Edwards Fields, and its parent company Tai Ping, are established names in the realm of rugs and carpets. Both companies have a tradition of innovations and great designs. I recently spoke to Jim Hanna with Edwards Fields about rugs, the future and the ‘great peace’. Edwards Fields and Tai Ping are such fashion-forward companies, but both have been around for a long time, how they keep things fresh?Edwards Fields, the company, has been around since1935. Edwards Fields, the man, was an icon – he was on the world’s best-dressed lists and he was the person who coined the phrase ‘area rug’. That set the tone and we have been on the forefront ever since. Tai Ping has always been innovative. Its name means ‘great peace’ – which everyone wants - a great piece, I mean ‘peace’, … how can you go wrong with that?Are we still talking about Rugs?Um, sorry I drifted for a moment… yeah, sure.We really applaud your use of great designers for your rugs. Tell us about the designers.In North America our Design Director is Yasmina Kossman and she is so talented. We also have an in-house Design Studio in Paris with fresh designers who are constantly creating. We are pretty much all in house. We have had Kenso do a collection and we had an interesting line by French artists. In addition to the new design, we also have our older collections. Nothing is every discontinued and it is all hand done.To what do you attribute the shift in rugs and carpet design?Its the green movement that has lead to the interesting changes in rugs and carpets. LEEDS, eco-friendly design, go natural – it is on everyone’s minds and we have a very sophisticated clientele is asking for it. We have rugs made from bamboo, soy, five kinds of silk, cotton, wool, jute, and more. Mixing them creates wonderful rugs. They are sensuous and touchable. One of the newest combinations we have is wool and cashmere. (Yummy!) See what I mean– great piece!What movements do you see in the future?Cleaner, simpler, this is the way we are living now and that is reflected in our furnishings. People are doing more cacooning and investing in their homes. So it is not so much about fancy jewelry, and expensive cars but a home that is a comfort and a haven.Who is your favorite wallpaper designer?Yasmina! She travels the world and comes back with wonderful fresh ideas and textiles.We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!