Product Innovation Awards

The innovative design of "Ground Strata" earns Lees Carpets the modular gold award. Inspired by the balanced lines of architectural structures and the simplicity of natural forms, this tile addresses the need for modular floorcovering aesthetics that foster comfort, stimulation and ergonomics in corporate, retail, education and public spaces. Detailed in a subdued and graceful manner, "Ground Strata" is a fresh interpretation of a timeless aesthetic and is reminiscent of the gently curved lines and edges of a layered stonewall. Its color development, inspired by the natural materials frequently associated with many European interiors of the 1920's, 30's and 40's, captures the look of refined, time-honored materials. Lees Carpets collaborated with Robert Cox, principal and design director for HOK, Washington D.C. to design "Ground Strata."

Karastan Contract worked with Shashi Caan, founder and principal of the Shashi Caan Collective in New York, to develop a new woven carpet collection. One of the styles, "Ribbed Concrete," wins the broadloom gold award for its three dimensional look. Approaching carpeting as elemental to architecture, "Ribbed Concrete" is one of four patterns that translate the distinguishing traits of a hard surface architectural component such as concrete into soft surface flooring. The style uses a skein-dyed metallic Antron® Legacy fiber that mimics the shiny and lustrous qualities of metals and glass. The color palette also imitates hard architectural surfaces, with steely grays, sea glass greens and blues, as well as flat neutral tones.

Architectural Rhythms, a collaboration between Lees Carpets and Gerard Robertson, wins the modular silver award. The 24" by 24" carpet tiles feature a shadowing effect that gives new dimension to the construction of the pattern. Inspiration for this product came from the rich textures and architectural forms of urban environments. Constructed of Antron® Legacy nylon fiber, it is offered in 14 rich, saturated colors with cleverly placed accent yarns to add texture and structure to each design. Architectural Rhythms is ideal for corporate environments and retail applications as well as large public spaces such as airports and libraries.

"Scan" by Bentley Prince Street receives the broadloom silver award for its rich tones, intricate textures and varying degrees of color intensity. Constructed of Antron® Legacy nylon fiber, this product is the perfect pin stripe for almost any interior and uses a sensual array of variegated tones usually captured in heirloom wool and silk rugs. Extensive color research with fabrics and materials provided the palette which celebrates elegant depths of sheen and luster. Its complex dye affinities allow for a wide range of values in both the field and accent colors. Each color way has variation from ultra-deep to light in value.

"Spyro" by Atlas Carpet Mills wins a broadloom merit award for its stylish interpretation of a retro pattern. This bold, playful and retro-designed pattern was inspired by "doodles" from the classic "Spiro-graph." Constructed of Antron® Legacy nylon fiber, the pattern is a blend of daring whimsical depth with gyrating motifs that expresses a variety of textural effects, superimposed and shadowed in a large dramatic scale. Inspired by retro fabrics and furnishings and contemporary fashions, the well rounded color palette includes thirteen colors that range from bold and bright rich saturated colors to colorful neutrals.