Capel Begins Centennial Festivities with 2 Commemorative Lines

December 28, 2016  by Larry Thomas in Designer Weekly, Industry, Special Events   

The first new collection, New Homestead, is a revival of Old Homestead, the first braided chenille rug ever made. Created by Capel Rugs in 1924, Old Homestead was selected for the World Floor Covering Association’s Hall of Fame in 1978.

Now, in honor of Capel’s centennial, the company said Old Homestead has come back to life in an assortment of today’s hottest colors and an updated construction. Made in a new spin of fibers that mixes polyester, polypropylene and cotton, New Homestead is available in marble, vista, sundried red and fountain blue colorways. A 5’ by 8’ rug may retail for $399.

The second new anniversary collection, Yorktowne, is an updated version of one of Capel’s best-selling braided rugs from the 1980s. Made in North Carolina, Yorktowne features a versatile rectangular shape that gives the colonial-style design a modern spin. Constructed with a wool blend, Yorktowne is available in green, blue, navy and red. A 5’ by 8’ rug may retail for $499.

“Yorktowne was a fantastic-selling rug in the 1980s, and our reps have been asking us to bring it back,” said Cameron Capel, vice president of national accounts. “Our anniversary provides the ideal opportunity for a revival of this longtime favorite. With Yorktowne and our other commemorative collection, New Homestead, we are saluting our past while also updating two very popular designs that are perfect for today’s spaces and lifestyles.”

Founded in 1917, Capel Rugs got its start when A. Leon Capel Sr. began fashioning the raw material from his Gee-Haw Plowline company into braids and sewing them into spirals to make reversible braided rugs. As sales grew, Capel discovered that nearly every family could use a good braided rug.

“There aren’t many manufacturers in the country who have been in business longer than us,” said Mary Clara Capel, director of marketing. “Throughout our long history, our dealers — and our loyal consumers, who have been buying our rugs for generations — have been a cornerstone of our success.”

To mark the centennial celebration, Capel Rugs created the Capel100.com micro site to highlight the company's legacy over the last 100 years.

In the coming year, Capel Rugs will emphasize the theme of “100 years of heritage in every rug,” added Cameron Capel.

“Going forward, we’ll continue to build on our rich heritage by introducing a steady stream of fresh designs, fashionable colors and creative textures and constructions to keep our rugs relevant for today’s — and tomorrow’s — evolving needs. At the upcoming markets, we’ll feature a variety of dynamic new styles designed to generate excitement and sales.”

The new collections will be on display at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, Jan. 11-17, in AmericasMart, space 3-C-13, as well as the Las Vegas Market, Jan. 22-26, in World Market Center space A-133. Both showrooms are permanent, year-round operations.