Emma Gardner Design, LLC Joins RUGMARK Foundation and Offers Contemporary Child Labor-Free Rugs to Consumers

Furniture World Magazine

Emma Gardner Design, a company specializing in fine contemporary rugs, recently joined RUGMARK Foundation, a global nonprofit organization that works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry. Emma Gardner, the company’s founder, is an artist, rug designer and illustrator and a former editor with Condé Nast publications. She applies her celebrated sense of color and composition to creating original rugs. Gardner believes that rugs are perfect for the kind of graphic, colorful designs she likes to create. She also loves the tactile aspect that rugs offer. “I wanted to have a company that would allow me to make designs I love, to offer them as wonderful, high quality rugs that people could enjoy the touch and feel of as well as the look,” says Gardner. “When I first realized that Tibetan hand-knotting provided an ideal form for my designs I was very concerned about child labor and I was thrilled to learn about RUGMARK.” Gardner’s designs are often hand drawn and then enhanced or colored on the computer using creative software. Once a line of designs has been created, several color schemes are developed for each rug. Based on the design and best expression of the original art, the rugs are either hand-knotted with Tibetan or New Zealand wool and/or fine Chinese silk in Nepal or hand-tufted in the U.S. using 100 percent New Zealand wool. “I am happy to be a part of an organization like RUGMARK because of its important work in helping prevent child labor and actively encouraging and funding alternatives,” explains Gardner. “It is also gratifying to be able to support the wonderful work of their certified mills.” RUGMARK works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and offers educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal, and Pakistan through loom and factory monitoring, consumer labeling, and running schools for former child workers. RUGMARK rescues on average three children per week from carpet looms and is currently educating or training nearly 2,400 students. “Our work is possible because of companies like Emma Gardner Design, LLC,” says Nina Smith, Executive Director of RUGMARK Foundation. “Socially responsible businesses can make a difference in the lives of children working in the rug industry.” More information on Emma Gardner Design, LLC is available at www.emmagardnerdesign.com or by calling 860.567.2290. Information about RUGMARK Foundation can be found at www.rugmark.org or by calling 1.866.RUGMARK (784.6275).