GoodWeave by RugMark - News Releases

GoodWeaves One in a Million Campaign Debuts at Atlanta Rug Show

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - In January 2011, GoodWeave USA unveils One in a Million, the nonprofit’s new campaign to bring attention to its market-based solution to end child labor in the handmade rug industry. The One in a Million campaign seeks to capture a 6% market share for certified rugs in 2011, with the ultimate goal of reaching the tipping point to end child labor by 2018.

GoodWeave Recognizes Childrens Rights Defenders

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - This International Human Rights Day, GoodWeave, an international nonprofit working to eliminate child labor in the rug industry, celebrates the achievements of human rights defenders around the world.

GoodWeave USA Releases 2009 Annual Report

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC – GoodWeave USA released today its 2009 Annual Report, which highlights the organization’s accomplishments in the fight against child labor in South Asia’s handmade rug industry.

Faces of Freedom Showcased in Nebraska

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - From October 3 – 10, Lincoln’s renowned Michael Forsberg Gallery will host GoodWeave’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit. The collection of photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano in South Asia, depicts both the horrors of child labor and the hopeful faces of children the GoodWeave program has saved from the looms.

Six New U.S. and International Rug Companies Earn GoodWeaves Child-Labor-Free Label

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Six rug companies recently joined the GoodWeave certification program, which works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia. With the addition of Diane Paparo Studio, I + I srl, Inigo Elizalde Rugs, The Miller Davis Group, Modern Fever, and Tania Johnson Design, GoodWeave now licenses 75 North American companies to import rugs bearing the GoodWeave label.

Global Fund for Children and GoodWeave Launch Partnership to Combat Child Labor in India

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC – The Global Fund for Children (GFC) and GoodWeave have launched a strategic partnership aimed to combat exploitative child labor practices in India’s handmade carpet industry. The partnership will focus on strengthening community-based groups working on this issue in Uttar Pradesh, a province in India’s northern carpet belt.

Interior Resources Joins GoodWeave

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Dallas-based Interior Resources has joined the GoodWeave certification program, which works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

GoodWeave Announces Ninth Annual Rug Raffle

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

GoodWeave USA has just launched its ninth annual rug raffle, offering entrants, for as little as $25, the chance to win a luxurious handmade rug, designed and donated by Sydney, Australia-based Cadrys Handmade Rug Specialists and certified child-labor-free by GoodWeave. 100% of proceeds support GoodWeave’s work to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

The Emancipation Network Partners with GoodWeave, Offering Child-Labor-Free Rugs Woven by Survivors of Slavery

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - The Emancipation Network (TEN) has joined GoodWeave’s child-labor-free rug certification. TEN, a nonprofit based in St. Augustine, Florida, works with 18 anti-trafficking shelters in nine countries to help survivors of slavery by supporting their business development and marketing their crafts. TEN’s new line of hand knotted Tibetan rugs are designed and woven by young women at a shelter home in Kathmandu.

On World Day against Child Labor, GoodWeave Celebrates Progress in the Rug Industry

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - On the 11th anniversary of World Day against Child Labor, GoodWeave joins its partners in the rug industry in celebrating progress made in the fight against illegal child labor. This day marks the adoption of the landmark International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182, which addresses the need for action to tackle the worst forms of child labor, to include carpet work.

Odegard Chicago Hosts Exhibit

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - From June 10 – 18, Odegard’s Chicago showroom will host GoodWeave’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit. The collection of photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano in South Asia, depicts both the horrors of child labor and the hopeful faces of children the GoodWeave program has saved from the looms.

Cadrys Handwoven Rug Specialists Joins GoodWeave

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Cadrys Handwoven Rug Specialists has joined the GoodWeave certification program, which works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia. As a global licensee of GoodWeave, the Sydney, Australia-based rug company is authorized to import certified rugs into every country where Cadrys has distribution.

RugMark USA Welcomes Dan Viederman to Board of Directors

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Dan Viederman has joined the Board of Directors for RugMark USA, the nonprofit working to end child labor in South Asia’s handmade carpet industry via the GoodWeave certification program. Viederman is Executive Director of Verité, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that people worldwide work under safe, fair and legal conditions.

Kul Chandra Gautam Joins RugMark USA Board

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Kul Chandra Gautam has joined the Board of Directors of RugMark USA, the nonprofit working to end child labor in South Asia’s handmade carpet industry via the GoodWeave certification program. A former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Gautam also served as Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. For more than three decades, his work for these agencies included the areas of socio-economic development, humanitarian assistance, human rights, and international diplomacy.

