Couristan - Shag Epics Inversion Merlot Contemporary Rug

For over 75 years Couristan, Inc. has been a powerful name in the area rug and broadloom industry. Owned by the Couri family for two generations and operated today by brothers George G. Couri, Chairman and Ron J. Couri, CEO and President, the company prides itself on having the most exquisite handmade and power-loomed floor coverings available from anywhere around the world.

Founded in 1926 by brothers Basil J. Couri and George J. Couri, and appropriately named "Couri Brothers," the company began its humble beginnings by importing fine handmade area rugs from Persia. According to Ron Couri, Couristan's CEO and President, importing area rugs from Persia was a difficult task. "I remember listening to my father and uncle's travel stories. First they took a ship to England, then another to the continent. Once in Europe they took the Orient Express and then drove through the desert to Persia. They finally arrived 32 days later. It was quite an adventure."

The first area rugs imported by the company were a few shipments of Sparta Rugs from Smyrna. At the time, the company began affixing "Couristan" trademark labels to the back of each and every rug it imported. This mark was composed from the family's surname "Couri" and the frequently used suffix "stan", referring to the region of small weaving villages in which the company imported its rugs from. The company would quickly begin to broaden its horizons, as well as its area rug offerings by importing rugs from India in 1927.

In the 1930's, Couristan began importing handmade hooked rugs from China and braided rugs from Japan. At the time nearly 99 percent of the total production of Japan's floor coverings were being exported to the United States. According to Ron Couri, Couristan was regarded as one of the country's largest importers of Japanese braided rugs from the 1930's to the 1960's. During that time there wasn't much of a market for Oriental-design products in the United States, but through Couristan's ingenuity and extensive design development, the company was able to create a substantial marketplace for handmade Oriental area rugs.

The Subdivisions design, from Couristan's popular hand-crafted collection, Progressions, received an America's Magnificent Carpet Award for the category of best handmade area rug in the price range of $0 to $12 (per square foot) . The popular design was chosen by a panel of judges for its affordability, strong palette, unique texture and its ability to be utilized in both a casual and elegant room-setting.