Spotlight On: Edgar Kelly Rugs
Austin, Texas
Edgar and Kelly Podzemny are proud of their international collection of antique, contemporary and traditional rugs, and equally proud of their alliance with GoodWeave. They credit Stephanie Odegard, founder and president of Odegard Inc., for their decision to sign on. "She presented the humanitarian option, one that involved no child labor," says Edgar. "To us that was clearly the right idea."
The Podzemnys have always loved Persian carpets. When they decided to transform their passion for beautiful rugs into a business in the early 1990s, they took to the road, hosting rug shows throughout Texas. A decade later, those trunk shows have been transformed into a 6,000-square-foot gallery in downtown Austin, divided into separate areas for contemporary, antique and traditional rugs. Following their initial guiding principle of elevating and enriching the rug-buying experience, they have established their name in the rug industry.
Ninety percent of Edgar Kelly’s contemporary designs are hand-spun, hand-knotted rugs from Nepal, woven by Tibetan refugees using traditional techniques to create a contemporary palette. The company also has an extensive collection of antique rugs. The Podzemnys are always on the hunt for unusual pieces, such as an Ushak that was signed and commissioned by Julio Franco and actually made in his palace. "Sometimes a rug comes in that none of us wants to sell, like a Mamluk by Woven Legends, which is a 16th-century Egyptian reproduction," says Damien Clark, Edgar Kelly’s manager. "We’d all just like to take it home!" As for the retail and trade customers who do get to take the rugs home, Clark adds that the GoodWeave affiliation is a highlight. "We flip the rug over and when people see we are part of GoodWeave, they really appreciate it."
Find out more about Edgar Kelly Rugs at www.edgarkellyrugs.com.
