course, flocks of sheep meant there would be an abundance of wool and, long story short, that’s how Turkey began producing some of the world’s most mesmerising rugs. Now, as much as we adore (no other word for it!) those classic Turkish rugs we find in those small shops along the narrow, side alleys of Istanbul, why not expand our horizons with STEPEVI?
But what do we mean, exactly, when we say that STEPEVI loves bringing the tradition of Turkish rugs into the 21st century? Well, hand weaving techniques have not changed much in a century: after all, why change something that gives life to beautiful, high-quality creations? What has changed is the style, though. For instance, there’s a collection of what STEPEVI calls “3D rugs”: rugs characterized by complex, unique textures. The Terra rug is a multi-layered design that offer its owner a much richer sensorial experience than what a rug can normally provide: the 3D features can be seen with your eyes, as well as experienced with your hands and feet.
One of the Terra rugs
Don’t think that STEPEVI doesn’t have a long and respected history only because we mentioned that this company definitely gives a new twist to the classic Turkish rug. In fact, the roots of this brand go a long way back: it started off in 1919 as a small family-run business. Of course, that was almost a century ago. What began as a small workshop slowly developed and grew into what STEPEVI is now: one of the leading companies on the global rugs and carpets market. STEPEVI is the evolution of STEP, the first name that was chose for the company when it began relevant enough to open a shop in Istanbul. Today, STEPEVI has succeeded in becoming one of the leading producers of creative Turkish rugs, with flagship stores in London, Paris, Milan, New York, Dubai, their native Istanbul of course, as well as many other design capitals all over the world.
Technology has changed the way we produce...well, pretty much everything, nowadays. STEPEVI knows that not taking advantage of technology would be silly, but at the same time, this company is also well-aware that relying solely on technology would eventually lead to a drop in their quality standards. This is why, despite mastering all the latest technologies, STEPEVI still relies on the priceless quality of traditional hand-weaving processes, which of course require sharp and seasoned craftsmanship skills. It's because of this reason that, for instance, it can take up to four weeks to receive your customised rug. Customisation is one of the reasons why STEPEVI has received such a huge international appreciation: customers can have their say and discuss all the desired features of their rug should have. However, it is not like this rug will come out of a machine in 20 minutes: skilled artisans will work on it and make sure it checks all the quality standards STEPEVI envisions for its creations.
Would you like to see how STEPEVI mixes past traditions with the today’s taste for experimenting with textures and designs? Well then, you’ll be fascinated by the Harvest collection. Basically, vintage, traditional Anatolian rugs are collected: these can be found inside thrift shops, or even purchased privately. Then, all these vintage rugs are exposed to the Mediterranean sun and humidity for weeks, until they get a naturally distressed and battered look. Then, they are all re-dyed and cut to pieces, which are eventually re-assembled into new and creative ensembles; the new rugs are characterized by a patchwork effect and contemporary colors which still show and bring out the art of the past that’s contained in them.
One of the reasons behind the undeniable global success of STEPEVI is precisely their fascination with the past. It’s a company that acknowledges the importance of keeping faith to those traditional values that can still be relevant today. As the company’s designers say, their creations tell stories of opulence and richness, closely followed by the melancholic sensuality of decadence. This unique blend of traits, feelings and qualities is what makes STEPEVI so unique, and what makes STEPEVI creations so sought-after worldwide.
An example of the Patina & Fragment collection
If you love these rugs we’ve been showing you, we can guarantee you are going to love all of STEPEVI’s creations!
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