A Legacy of Luxury
The quiet-luxury trend has matured into a sustainable approach, which a fine carpet epitomizes when it melds durable and lasting beauty with haute and stylish design. The experts at Toronto’s Weavers Art provide the secrets to getting it right.
By Susan Kelly
What’s old is new in the world of fine carpets. “There is something of a vintage revival on, and many of our customers who purchased from us 25 or 30 years ago are still enjoying their carpets or have passed them on to the next generation,” says Michael Pourvakil, founder and creative director of Weavers Art rug emporium in Toronto. “But the bigger story in 2026 is how classic rug design is being reimagined in new and exciting ways.”
Design professionals and enthusiasts alike long have come to browse the Weavers Art showroom in the Castlefield Design District. There, they delight in exploring one of the largest inventories of fine area rugs in Canada, which includes many original, award-winning creations. On display: everything from striking contemporary designs to singular, painterly motifs to sophisticated interpretations of timeless staples, most notably transitional Persian rugs.
For this expert, providing rugs at the forefront of rug fashion with lasting beauty means continually researching and pushing boundaries. Pourvakil and team regularly travel to attend major trade shows from Germany to Las Vegas in quest of the latest styles and innovations. “We strive to be unique and ahead of the curve,” he says. “So when you shop at Weavers Art, you are guaranteed that you are seeing the latest of the latest in the world of hand-knotted rugs.”
This approach often puts it well in advance of the general trend, he says. Take the Chevalier rug, a modern, deconstructed Aubusson-inspired design, rendered in a contemporary colour palette, such as sand, beige and latte. Displayed at the 2025 Living Luxe Design Show, it anticipated a look now enjoying widespread popularity.
“We strive to be unique and ahead of the curve. So when you shop at Weavers Art, you are guaranteed that you are seeing the latest of the latest in the world of hand-knotted rugs.”
Pourvakil says it reflects a major emerging trend for traditional rug designs that are rendered in a more contemporary way, a blend of heritage patterns with modern colour palettes. Warm neutral hues—in vogue shades of sand, cream and off-white—work best, he believes, and will remain relevant over time. Other clients will opt for bolder or more saturated colours, which can be used to create beautiful effects. Other ways to reimagine vintage with a modern twist might involve faded washes or softened oversized motifs.
Both the beauty and durability of Weavers Art creations is due to exceptional craftsmanship using authentic materials. Each rug is meticulously handmade of natural fibres such as wool and silk. For custom commissions, in-house rug designer Wan Ki An can assist in realizing a vision. Throughout the process, the team provides expert guidance, helping clients bring one-of-a-kind visions to life through bespoke works of art tailored to elevate any project.
And art is another way Weavers Art provides rugs with enduring design for those whose tastes are more contemporary. “Like a fine painting, the specially commissioned rugs in our Artists Series Collection will never go out of style,” Pourvakil notes. Among them, the Marble by Rachel rug, designed by Toronto multidisciplinary artist Rachel Babineau as part of an OCAD University’s graduating student competition in 2017, sublimely interprets that noble material. More recently, the spontaneous, organic abstract-modern works of Toronto artist Pietro Adamo have joined the lineup.
Another reason a Weavers Art rug retains its beauty long enough to become a family heirloom: comprehensive after-sale care. Throughout the life of a rug, customers can call upon its experts for advice. Like when accidents occur, such as spilling red wine on your off-white rug. The team responds immediately to all requests, offering guidance on how to address the issue. For problems that require more attention, Weavers Art will pick up the rug and take it back to the workshop for the needed TLC. “Our relationship with our customers begins when they first enter the showroom,” Pourvakil says. “And we stay at their side, ensuring peace of mind. We consider them part of our family.”