The Rug Source in Denver Hosts Faces of Freedom

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - From May 3 – 28, The Rug Source in Denver will host RugMark’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit. This collection of photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano in South Asia, depicts both the horrors of child labor and the hopeful faces of children the GoodWeave program has saved from the looms. The exhibit will remain on display in the showroom throughout this year’s Rocky Mountain Designers’ Market, taking place May 12 & 13.

Landry & Arcari Host Faces of Freedom

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - From May 6 – 20, Landry & Arcari’s showrooms, in both Boston and Salem, Mass., will host RugMark’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit. The collection of photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano in South Asia, depicts both the horrors of child labor and the hopeful faces of children the GoodWeave program has saved from the looms.

Nine New Companies Join GoodWeave

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Nine rug companies recently joined the GoodWeave certification program, which works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

60% Odegard Sale at Macy's on State Street, Chicago

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - This March, the historic Macy’s on State Street will host a one-time 60%-off sale of Odegard rugs certified by GoodWeave.™ This is a rare opportunity to purchase a sumptuous and stylish Odegard rug at a deeply discounted price. The store will also host two special in-store appearances of Stephanie Odegard, founder of the internationally acclaimed design company Odegard, Inc.

Ethical Rug Sourcebook to Debut at Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - RugMark USA, the nonprofit working to end child labor in the carpet industry, is publishing the GoodWeave Rug Sourcebook, a hands-on tool for designers looking to source ethically produced, handmade rugs.

Exhibit on Child Labor and the South Asian Rug Industry Tours the Northeast

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - Throughout March, RugMark’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit will circulate through Company C northeastern retail stores.

GoodWeave Adds 2Moderns to Growing List of Companies

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - 2Modern, a Bay area-based, online retailer of modern home interiors, joins roughly 70 other licensed North American importers in agreeing to adhere to GoodWeave’s no-child-labor standard.

RugMark Receives National BEA Award

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - RugMark has been awarded with the Building Economic Alternatives (BEA) Award, given by Green America to recognize groups or individuals that are leading the movement to use the economy as a tool for building a more just and sustainable society.

GoodWeave Launches Carbon Offsetting Initiative

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - RugMark USA, which works to end child labor in the carpet industry through the GoodWeave certification program, has announced the launch of a customized carbon offsetting program in partnership with Carbon Clear, one of world’s largest carbon management companies.

Five New Companies Join GoodWeave

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - Five new companies have joined forces with GoodWeave to help put an end to exploitive child labor in the handmade rug industry.

Faces of Freedom Exhibit Opens at the World Bank

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC – The World Bank will host a reception to launch Faces of Freedom, a nationally touring photography exhibit curated by RugMark USA, a nonprofit organization working to end exploitative child labor in South Asia’s handmade carpet industry.

RugMark USA Chosen for Catalogue for Philanthropy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - RugMark USA, the organization behind the GoodWeave™ child-labor-free rug certification, was selected for the prestigious 2009-10 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. RugMark USA is one of 68 outstanding nonprofits to be featured this year, and one of only three working internationally.

Miami Airport Set to Unveil Art Exhibition With a Purpose

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Miami-Dade County, FL – Faces of Freedom: Behind the Looms, a photography exhibition documenting efforts to end child labor in South Asia’s carpet industry, will be on display at Miami International Airport’s South Terminal Art Gallery beginning Thursday, November 19 through April 2010.

GoodWeave Program to End Child Labor Announces 8th Annual Rug Raffle

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - RugMark USA has just launched its eighth annual rug raffle, offering entrants, for as little as $25, the chance to win a luxurious handmade rug, designed and donated by New York-based Warp & Weft and certified child-labor-free by GoodWeave. Proceeds help support RugMark’s GoodWeave certification program, which works to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in South Asia.

Faces of Freedom Opens at the DC Green Festival

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Faces of Freedom, a photography exhibition on child labor in the rug industry, is on display at the DC Green Festival. This nationally touring exhibit is sponsored by RugMark USA, a nonprofit working to end child labor in South Asia’s handmade carpet industry through the GoodWeave certification program, in partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the exhibition’s national co-sponsor.

RugMark Introduces GoodWeave

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC -
Building on its 15 years of protecting children and promoting ethical carpet production, this September RugMark and its industry partners launch GoodWeave™, a new brand and label for its expanding certification program.

