Roger Oates Design is a British company that designs, manufactures and retails flooring, fabric and interior products. The company is best known for Venetian Flatweave, a narrow width wool floorcovering usually fitted as a stair runner.[1][2]
| Company type | Limited |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textiles and Home Interiors |
| Founded | June 4, 1987 |
| Founders | Roger Oates & Fay Morgan |
| Headquarters | Eastnor , UK |
| Website | rogeroates |
Company history
editRoger Oates,[3] a graduate in Industrial Carpet Design met his wife Fay Morgan,[4] a textile graduate, at the Royal College of Art. They began designing and working together and in 1977 founded the partnership Morgan & Oates designing rugs, throws and scarves for the interior design trade.
In 1989 Oates and Morgan founded Roger Oates Design Associates, the studio employed several handloom weavers and hand-tufters producing rugs and carpets. In 1993 the company, now Roger Oates Design Co Ltd[5] moved to "The Long Barn" on the Eastnor Castle Estate, near Ledbury, Herefordshire. Previously derelict barns were converted to offices, design studios and workshops. The company's first retail showroom opened on this site in 1994.
In 1999 a showroom was opened in Chelsea, London and in 2007 French fabric house Pierre Frey became distributors in Europe.
In 2003 Roger Oates Design added a range of furnishing fabrics to its product line.
The company launched an online shop in 2014, selling a selection of home accessories including, furniture, cushions, bedlinen, throws and rugs. In 2015, in addition to the Roger Oates showrooms, products are sold by retailers and interior designers in the United Kingdom, Europe, Scandinavia, United States and Australia.
In 2016, Roger Oates Design was acquired by Ulster Carpets, in a deal advised by M&A Advisor BCMS.[6]
Venetian flatweave
editSince 1993 Roger Oates has sold Venetian flatweave, designed and woven in the United Kingdom on specially adapted narrow width looms for floor runners.[7][8] The heavy woven fabric is fitted onto staircases by trained fitters, and can be fitted around corners and on winding stairs. The warp is always striped, and so the company produces a variety of stripe designs.[9] A line of tartan fabrics has also been created.[10]
In 2010 the company launched the Real Shetland Wool Flatweave Collection, made using British wool.[11] The company became a supporter of The Prince of Wales' Campaign for Wool[12] The company's wool carpets have been praised as eco-friendly because wool is biodegradable.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Dress your home in Vivienne Westwood's finest"[permanent dead link]. Bristol Post, April 11, 2014
- ^ "A contemporary renovation that retains the character of a beautiful old home", Daily Telegraph, November 13, 2015 Robyn Willis Home Magazine
- ^ Oates, Roger. "Debretts Biography". Debretts. Retrieved 25 March 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Morgan-Oates, Fay. "Debretts Biography". Debretts. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ The Retail Directory UK. Bertrams. 2012. ISBN 978-0707971230.
- ^ "Ulster Carpets purchases Roger Oates Design". BCMS. July 2016.
- ^ "Cutting a rug". The Yorkshire Post, 28 January 2011
- ^ "How to: Choose carpet for a runner". Style and Home, Margot Austin
- ^ "Distinctive, hand-finished 100% wool Wilton and Venetian Flatweave stair runners". The House Directory. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Tartan-with-a-twist runners from Roger Oates are a bright idea". Home to Home.
- ^ Space solves", The Guardian, 7 June 2008
- ^ "Supporters of Campaign for Wool". Campaign for Wool. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ "Choose an eco-friendly carpet". DECO