Inigo Elizalde

Inigo Elizalde Rugs is the eponymous New York City-based rug and textile studio of Philippines-born artist and designer Inigo Elizalde. The company specializes in Nepalese hand-knotted rugs, as well as hand-tufted rugs, flat weaves, dhurries, and home accessories – all of which are lovingly handcrafted by highly skilled artisans using both traditional and cutting-edge techniques and the finest possible materials.

With meticulous attention to detail and experimentation fundamental parts of the design process, Inigo Elizalde Rugs creates original, handmade products that are designed to be passed down as family heirlooms from one generation to the next. These creations feature vibrant motifs, rich textures, and bold graphics, all heavily influenced by Elizalde’s favorite places – from the snowy forests of British Columbia to the sandy beaches of his beloved homeland. “I want to show that beauty and compelling and exciting design imagery can be found everywhere,” Elizalde says. “I’m a big fan of the found object. The design is already there; it’s a matter of seeing it, extracting it, and elevating it.”

Whether you select one of Inigo Elizalde Rugs’ existing designs or opt for a custom one-of-a-kind piece that’s yours and yours alone, the choice of an Inigo Elizalde rug ensures the addition of a treasured item to your home or commercial project. You’ll be in excellent company; Elizalde’s clients include a coterie of top interior designers and architects who seek him out for his contemporary aesthetic and knowledge of ancient craft and production. His creations graces the floors of extraordinary locales throughout the world.

CLIMA Home is the only showroom in Florida that carries the exclusive Inigo Elizalde rug brand.

History

Inigo Elizalde was born in the Philippines in the middle of a powerful tropical typhoon. He spent his formative years in boarding school in New England before graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting.

After a number of years as art director for the fashion accessories brand Rafé New York, Elizalde serendipitously found an unexpected outlet for his creativity: rug design. He visited a friend’s mill in the Philippines and was instantly enamored with the history, craft, and science behind rugmaking. A few days later, he left with his first rug collection in production.

The inspiration for Elizalde’s first collection of fine carpets came directly from nature, specifically its surface textures, landscapes, and weather conditions. For his second collection, the designer let his love of ethnic fabrics and graphics seep into the design process. He introduced more color, as well as experimented with texture and materials.

Elizalde’s third collection was dedicated to all things Filipino, including native textile motifs and the vibrantly colored and kitschy mode of transportation that characterizes modern-day Manila: the jeepney. In fact, each design is named after a jeepney route stop along the city’s main roadway.

“I feel most alive when outside, and I want to share that with people through the experience of my designs,” Elizalde says. “I want to bring the outside world inside, and, in a sense, create a different way of experiencing the outside environment, so that the surrounding world can be better appreciated.”

Materials

All Inigo Elizalde rugs are handmade by expert artisans whose knowledge of traditional techniques has been passed down through generations. Elizalde’s designs are brought to fruition using unexpected combinations of exotic materials, including Tibetan Highland, New Zealand, and Indian wool; pashmina, mohair, and merino wool; abaca, bamboo, nettle, hemp, Tencel, and Sunpat (cactus) fibers; Chinese and Indian silk; and cotton, linen, jute, nylon, and recycled lurex. These fabrics and textiles are brought together to create multisensory works of art.

Inigo Elizalde Rugs is a proud member of the GoodWeave organization, which works through its certification program to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and provide worthy educational opportunities for children in South Asia. GoodWeave was founded on a simple premise: If enough people demand certified child-labor-free rugs, manufacturers would in turn employ only skilled, adult artisans, and children would no longer be exploited in the carpet industry.

“I want to bring the outside world inside, and, in a sense, create a different way of experiencing the outside environment, so that the surrounding world can be better appreciated.”