Wools of New Zealand mill partners Ascend Rugs and Rodeo Collection (a division of Stark Carpet Corp.) were hot spots at Surfaces 2012 in Las Vegas. Forty designers stopped at these booths during the Speed Trending Tour led by Victoria Redshaw, managing director at Scarlet Opus, a trend forecasting agency dedicated to the interiors sector.

Only eight exhibitors were chosen out of more than 500 for this tour. These eight were hand-picked by Redshaw as she felt they offered the most inspiring, forward-thinking and on-trend products at Surfaces 2012 and reflected the “what’s hot for 2012” design trends displayed in the Trends Hub at Surfaces.

“Being part of the Trending Tour provided extremely valuable exposure for Ascend and was an introduction to our brand for many of the designers,” said Ascend Rugs President John Grainger. “I think I handed out 50 business cards in about five minutes.”

“The summer of 2012 is all about pattern rhythms and color vibration, so Ascend’s Duet Collection was a must-see,” noted Redshaw. “I was also delighted by the Textures of Nature Collection, using mixes of New Zealand wool, silk, chenille and bamboo to create designs based on the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand.”

“I was also intrigued by the construction of the rugs in Ascend’s ExtraSoft range, she added. “They project a ‘whispered wow factor’ that answers many modern consumers’ desires for a pared-down interior styling that still has depth and character. Finally, I’m always excited to see companies in the flooring industry working toward greener manufacturing, materials and processes. So the Pure NZ Collection, made from four types of naturally colored fleeces, was a great addition to Ascend’s booth.”

Rodeo President Carmen Saenz Murray added, “We were so honored to be chosen to be part of the Trending Tour. The visiting designers appeared to be very interested in our presentation, which primarily focused on our use of New Zealand wool and metallics for decorative purposes.”

Redshaw noted, “Rodeo exhibits an appreciation, awareness and excitement for current design trends ... Also, their products fit particularly well with the “Emporium” trend we had displayed in the Trends Hub, which is all about sophisticated glamour that’s unapologetically ornate and sumptuous, but never ostentatious.”

Both Rodeo and Ascend are licensed Wools of New Zealand partners. Wools of New Zealand is a premium brand identifying carpet and rug products that meet demanding quality standards and fiber content requirements. For more information on Wools of New Zealand, visitwoolsnz.com.To find out more about Ascend Rugs, visitascend-rugs.com.For more information on Rodeo Collection, go torodeocarpet.com.