Faces of Freedom Photography Exhibit Opens at UNICEF House

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

New York, NY - To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, UNICEF’s Danny Kaye Visitor’s Center will host Faces of Freedom, an acclaimed nationally touring photography exhibit co-sponsored by RugMark USA, a nonprofit working to end exploitative child labor in South Asia’s handmade carpet industry, in partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. A collection of black and white and color photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano, depicts South Asia’s illegal child labor in the handmade rug industry and RugMark’s innovative, replicable solution to the problem.

Photography Exhibit on Child Labor in the Rug Industry Makes its West Coast Debut

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - RugMark’s nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit makes its West Coast debut at the San Francisco Design Center May 13 to June 13. This collection of black and white and color photographs, taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano in South Asia, depict illegal child labor in the handmade rug industry and RugMark’s innovative child-labor- free rug certification program designed to eradicate it.

Rug Designer Robin Gray Joins RugMark Efforts to End Child Labor; Opens New Santa Fe Showroom

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - On the heels of its new showroom opening, Robin Gray Design has joined the 60-plus companies partnering with RugMark to put an end to child labor in the handmade rug industry.

NIBA and The Rug Studio Among Seven New Rug Companies Teaming with RugMark to End Child Labor

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, DC - Seven North American rug companies recently joined RugMark to help put an end to exploitive child labor in the handmade rug industry. NIBA Rug Collections and The Rug Studio, along with Apeiron, Custom Cool, Dai Living, Layne Goldsmith , and Sara Schneidman, bring the number of licensees to 62, whose RugMark certified rugs currently account for more than 3% of the handmade rugs sold in the U.S.

"Faces of Freedom" Photography Exhibit Opens in Russell Rotunda February 2

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC - RugMark's nationally touring Faces of Freedom photography exhibit makes its Capitol Hill debut at the Russell Senate Rotunda February 2-6. The exhibit commemorates the 10th anniversary of International Labor Organization Convention 182 Against Worst Forms of Child Labor and honors Senator Tom Harkin for his work to end exploitative child labor.

RugMark Unveils Faces of Freedom in New York

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

NEW YORK, NY, September 15, 2008 – As leading figures in the rug industry travel to New York City for the fifth annual Metro Market Week and the New York International Carpet Show, international social justice nonprofit RugMark USA and its industry partners prepare to launch the Faces of Freedom photo exhibition. The collection of work by internationally acclaimed photographer U. Roberto Romano will be on display at the Odegard New York showroom from September 15-26, and will reveal stories of former child weavers and their journey from moments of exploitation and desperation to opportunities of rehabilitation and education.

The Rug Company Joins RugMark: International Luxury Rug Label Teams Up with Non-profit Organization to Improve Nepalese Weaving Conditions

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., June 25, 2008 – The Rug Company, known world-wide for its hand crafted, high design rugs and tapestries, has joined RugMark to ensure children go to school instead of work. The Rug Company is now a licensee of the US based RugMark, an independent inspection and monitoring program that confirms rugs are manufactured without the use of child labor and provides educational opportunities for children in India and Nepal.

Four More Rug companies Team with RugMark to End Child Labor

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., April 17, 2008 – Four rug companies from the U.S. and Canada recently teamed with RugMark to collectively put an end to exploitive child labor in the handmade rug industry. The Nought Collective, notNeutral, Creative Matters and Rug Art are now licensees of RugMark, an independent inspection and monitoring program that confirms rugs are manufactured without the use of child labor and provides educational opportunities for children in India and Nepal.

Rosemary Hallgarten Extends Commitment to Just Supply Chain by Joining RugMark's Child-Labor-Free Certification Program

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

WASHINGTON D.C., February 21, 2008 – Rosemary Hallgarten Inc. recently joined forces with the nonprofit RugMark to promote fair manufacturing practices in South Asia’s handmade rug industry. Through its independent inspection and monitoring program, RugMark confirms rugs are manufactured without the use of child labor and offers schooling to children in South Asia.

RugMark Bolsters Business Development Efforts With Addition of Scott Welker and Michael Christie

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

WASHINGTON D.C., December 6 – RugMark USA announces the addition of two key staff to its business development team. Scott Welker has joined RugMark as Director, Business Development and Michael Christie will provide business development consulting services.

