Presenting the Aerial Series: Our collaboration with Warp & Weft
Gabellini Sheppard and Warp & Weft proudly announce the introduction of a new collection of carpets which captures the collaborative spirit of both brands.
Photograph by Donna Dota
The ‘Aerial Series’ consists of a trio of unique and harmonious hand-knotted carpets, each interpreted into woven form based on original artwork by Tomoko Hirose, Senior Interior Designer at Gabellini Sheppard. The carpets - Aerial 1, Aerial 2, and Aerial 3 - will be presented to the public for the first time at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) May 21-23, 2023, at the Javits Center in New York.
"Rugs are more than just functional objects – they bring life into a space by unifying the interior architecture and adding warmth, texture, and materiality."
Michael Gabellini, Partner and Creative Director at Gabellini Sheppard, has long admired Warp & Weft's commitment to design and quality construction, making them an ideal partner to realize this creative vision. “With this collaboration, we want the ‘Aerial Series’ to celebrate our common love for evocative imagery and natural forms,” says Gabellini.
“Rugs are more than just functional objects – they bring life into a space by unifying the interior architecture and adding warmth, texture, and materiality. We want to provide carpets that will not only be beautiful but will encourage a deeper connection with the surrounding environment.”
The design of the rugs themselves draws inspiration from nature, depicting the ephemeral beauty of water and atmospheric light. ‘The carpets in the ‘Aerial Series’ are meant to enrich their surrounding environments, and by extension, the lives of the residents of the spaces they inhabit,” shares Tomoko Hirose. Deceptively calm yet technically complex, the ‘Aerial Series’ evokes a sublime intrinsic beauty through the use of natural materials, form, and variegated texture.
As the most intricate pieces ever produced by Warp & Weft, the technical requirements of crafting Gabellini Sheppard’s gossamer-like personality into carpet form demanded the full savoir-faire and finesse for which Warp & Weft is well known.
“The ‘Aerial Series’ pushed us to go further than we’d ever gone in the past,” said Michael Mandapati, President of Warp & Weft, highlighting the collection’s distinctive characteristics. “The combination of the weave, the dye techniques, and the finishing process is completely unique to this collection and unlike anything else. Having appreciated Gabellini Sheppard’s work for many years, I was excited to collaborate on this series and I’m looking forward to launching the ‘Aerial Series.’”