Winners of the Carpet Design Awards stand with their trophies at Domotex yesterday.


Show organizers of Domotex Hannover, which runs through tomorrow, announced the winners of the Carpet Design Awards yesterday. The awards, with prizes totaling 10,000 euros (more than $14,000), aim to recognize exceptional design, originality and quality in hand-made carpets. A total of 124 carpets from 15 countries were entered in the competition, and the winners were announced by Stephan Ph. Kühne, member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG, and Sebastian Ghandchi, managing director of Hali Publications.

Woven Legends Inc./Ozkent Hali received two awards, for Tabriz (Best Traditional Workshop/Formal Design) and the Shirvan collection (Best Collection Traditional). Other winners included Chuk Palu Rugs, Burya, Best Modern Design Standard; Zollanvari AG, Mirage, Best Modern Design Superior; Theo Keller GmbH, Mosaic, Best Modern Design Deluxe; Hanif Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Quicksand Caricature, Best Traditional Nomadic Design Superior; Creation Roesner, Mrirt, Best Traditional Nomadic Design Deluxe; SMY (Amin Motamedi), Bijar rug, Best Old/Antique Carpet; Jan Kath GmbH, Radi Deluxe Collection, Best Collection Modern; and Angel Trading, On the Rocks, Best Innovation.

The winners will be featured in The Carpet Design Review 2010, a brochure published specifically for the competition. In addition, all 30 carpets will be shown in a special exhibition in Hall 21 until tomorrow.

"It was utterly exhilarating and challenging for me as the Chairman of the Jury this year to have such a variety of opinions about each shortlisted entry from my colleagues who come from such diverse backgrounds," said David Sorgato, chairman of the judging panel.

Sebastian Ghandchi, publisher ofHALI magazineandCOVER modern carpets & textiles for interiors,added, "The Carpet Design Awards are now firmly established as the international mark for excellence and creativity in our market. It is heartening to see so many entries in the current market conditions -- a testament to the importance of the CDAs. The fact that so many new companies have taken part, and that some of them have won for the first time, throws down the gauntlet to other exhibitors at the fair to enter the awards next year."