Rebecca Lurie, co-founder of Kush Hand-knotted Carpets , wants to get the word out about a project she's undertaken to help combat violence against women in Pakistan. Since last December, Lurie has been setting aside half the proceeds from her sales of Rajasthani textiles to send to the Progressive Women's Association (PWA) in Pakistan. Recently, the founder, Shahnaz Bokhari, called Lurie to express appreciation and to ask for additional help. To date, Lurie has sent $1,600 to the PWA, inspired by a piece in The New York Times by Nicholas Kristof about acid attacks on women in the region.
Lurie has just ordered more textiles in hopes of raising $2,000. She knows it is a lofty goal, but also knows the money is a tremendous help to them -- much more than what it may seem to us, she says.
The textiles themselves, patchworks of recycled sari fragments, make great gifts, which is why she makes a special effort to publicize the program at this time of year.
-- Bridget A. Otto
Rejuvenation + Kush = one good looking installation.
Kush is pleased to announce we are partnering with one of the most revered lighting, furniture, and home showrooms in Portland. Perhaps you have heard of a little store by the name of Rejuvenation? Kush rugs are currently being feature in several of their showroom vignettes.
Kush partnered with SRM, Maison and Molly's Fund at this year's Home and Garden show in the Serving Up Style benefit for Molly's Fund Lupus Foundation.
What an incredible display of design talent creating a "Dining Room Row" of sorts right smack dab in the middle of the home show. We were so excited to see our rugs deck out the lush setting along with fabrics from Hexafoo, tile from Ann Sacks, furniture from Asia America, objects from Bedford Brown and textiles from Indigo Traders. With a lineup like that, and the design prowess of SRM and Maison combined, it's no wonder the space won the Designer's Choice award.
Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus is such an incredible and worthy cause, we were simply honored to be a part. Check out their story, support this great cause, spread the word!
Kush announces a crazy beautiful collection of Mamluk Design Rugs fresh off the loom! Many sizes, colors, and designs with the common feature of incredible, intricate patterns made mesmerizing by rich jewel tone colors. Some have stark contrast, bringing the delicate geometric patterns into focus. Others are more subtle, with soft, muted colors playing together to create a quiet serenity.
Why wool? Let me count the ways... Natural, renewable, soft, hearty, plush, supple, washable, eco-friendly, organic, hmmm I seem to be repeating myself. Sometimes a story is best illustrated through pictures. Check out our new photos on flickr to see raw wool transformed into utilitarian art.
The wool express is ready for delivery.
Summertime and the living is "Kush."
Sunday I took a Sahar and a Khamseh on a field trip outside to be photographed in front of the gallery. The sun was brilliant and the vegetal dyes shimmered in the afternoon light.
Many people inquire about the attributes of dyes utilized in Oriental carpets. We carefully choose pieces with color fast vegetal or highly quality Swiss chrome dyes that will hold up to use and sunlight. Of course any textile exposed to a great deal of sun will fade, but the curvature should be a natural evolution not a drastic shift.
Poor quality rugs are made with Aniline dyes as a way to cut costs and these pieces are susceptible to color run and extreme fading. Some rug insiders refer to low quality dyes as "fugitive dyes" which conjures up an image of dyes on the run, literally.
Pedestrians strolling by enjoyed the rug show and a chance to view carpets in a somewhat unusual environment. It is always a pleasure to field an unexpected question and to engage those that would not normally walk into Kush gallery. I often find that people are curious about rugs, but sometimes are intimidated by their unfamiliarity with the art form.
Each journey begins with many questions. Fine rugs are a broad and diverse medium with many nuances that even rug scholars disagree on amongst themselves. I learn more about rugs every day and in the end I buy for the gallery and myself with the same tool, my heart.
Radish is an amazing boutique chock full of lamps, jewelry, art, and clothing that you are not going to find any where else in P-town. The vibe reminds me of the best up and coming galleries in Brooklyn, NY. Fun, fresh, with a clear sense of individual style.
They even have a Kush, Terra rug gracing their dressing room floor. Nice!
Paul Thomson walks the Radish catwalk. Grrr! Radish is located at: 414 SW 10th ave. in downtown Portland, a great area for local owned shops.
Thanks to Tod Foulk of Semper Fashion for including Kush in his booth at Portland's Better Living Show. Tod has long been a supporter of sustainable, eco friendly fashion and fits perfectly with the hand-made, organic, fair trade, ideas behind our gallery.
Portland is renown for its rich and diverse music scene. Kush was pleased to host the Penny Jam, who filmed local artist Boy Meets Drum Machine.
You can also view the video along with many other Portland based musician's at: http://www.thepennyjam.com/
John Ragel is a richly talented one man band. His performances are popping with energy and the music will move you. If you have an opportunity to catch him live, do!
