The wool flooring industry gathered this week to receive recognition at the fourth Campaign for Wool Carpet and Rug Awards, held as part of The Flooring Show in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The Campaign for Wool established the Awards in 2016 to highlight the diversity and breadth of quality in design, production, innovation and marketing across the carpet and rug sector. Approximately 50% of wool from the UK and a significant proportion of New Zealand wool is used in flooring.
This year’s awards clearly demonstrated the excellence of British brands manufacturing in the UK. There were over one hundred and twenty entries for twelve categories including some publication sponsored awards, which link the competition winners to consumer homes and interiors titles.
The winner of the British Wool Carpet Award, which highlights the best showcase of the natural features of British wool, was Alternative Flooring with Waterlake – a bespoke runner created by designer Ella Doran using wool from the sheep at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Graham Clark, Director of Marketing at British Wool said “Waterlake showcases a great local manufacturing story. Part of a collection of bespoke products created by designer Ella Doran using natural biodegradable materials from the land, Waterlake is truly British throughout – from the raw materials to the designer to the manufacturer.”
Other winners included Brintons Carpets, which scooped two prizes – Residential Woven with the Perpetual Textures Collection and Commercial Carpet Design of the Year with the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel, London.
Three winners were celebrated in the special sponsored categories – Style Library won the Homes & Gardens Award with Morris & Co’s Pimpernel, Abigail Edwards scooped the Homes & Antiques category with Seascape, and Roger Oates Design won the Country Homes & Interiors Award with Pelham from The Borders Collection.
The Awards also include the Hall of Fame category, which recognises a leading carpet industry professional for their career-long commitment. This year, Shaun Lewis was recognised for long-standing commitment to the Wool Carpet Industry. Currently Sales Director at Brockway Carpets, Shaun celebrates a long, successful career with three of the foremost carpet manufacturers in Kidderminster, also serving on the board of The Carpet Foundation.
“Hall of Fame winners are chosen for their passion for wool’s environmental excellence, for demonstrating industry influence and impact, with the commitment to grow and shape the wool industry.” Peter Ackroyd, COO of The Campaign for Wool said.
“The standard of all the entries was exceptionally high again this year, and the judging panel had some tough decisions to make! The Awards are a real show-case of high standards on all fronts, and everyone involved should feel very proud.”
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