Ned Daly to Lead RugMark International Expansion Efforts

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

WASHINGTON D.C., November 19 – RugMark USA announces an important new staff addition for RugMark International. Ned Daly will serve as the Director of RugMark International and will oversee the governance of the RugMark International network, facilitate independent audits of national programs, strengthen standards and systems, and coordinate the work of current and new national offices.

RugMark Foundation Raffles Handmade Rug by Emma Gardner

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

WASHINGTON D.C., November 14 – RugMark is pleased to announce that its 2007 rug raffle is now underway. On offer this year is a luxury, handmade rug donated by RugMark member and award winning designer Emma C. Gardner, chief designer and principal of emma gardner design. The company has been a RugMark licensee since 2002, and all of its rugs bear the RugMark label, the best assurance that a rug is child-labor-free.

Dwell® President and Publisher Michela O'Connor Abrams Appointed to RugMark Foundation USA Board of Directors

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 5, 2007—Today Michela O’Connor Abrams, President and Publisher of Dwell was appointed to the RugMark Foundation USA Board of Directors, the body advising the nonprofit organization working to end exploitative child labor in the handmade carpet industry and give educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal and Pakistan.

RugMark Informs San Francisco Design Community About Child Labor in Rug Industry and a Beautiful Solution at Western Interiors Design + Home Show

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., October 24 – RugMark educated design professionals and consumers about the prevalence of child labor in South Asia’s carpet industry at the Western Interiors Design + Home Show on October 26-28, 2007 in San Francisco. Exploitative child labor is widespread in the carpet industry, but design professionals and consumers can help eliminate this inhumane practice by demanding carpets bearing the RugMark label, the best assurance that a rug was made by adult artisans, not children.

Amid Softening U.S. Rug Sales, RugMark Posts 30 Percent Annual Market Growth Certified Child-Labor-Free Rugs

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., September 25 – A growing number of U.S. rug consumers are factoring social responsibility into their rug purchasing decisions by selecting rugs with the RugMark certification label. In the wake of Metro Rug Alliance Market Week in New York – one of the rug industry’s most significant professional events – RugMark announces that certified rug imports to the U.S. have grown from $0 in 1996 to $8.9 million in 2006. Sales of child-labor-free rugs have increased by nearly 30 percent per year since 2004.

Increased Levels of Child Labor in India's Cotton Industry Reported

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., September 24 – The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), along with international partners including OECD Watch, India Committee of the Netherlands, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe and Eine Welt Netz NRW, released a report today focused on recent trends in employment of child labor on cottonseed farms in India. The report estimates that roughly 416,460 children, out of which 224,960 are under the age of 14, are still working on cottonseed farms in the four major producing states in India, representing an increase from the 2003-2004 harvest season.

Child-Labor-Free Rugs on Exhibit at Dwell on Design; RugMark to Discuss How Certification Can End Child Labor

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., September 11 – RugMark and three of its licensed rug designers will inform the “green” design community about the importance of humanitarian standards in the making of handmade carpets at Dwell on Design on September 14-16, 2007 in San Francisco. Exploitative child labor is prevalent in the carpet industry and RugMark’s aim is to permanently end this practice.

Five Rug Companies Join Forces With RugMark to Eliminate Child Labor in the Handmade Rug Industry

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., August 20 – Five rug companies recently took a stand for ethical manufacturing standards by joining the nonprofit RugMark. Barbara Jacobs Color and Design, Davis & Davis, Dorjé Contemporary, Nying Zemo and Satia Art + Floor are now licensees of RugMark, an independent inspection and monitoring program that confirms rugs are manufactured without the use of child labor and provides educational opportunities for children in India, Nepal and Pakistan.

RugMark Releases Resource for Socially Responsible Rug Consumers: How to Buy a Rug Guide

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON DC, July 9 – RugMark’s new How to Buy a Rug guide now makes it easier for individuals to buy handmade rugs that are both visually beautiful and ethically made. The guide, which distills the often daunting process of purchasing a handmade rug into five steps, stresses the importance of selecting a carpet that is made by skilled adult artisans.

2007 Trafficking in Persons Report

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON, DC, June 13 – RugMark’s founder, Kailash Satyarthi is highlighted in the U.S. Department of State's 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report as one of this year’s heroes in the fight to end modern-day slavery. To view the report in its entirety, please click here.

