Shaw Contract has unveiled Origin of Color, a new carpet tile collection inspired by color throughout history. Drawing from the power of nature—water, air, fire, and earth—this collection tells the timeless story of color’s evolution, from primitive pigments to modern palettes, bridging the past with the present through sustainable, expressive design.

Color has always lived between darkness and light. Over 40,000 years ago, early artists began using chalk, ochre, soil, charcoal, and animal fats to form expressive visuals on cave walls. These ancient, symbolic colors—red, yellow, brown, black, and white—captured human experiences and rituals. Origin of Color reimagines this palette through three rich styles, Expression, Convey, and Symbolic, each rooted in regional pigment traditions and designed to shift moods, define space, and tell stories in a contemporary context.

Convey, available in 9x36 tiles in 10 colors, uses organic tones to evoke a calming mood. Each neutral has the ability to transform a space with calming warmth and graphic statements. Expression is a textural pattern that uses color as a tool to capture attention. The 9x36 carpet tiles in nine neutrals and 10 earthy colors can be used to create the perfect canvas for any interior. Finally, Symbolic combines line and shape to graphically represent our most abstract ideas, creating stories that have resonated from the beginning of time. Symbolic is comprised of 18x36 tiles in 10 colors.

Together, the styles offer a modular toolkit for designers to create intentional, story-rich environments, from calm wellness spaces to energetic collaborative zones. Rooted in indigenous wisdom and the rhythms of the land, the collection celebrates the power of pigment as both symbol and solution.

Crafted with EcoSolution Q100 fiber and EcoWorx backing, Origin of Color is as sustainable as it is soulful. With low embodied carbon and carbon neutral certification, it aligns with Shaw Contract’s unwavering commitment to circularity and material health. Origin of Color reduces carbon footprint by over 50%, is Red List Approved for healthier indoor air quality and is fully recyclable through re[TURN]. At the end of its useful life, Shaw Contract will reclaim and recycle Origin of Color carpet tile styles to make more EcoWorx carpet products through its Environmental Guarantee. Since 2006, Shaw has reclaimed and recycled nearly one billion pounds of post-consumer carpet reducing landfill waste.