Washington, D.C., April 25--Linda Garriott Design, LLC of Medford, MA is the newest member to join RugMark’s effort to eliminate child labor in the carpet industry and offer educational opportunities to children in India.
From now on every Linda Garriott Design rug will carry the RugMark label, ensuring consumers no child labor was used in the manufacturing of the rug and a contribution was given to educate children.
Linda Garriott, the company’s founder and CEO, comes from over 20 years of experience in rug design. She began hand hooking rugs in 1986 after studying with the late Hallie Hall, an icon of traditional American rug hooking. Garriott was encouraged by Ms. Hall to apply her artistic vision and strong sense of color to rugs, by designing and producing original work. In September 2004, Garriott formed Linda Garriott Design, LLC to create and distribute her original pieces.
Being part of RugMark from the launch of her business is important to Garriott. "Retailers always ask about RugMark and the work that it does and they want to know the rugs we sell are free from child labor," she explains. "Making a positive impact on the communities where rugs are made is part of our business plan."
Garriott’s rugs are distinguished by bold use of color and lyrical lines. Her designs lend themselves to contemporary, transitional, eclectic, and traditional settings. The company also custom designs rugs to suit particular spaces. Some of Garriott’s handmade rugs take over 500 hours to produce.
According to the International Labor Organization, India has the largest number of child workers in Asia. "RugMark has rescued nearly 2,000 child weavers in India," says Nina Smith, RugMark USA’s Executive Director. "Linda Garriott Design’s membership in RugMark, will enable us to increase that number and offer educational opportunities to more children."
Garriott has exhibited her hand hooked rugs at galleries and shows throughout Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and has recently opened a showroom in Medford, MA.