Two Former Child Slaves from Nepal to Share Their Stories of Rescue and Renewal on Four-City US Tour

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON, DC, March 13 – The average day for an American eight-year-old is likely to include video games and hours in front of a computer. Half a world away Jaya Bhandari and Sanita Lama led a different life: they worked illegally as carpet slaves, spending hours in Kathmandu rug factories making pennies a day. Today, the teenagers, now 19, are high school graduates and in a position to help other children who have been enslaved by the carpet industry to reclaim their childhoods.

RugMark Adds New Licensees: Designers Weave Social Responsibility into Business Model

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

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.

RugMark Launches Campaign to End Illegal Child Labor in Rug Production

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0500

RugMark Launches Campaign to End Illegal Child Labor in Rug Production - Against the backdrop of two rug industry trade shows, Metro Rug Alliance Market Week and the New York International Carpet Show, RugMark rolled out The Most Beautiful Rug: RugMark’s Campaign to End Child Labor.

RugMark Rolls Out Campaign to End Child Labor

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500

RugMark Rolls Out The Most Beautiful Rug public education campaign to create consumer demand for child-labor-free handmade rugs and to eradicate illegal child labor in the industry

Five Rug Companies Sign-up to Sell Certified Child-Labor-Free Rugs

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Washington D.C., June 14: Five rug companies recently committed to increased manufacturing integrity through membership in the nonprofit RugMark.

Italian Design Company Brings Child-labor-free rugs to the U.S.: Stile BK Joins RugMark

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Washington D.C., March 31: Linking fine Italian design with social responsibility, Stile BK recently signed with RugMark Foundation USA. From now on each of the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s handmade rugs from Nepal will be certified child-labor-free with the RugMark label.

Company C Brings Rugmark Certification To Their Colorful Designs

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Washington D.C., November 15: Company C recently signed with Rugmark bringing child labor-free certification to a broad consumer base. With over 600 retailers nationwide and prominent placement in major catalogs such as Neiman Marcus, Garnet Hill and LL Bean, Company C brings buyers at these venues assurance that handmade rugs are created without the use of child labor. This certification marks Company C’s production integrity and demonstrates their commitment to bring hope through education for children in weaving communities.

Tighter Knot between Carpet Industry and RugMark Reduces Child Labor

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Washington D.C.: Four rug companies recently committed to increased social standards and production transparency through membership in the nonprofit RUGMARK. A+ Designs, Amy Helfand, DuncanArts, and Mat the Basics have signed on to be licensees of RUGMARK, an inspection and certification program that verifies illegal child labor is not used and creates educational opportunities for children in the weaving communities of India, Nepal and Pakistan.

M & M Design International Becomes Certified by RugMark Combining Production Integrity & Designer Talent

Tue, 07 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, D.C., June 7: M&M Design International Inc. recently became a RUGMARK certified importer after meeting specific human rights guidelines throughout their supply chain. This commitment to fair labor standards coupled with a unique product development approach reflects the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s integrity in every aspect of business.

RugMark Marketing Partners Poised to Tap Socially Responsible Market

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Rugmark is expanding its Marketing Partnership to include retailers and showrooms across the country in order to tap the growing socially responsible marketplace of 68 million U.S. consumers. Member retailers, who make a financial contribution to Rugmark in exchange for marketing benefits, say the Rugmark label helps to sell rugs.

RugMark USA Awarded $440,000 by Skoll Foundation

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Washington, DC Ã¢â‚¬â€œ March 18, 2005 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ RugMark USA announced today that it has won the 2005 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in the amount of $440,000.

RugMark and Member Companies Tap Growing Market at DC Green Festival

Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Washington, D.C., September 23 Ã¢â‚¬â€RugMark and its member companies exhibited with hundreds of ethically conscious businesses at the Green Festival, September 18th and 19th at the Washington, DC Convention Center.

Peddada Signs with Rugmark to Help End Child Labor

Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON D.C., July 8, 2004: Peddada importer of fine Indian and Nepalese area rugs, has joined RUGMARK in its fight to end child labor in the carpet industry. It is the 20th company to join RUGMARKÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s innovative certification program.

Delinear Rugs Combines Design and Business Ethics; Launches New Line of RugMark Child Labor-Free Rugs

Fri, 20 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0600

WASHINGTON D.C., February 20, 2004: Delinear Designs of San Francisco just launched its new line of rugs combining modern design and good business ethics. As the 18th company to join RugMark, every Delinear Design rug will carry the RugMark label to ensure that no child labor is used and that a portion of the purchase price will fund educational opportunities for children.