‘Sarabande is ultimately inspired to support those with vision and exemplary execution, and what is execution but a dedication to your craft?' says Trino Verkade, CEO of the Sarabande Foundation when asked about the synergy between Sarabande and The Rug Company.



It is, of course, a natural collaboration. Both brands believe that craftsmanship and the creative community must not only be kept alive but given the freedom to flourish. Established by the visionary Lee Alexander McQueen, Sarabande offers a haven for incredible talent, encouraging creatives to push the boundary of their artistic ability.

In this collection, we worked with five artists to create five unique designs, transposing each skill into a striking rug design. The success of these five rugs is a testament to a shared understanding of craftsmanship - a silversmith’s hammering and chasing skills are transformed through hand-carving silk, while a jeweller looks to The Rug Company’s Nepalese background for inspiration for his illustration.

Marking The Rug Company’s 25th anniversary, this collection weaves together our belief in artisanal technique, exquisite fabrication and innovative design.
Stephen Doherty
Anemone

Anemone by Stephen Doherty

In a delicate palette of watercolours, Anemone sees six ethereal flowers floating across the composition of the rug. Stephen Doherty is a multi-disciplinary artist recognised for his musings on nature, community and ritual presented through sophisticated ink illustrations. To transpose the sensitive nature of this motif, silk threads are woven to form petals and then gently hand carved to create a luminous effect.
Michaela Yearwood Dan
Euphoria

Euphoria by Michaela Yearwood-Dan

Like its name, Euphoria explores intense elation through a vibrant cacophony of botanical patterns that swell around the border of the rug. Artist Michaela Yearwood-Dan is known for her observations of society and self, expressed through sumptuous paintings and collages. The art piece is crafted in a kaleidoscope of silk threads, leaving a centre of pure wool, symbolic of the emptiness that can often follow euphoria.
Castro Smith
Cascade

Cascade by Castro Smith

In a fusion of European and Japanese craftsmanship, award-winning jeweller Castro Smith is renowned for his intricate and often whimsical engravings. Smith draws inspiration for this design from the heritage of our rugs: Cascade transfigures the beautiful Nepalese skyscape into an otherworldly scene depicting billowing clouds that merge with dynamic birds. This union is emphasised through a careful blend of wool and silk.
Shinta Nakajima
Hibiki

Hibiki by Shinta Nakajima

With an affinity to organic movement and flow, Shinta Nakajima has inspired the world of silversmiths with his uniquely detailed objets. Smooth lines cascade across Hibiki and intertwine to form nestling magnolia seeds. Crafted entirely in soft silver metallic silk, Nakajima naturalistic motif has been carefully carved to emulate the effect of seeds growing and flourishing.
Mircea Teleaga
Limen

Limen by Mircea Teleaga

Mircea Teleaga is a Romanian-born artist who is recognised for his paintings of transcending landscapes, characterised by a warm darkness and inspired by the environment that surrounds him. Limen presents an elusive effect, influenced by Teleaga’s signature layering style of using oil paint to raise the organic motif from the canvas. Crafted in a fusion of wool and silk, this design is rendered to create a hazy, unrestrained appearance.