June 2015

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60 June15
Hedger’s Carpet Gallery
Block 15 Dempsey Road
6462 0028
The Orientalist
#01-17/18/19 Triple One Somerset
111 Somerset Road
6732 0880 |
The Rug Maker
#02-20 Mapletree Industrial
1093 Lower Delta Road
6270 2823 |
DESIGN
Though The Rug Maker’s niche is
customisation, its team has recently
come up with two collections: in
2013, the first, Into the Rabbit Hole
(abstract designs inspired by Alice in
Wonderland), was initially aimed at
new home-owners who might want
something readymade in smaller sizes.
To Melvyn’s surprise, however, many
customers have ordered versions of
these evocative designs not only in
different colours, but also in much
larger sizes.
“Working in this way with the creative
ideas of homeowners and interior
designers helps our own design
team experiment with and enhance
our current designs,” he says. “It’s a
wonderful process.”
Encouraged by this, the owner of
the business, Freddy Khong (Melvyn’s
father), who is himself Peranakan,
initiated a new in-house collection –
the Peranakan range. Inspired by the
Straits Chinese cultural expression
that’s found in its detailed beadwork,
colourful ceramics, batik work, intricate
embroidery and more, the varied range
of distinctive designs features not only
abstracted cultural and geographic
concepts but also more directly graphic
elements: flowers and birds such as the
lotus, the peony, the swallow and the
mythical phoenix; and gorgeously rich
colour palettes that include bold golds,
deep pinks and brilliant turquoise.
And of course, if you love a design but
fancy something more muted, there’s
nothing to stop you experimenting with
different colour-ways. As the design
process is digitalised, the computer
screen shows exactly what your idea
will look like.
PRODUCTION
The finalised design is made up in
either of two factories, one in Thailand
and the other in China. “We work very
closely with them,” explains Melvyn,
“as they have to be able to do special
one-off pieces that can call for extremely
intricate workmanship.”
The lead-time is from six to eight
weeks. Prices vary, of course, on
the basis of fabric choice and other
considerations. Just to give you an idea,
though, a two-by-three-metre rug from
the new Peranakan collection would
range from $4,400 to $5,200.