� THE ART OF CARPET
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BARBARA BARRAN :
“ If someone has done a design , I do not see any sense in repeating it ”
Barbara Barran , the founder of Classic Rug Collection , is sure of it . Exceptional design , top quality , originality of ideas based on Klimt ’ s painting or tiles of a Turkish mosque make Barbara Barran ’ s carpets desirable objects for connoisseurs from different parts of the world . Why does the designer dream of visiting Russia ? How does the idea of a new design appear ? Why is it important to produce bespoken carpets ? The answers are in our interview .
►Your father owned a furniture and rug shop . What childhood memories are connected with carpets ? - My earliest memory related to carpets is my father ’ s showroom , where my sister I and were playing and building a ‘ fortress ’ from rolls of broadloom . Our father wanted us to understand what he was engaged in . While other children spent time playing with their parents , we figured the yardage for broadloom carpet , using the least yardage , while hiding the seams . I am still using this skill !
My parents taught us to sell , explained the basics of merchandising , how to explain features and benefits , and how to establish a good relationship with clients . They taught us not to lie to a client : if you are lying , then you have to remember what you have told someone ; therefore , it ’ s easier to tell the truth , because you will always remember what you have said .
But I did not plan to continue the family business . We lived in a small town with a population of 26 000 . I dreamed about a life where I could go to the opera , museum , and theatre . And from the very beginning I understood that I would not stay in my hometown .
►You received your Ph . D . in English Literature , were the manager of a furniture company , and taught at the New York School of Interior Design . What prompted you to go into your own carpet business ? - I was working as a manager in a furniture store when my mother convinced me to complete my studies for a Ph . D . I had an offer of a fellowship at Columbia University , with free tuition and a scholarship . I went to study in New York , but when I had almost completed my studies , my advisor passed away . In the USA , if you don ’ t have someone who will push you , getting a full-time job is very difficult , and part-time work brings very little income .
I started teaching English as a Second Language at the School of Interior Design in New York . I liked the job , but after 12 years I wanted to make more money and started a business selling floor cloths . People didn ’ t understand the industry , so I got the idea to design my own quilted carpets . At that time , it was a pretty innovative idea in the industry , and my business took off .
►Tell us about your company Classic Rug Collection . Why did you choose this name ? - I didn ’ t want to use my own name for the company , so as not to limit the types of future designs . I also hoped that one day my designs would become classics of carpet art !
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►In your collection there are some carpets based on the artwork of famous artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright , Julian Schnabel , Klimt and Barbara Bloom . Is there any piece of art which you want to express in your carpets ? - I dream about creating a carpet based on the paintings of Sonia Delaunay . I am trying to establish contact with her licensing representative in Paris , but so far in vain . The only consolation is that even the Tate Museum in London failed in an attempt to obtain a license for a major show of Delaunay ’ s art . Sonia Delaunay was ahead of her time : she created patterns for clothes , carpets , fabric , and glass and even for cars ! The way she used colours and different kinds of geometry amazes me . The copyright for her work will not be available until 2049 . Her husband , Robert Delaunay , created several designs similar to hers . I used them in my projects , since the period of prohibition of copyright on his work has already expired . But I still hope to use Sonia ’ s designs .
►What inspires you to create new collections ? How does the idea of a new carpet appear ? - I create my collections in order to show clients what I can do . For example , I designed my 20th Century Collection to showcase my natural silk ‘ Italiano ’, a New Zealand wool and natural silk hand-knotted rug inspired by a Pucci ’ s scarf .
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