Cover Founder and designer Nani Marquina of Nanimarquina with the Tres range, comprising Indian dhurrie flat-weave rugs
Founder and designer Nani Marquina of Nanimarquina with the Tres range, comprising Indian dhurrie flat-weave rugs
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With over 35 years of history designing natural, handmade rugs in Barcelona, Nanimarquina now brings its tactile artisanal collections to Cult Design Singapore
Against the backdrop of political change and economic transformation in 1970s Spain, designer Nani Marquina launched herself into the plush, colourful world of rugs. Inspired by her father, Rafael Marquina, an innovative man and the creator of the Marquina oil cruet, she dove headfirst into art and craftsmanship, dedicating her life to fibres and weaves.
With the idea to “turn the classic rug into a contemporary design product”, Nanimarquina was established in 1987, captivating the senses in a changing world. The heart of the family business has always been a love of materials, an appreciation of design, and a careful balance of innovation and tradition.
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Above An illustrated Silhouette rug by Jaime Hayon
An illustrated Silhouette rug by Jaime Hayon
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Both local and international designers bring their individual styles to Nanimarquina’s collections of rugs—a rich tapestry of colours, textures and finishes.
The brand’s imaginative products are now available at Cult Design Singapore.
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Above A Haze runner rug, created in collaboration with Turkish designer Begüm Cana Özgür
Above A Haze runner rug, created in collaboration with Turkish designer Begüm Cana Özgür
A Haze runner rug, created in collaboration with Turkish designer Begüm Cana Özgür
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Key to Nanimarquina’s DNA is the meticulous sense of craftsmanship that goes into every rug. From the initial idea all the way to the end product, designers and artisans apply their skills and years of experience to a curated selection of fibres and traditional techniques, resulting in wonderfully sumptuous and hard-wearing rugs.
Take the rugs hand-knotted on a vertical loom, a characteristic technique of India, Iran, Pakistan, Tibet and Turkey, among other countries. A slow, manual process, it culminates in detailed designs of a quietly luxurious nature.
The brand’s diverse offerings also include hand-loomed Indian dhurries and Pakistani kilims, as well as evocatively embroidered fibres and hand-tufted rugs that are naturally insulating and allow for versatile pile heights as well as fluid lines
Above An illustrated Silhouette rug by Jaime Hayon
An illustrated Silhouette rug by Jaime Hayon
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Running through skilled fingers are New Zealand, Afghan, mohair and recycled wool with a softness that belie their natural strength, as well as silk with its inherent lustre and brilliant saturation.
Plant fibres such as cotton, jute and nettle—the latter harvested from regions such as the Himalayas—are similarly worked into fresh creations. Before any work on the rugs starts, transforming the raw nettle into usable yarn is a complex process in itself, requiring the fibres to be cooked with water and ash.
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Above Part of the Oblique collection, designed for Nanimarquina by Matthew Hilton
Part of the Oblique collection, designed for Nanimarquina by Matthew Hilton
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Interspersing this traditional assortment of materials with something more contemporary, Nanimarquina furthermore brings out the beauty of Tencel, an innovative, biodegradable lyocell fibre made from wood cellulose. Extracted from eucalyptus, pine, beech and spruce, its production is particularly sustainable and results in breathable, soft rugs that are perfect for environmentally friendly interiors.
For outdoor use, recycled polyethylene from plastic bottles and similar waste is turned into durable, weatherproof rugs of a lightweight and flexible nature. As the team behind Nanimarquina tells us, it is this singular dedication to eco-mindedness and the environment that led the brand to become the first Climate Neutral-certified rug company back in 2021.
This certification acknowledges the firm’s efforts in reducing its carbon footprint in all areas of operations, from energy conservation to manufacturing and transportation, without ever compromising on the remarkable quality that characterises its eminently attractive offerings.
Credits
Images: Courtesy of Nanimarquina
