GoodWeave

01/22/2007 RugMark Adds New Licensees: Designers Weave Social Responsibility into Business Model

Washington, D.C., January 22, 2007: Two rug companies recently made the commitment to a heightened level of manufacturing integrity by joining RugMark, the non-profit organization working to end child labor in the carpet industry and to create educational opportunities for children in the weaving communities of India, Nepal and Pakistan. Judy Ross Textiles and Aleure, Ltd. have become licensees of RugMark, having completed a certification process that verifies that no child labor was used in the manufacture of a carpet or rug.

The growing attention paid by rug companies to the issue of ethical sourcing has become a burgeoning trend in the industry, with the sale of RugMark certified carpets growing by over 25% in each of the past two years. Similarly, consumers are becoming aware of this issue and are demanding proof that rugs they purchase are made without the use of child labor.

“The increased awareness about child labor in the rug industry -- among rug designers, retailers and consumers -- is gratifying to those of us who are seeking to eliminate it,” said Nina Smith, RugMark Executive Director. “As consumers begin to demand that their rugs are made without exploiting children, it becomes good business for rug makers to have their products certified by RugMark.”

Roslyn Johnson, principal of Aleure, Ltd., joined RugMark because of her strong belief that in a global economy we are all interdependent, and that child labor is a symptom of poverty. She is grateful that RugMark exists to compel the handmade carpet factories to accept social responsibility, and believes that her partnership with RugMark allows her to support communities of children globally.  Aleure, Ltd. creates unique designs using a variety of hand finishing techniques, and Johnson feels strongly that “By producing rugs without the use of child labor, we can maintain the intrinsic beauty of these luxurious pieces. For our rugs to be truly beautiful, they must be woven with high labor standards.”

Judy Ross, president of Judy Ross Textiles, found that RugMark provided an opportunity to become one more voice in the fight for ethical sourcing. “We are a growing operation which relies on honest, hard-working people in both New York and India,” says Ross. “The care and skill that go into our work is strenuous and meticulous, and supporting the elimination of illegal child labor enhances the integrity and quality of each rug we produce.”   Judy Ross Textiles was the result of Ross’ visit to Kashmir, where she discovered the chainstitch techniques of the masters. Her rugs now merge the worlds of craftsmanship and design, and are known for their sophisticated color sense.

Both companies share not only a determination to weave social integrity into their production process but optimism that their affiliation with RugMark will foster the growth of their business. In the fall of 2006, RugMark officially kicked off a three-year consumer education campaign, “The Most Beautiful Rug.” The campaign will raise awareness of the issue and motivate consumers to demand and purchase rugs that are independently certified and carry the RugMark® label.

“If we can get 15 percent of the handmade rug market certified by RugMark, that will be the point at which we’ve eliminated child labor from the weaving communities of South Asia,” Smith says. “We can do this in the next ten years, if everyone gets behind us. The partnership of these two companies is one more important step toward that goal.”