This vintage rug company is on track to make $1 million within its first year its rugs are both
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- Quality vintage rugs are difficult to find and even more difficult to fork over the money for.
- Revival Rugs is a new direct-to-consumer rug company that's shaking up this long-stagnant industry with its affordable and beautiful handmade rugs sourced directly from Turkey.
- It works directly with artisans and craftsmen to make unique, long-lasting rugs that are easy to shop for and don't cost a fortune.
A nice rug not only makes your floor look less bare, but also "grounds" your room by helping cinch other interior design elements together. Still, the sticker shock of said rug might make you think twice about jumping into your "Extreme Makeover" fantasy.
Ben and Amber Hyman thought that shopping for a new rug for their apartment would be fun, but after facing high prices, poor-quality replicas, and general lack of transparency, they ended up more stressed than excited. They founded direct-to-consumer company Revival Rugs with two friends based in Istanbul, Turkey, because they didn't want to spend a month's rent on a beautiful, handmade rug, but also didn't want to settle for anything less.
Launched in 2017, Revival Rugs is already on track to do $1 million in sales within its first year, proving other homeowners don't want to settle either.
Key to its business of selling one-of-a-kind vintage rugs is the cross-country relationship between the US and Turkey. Hyman explains, "One reason why there haven’t been disruptors in the vintage, handmade rug space has to do with geography and the nature of the business. To shake things up in the vintage rug sector you need to operate where the rugs are located."
He told Business Insider,
We literally go to the village level and work hand-in-hand with craftsmen to select the exact vintage rugs we’d like to add to our collections, and then we work closely with these craftsmen to process the rugs we select to our specifications.By being incorporated in both countries and having a warehouse and half our founding team in Turkey, we have a faster feedback loop with artisans to customize products in response to customer demand (i.e. larger size rugs, runners, colors — neutrals like champagne and soft pink tones).While other Turkish entrepreneurs may have the ability to build similar grassroots partnerships, few understand the tastes, preferences, and expectations of US customers. Up until Revival Rugs, there hasn’t been a company that’s effectively bridged the geographic, linguistic, and cultural gaps in what’s still a traditional industry.
All the rugs are handwoven by skilled artisans with hand-spun wool. Each wool thread is double-knotted into the weft, resulting in a more secure, durable weave and a rug that will truly last a lifetime. Throwing money at an expensive rug is useless if it can't hold up over the years; thanks to carefully monitored crafting processes, Revival Rugs' pieces aren't subject to the same frustrations.
The colors are eye-catching and gorgeous because each rug is originally naturally dyed using vegetable dyes. After cleaning the rugs, the company inspects each one's natural state before deciding which ones will undergo a second dyeing process.
Depending on the size and style, the rugs range in price from $35 to $3,000, and the site offers plenty of under-$300 options, the best of which we've rounded up below. Shipping within the continental US is free for orders over $50 and the rugs are folded into custom-made boxes meant to fit the rugs perfectly (don't worry, folding won't damage the rug. Because they're 100% wool, they'll resume their flat resting position within a few days).
Beautiful vintage rugs can be affordable — here are the best under-$300 rugs from Revival Rugs.
A vibrant rug with geometric details and fringe accents
Shop the Mizgin, $195, measures 2'11" x 4'10"
A faded coral rug featuring a classic Turkish motif
Shop the Zumrut, $132, measures 1'8" x 2'9"
An inky black rug with a faded pattern that is both modern and vintage
Shop the Vivek, $257, measures 3'7" x 6'7"
An eye-catching combination of bold colors and geometric designs
Shop the Rozhin, $258, measures 3'7" x 4'11"
A deep red rug with subtle floral details
Shop the Gavril, $255, measures 3'7" x 6'6"
A long runner featuring a medallion motif in primary colors
Shop the Sevingul, $123, measures 1'5" x 3'8"
An intricate medallion design in muted jewel tones
Shop the Lujayn, $248, measures 3'6" x 6'6"
A statement making runner in vibrant primary colors
Shop the Amez, $133, measures 1'6" x 4'3"
An intricate medallion design in a faded neutral palette
Shop the Reneer, $227, measures 3'0" x 6'5"
A unique overdyed emerald green rug
Shop the Keir, $286, measures 3'5" x 6'7"
An ombre gray rug covered in faint medallion and floral designs
Shop the Sighe, $264, measures 3'9" x 6'5"
Connie Chen Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she led coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink. While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combined rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money. When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram @connayreviews. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. Read some of her work: The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021 The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021 The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021 The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen How businesses create successful virtual experiences 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test kitchen products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
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