It’s quite difficult to walk down Main Street in Providence and not take note of the massive silk rug hanging in the window of Loominous—it’s a pleasing distraction to any passerby. The storefront is rich but simple, dark but light. The inside is a silk and woolen maze through an art form that dates back to around 400 B.C.
Bob Sarlak and his business partners, Behroux Sarlak and Shahrooz Feizabadi, Sarlak’s brother and brother-in-law respectively, recently found a new home for their desire, the art of weaving, one door down from their previous location. Loominous, formerly known as Lotus, moved into the massive 7,000 square-foot space eight months ago and brought the building back to its original glory. The building is 134 years old, constructed of solid hardwood floors, red brick walls and elegantly carved wooden shutters and doors. The original construction is the perfect backdrop to display beauty that has flourished thanks to countless hours of knotting. “We are small,” Sarlak told Tribe, “but we concentrate on making good quality pieces.”
In an age where mass production and cost efficiency rules, Sarlak is proud to explain how their product is created: by inspiration, not greed. Loominous rugs are woven in many corners of the world—France, Turkey, Armenia and Iran—but lately they have been produced in India. “We have a crew that is made up of very talented people from different backgrounds, and they vary on technique and design. The designs are a collaborative effort.” Sarlak went on to explain how his melting pot of artists allows some of the rugs to be more traditional, others more modern and some fantastically elaborate.
Sarlak does not weave but he understands the demanding method. It’s quite difficult and requires a lot of time. It starts with purchasing the wool—but not just any wool. A wool’s quality often depends upon its origin. Bob explains, “Some people think wool is just wool but it comes from different sheep and depends on when they are sheared. It has to be done once a year so the wool, the fibers, can become strong. If wool is cut too often it isn’t of good quality. It also has to do with climate. It must be a good climate. Colder climates and higher elevations make for better wool because the colder it is the more fur the sheep have.” The type of wool Loominous uses is referred to as virgin wool, which is not processed Once the most pure and luxurious wool is chosen it is dyed with agents to produce intense colors. After quality material has been obtained, the process moves into the hands of the artists.
Before the crew sits down side by side at the loom, a painter or an illustrator maps out a design, though this is not always the case. If the design is simple or tribal, the weavers will improvise. “You have to have people that are very good at what they do so they do not make mistakes. These people are professional and have been weaving as a craft for years. For some of them it is a tradition that has been passed down in their family. Our weavers are very artistic,” boasted Sarlak. Making the knots is not that difficult but it is time consuming considering pattern and the fact that the knots are done one-by-one.
Bob walked into the back room to show a tribal rug, considered tribal because it is simpler and with sporadic shapes. The 32 foot by 51 foot rug of blue hues is the centerpiece of the room and so incredible it probably shouldn’t be walked on. “See,” Sarlak said as he opened the tall shutter to let the sunlight in, “the weavers put the characters in themselves. See the hearts?” He bent down and touched the fibers. “We pick out a color combination, and they put themselves into it. You see these characters? Some of them are birds, which are for luck. If they see a figure they like, they put it in. Sometimes they make flowers or birds. Basically, whatever they see around them that they like.” This specific rug took roughly four months to knot. Knotting is performed using several techniques that vary based on the effect they are trying to achieve. One thing is for sure: the more knots, the more intricate the color of a design. When weaving silk, the knots are even smaller, creating an even softer material. Silk is extraordinarily delicate to the touch and challenging to work with, like weaving a fluffy cloud through your fingers.
Sarlak was raised in central Iran where the weaving industry is huge and has a reputation for producing quality rugs. When he was a child he and his brother would play with their toy cars on these works of art. They would pretend certain lines were roads, and they would “drive” around. Nostalgically he mentioned how comfortable the rugs were to just stretch out on. “These rugs are good for children because of their color. It acts as stimulation.” For Sarlak and his brother, outside of running a business, they are trying to carry on a tradition.
Amid the immense works of art draping the walls, the mountains of rugs laid flat and the bundles of ones rolled up, there are other treasures such as antique furniture adorned with gold trim and crafted out of solid oak. They are the perfect complement to these creative rugs.
Loominous has been getting its fair share of foot traffic and the owners quite enjoy it when people come in to ogle at the masterpieces. Designers often go to Sarlak for statement pieces. They also sell to other international dealers. It’s an expensive business because they have to buy the wool, pay the weaver, pay for transportation and pay for customs. With all that under consideration they still find many customers who want individualized rugs, heirlooms that will last more than a lifetime. People appreciate what Loominous purveys, and Loominous is proud of what they sell and the heritage they are upholding.
