Apparatus designs a series of modular rugs for cc-tapis

Cc-tapis is not known to shy away from a challenge – quite the contrary. The Italian textile brand – founded by Fabrizio Cantoni and his wife, Nelly Chamszadeh – has carved a niche for itself by producing statement rugs that have comfortably settled in the medium of fine art. All its pieces are crafted by hand in its Nepalese atelier in Kathmandu, and many have been conceptualised by a vibrant roster of international design talents who do not traditionally work in the medium, including the likes of Faye Toogood and Patricia Urquiola, as well as Lebanese jewellery designer Nadine Kanso. cc-tapis’ products blend abstract forms, bold colour combinations and expert craftsmanship, making it one of the most sought-after brands for sourcing luxury rugs.

Its latest collaboration is with none other than New York’s Apparatus, a studio helmed by Gabriel Hendifar, who creates emotive furnishings and lighting fixtures that are sewn with narrative, and sometimes inspired by Hendifar’s Iranian heritage. Apparatus’ designs are predicated on the modernist principle of ‘gesamtkunstwerk’, where each piece contributes to a singular work of art or vision. Much like cc-tapis’ own dedication to craftsmanship, Apparatus creates each piece with the same rigorous devotion, setting the human hand at the soul of each object.

Its collection for cc-tapis is a natural continuation of its search for beauty and irregularity, comprising a series of modular rugs called Sequence, which investigates the relationship between form and material, featuring simple sinuous and linear planes that can be customised into endless configurations. Hand-tufted in Thailand using pure Vietnamese silk and worsted New Zealand wool, the rugs’ shapes are fused at a distance using Apparatus’ brass hardware, highlighting the power of the ‘in-between’. The collection recalls the silhouettes of French fashion icon Pierre Cardin, while highlighting the circular sense of passage evoked by a porte-cochère.

identity interviews Apparatus’ founder, Gabriel Hendifar to learn more about the collection: 

What was the inspiration behind the collection?

GH: I originally designed this rug concept when we opened our gallery in Los Angeles, circa 2018. In our projects, I’ve always been interested in introducing unusual interventions or materials onto the floor plane as a way to create punctuation.