Karastan 1933 World's Fair Rug Graces Macy's

Dalton, GA, Oct. 19, 2010 -- If there is perpetual life in the rug industry, it is depicted by Karastan’s Multicolor Panel Kirman 791. This is the rug that Karastan put to the test at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and is making a comeback this month at the Macy’s on State Street in Chicago.

On October 6, attendees from the original World’s Fair celebrated the grand reopening of the Macy’s Fine Rug Gallery with a special ribbon-cutting event featuring the remarkable World’s Fair rug. The original Multicolor Panel Kirman will be on display in Macy’s State Street store through October 24.

The Multicolor Panel Kirman 791 was introduced in 1932. The style, known as the "tree of life" pattern, symbolizes divine power and perpetual life in Persian design. It was part of the Karastan Rug Collection, which was labeled "The Wonder Rug of America."

These power-loomed rugs were crafted of worsted New Zealand wool, woven “through the back” and luster washed to simulate the hand-knotted look of the originals.

To prove the lasting quality of its rugs, Karastan wear tested the Multicolor Panel Kirman 791 at the 1933–34 Chicago World’s Fair. An electric eye clocked more than 5 million visitors walking across the rug during the fair. Afterwards, the rug was taken to the Karastan mill in Eden, North Carolina, where only half of the rug was washed. One side remained almost unrecognizable, while the washed portion returned the rug to its original beauty of 33 skein-dyed colors.

Related Topics:Karastan, Mohawk Industries