Oriental Weavers creates new division for handmade rug launch

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/27/2001 12:00:00 AM

Dalton, GA — Oriental Weavers Group's Sphinx division, based here, will launch a new handmade rug collection to be introduced in January under a new company division called Oasis.

Sphinx, traditionally a machine-made rug manufacturer in Cairo, has been gearing up since February to create the new line of handmade rugs, which will be introduced in 2002 at the Atlanta Rug Market. The handmade rugs will be imported from several countries, including China and India.

Oasis is being spearheaded by Linda Harlow, division managing director. Harlow previously worked for Macy's West for 25 years, most recently as area rug buyer. She joined Sphinx in February.

"Handmades is an important move for Sphinx," Harlow said. "It's important for us to enter that category."