Green rug sales double for Colonial Mills   

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/10/2008 1:37:00 PM

Pawtucket, R.I. – Braided-texture area rug manufacturer cmi (Colonial Mills, Inc.) reports that year-to-date sales have spiked by 100% over last year for its “earthtone” and “bamboozle” eco-friendly lines of area rugs.

Sales have doubled through the first five months of 2008, the company said.

“We made the first step toward going ‘green’ in 2006 with our bamboozle collection of braided-texture bamboo rugs and then followed that up with our earthtone line of 100% jute rugs in the summer of 2007,” said Donald Scarlata, president and ceo of cmi. “The two collections created quite a buzz at High Point and have been selling well.”

The earthtone jute line comes in ovals and rectangles, with a natural beige colorway for informal indoor applications and protected outdoor environments such as porches. Second only to cotton in global consumption, jute creates thread that is strong, non-toxic, produces no residue, possesses low thermal conductivity and antistatic characteristics and is biodegradable, said cmi.

The made-in-the-U.S.A. bamboozle bamboo rug is offered under license from home decorator Janelle Jarous Lampp. The “rounded border rectangle” features 100% bamboo yarn and like the earthtone line, is reversible.

The company offers a range of accessories for each accent rug line, including chair pads, trivets, rug slices, heart rugs, stair treads, utility baskets, placemats, waste baskets and table runners.