Let’s start out by learning a bit more about your company. What makes your brand and products unique?
We are an ally of women weavers around the world helping to increase their wages and provide services to their families. All of our rugs are fully customizable and of world-class quality.
Do you have a favorite piece in your collection or a new item or collection coming that designers might not know about?
Silk Clouds.
Who or what inspires you most when conceiving of your designs?
Nature and antique textiles.
What is the process behind initiating new designs/products?
Some designs are created digitally on the computer and others with hand sketches.
What is your favorite part about the manufacturing process?
Seeing my designs come to life with the many fibers we use and the wonderful talents and techniques of our weaving team in Nepal.
Please speak to the custom nature of your lines.
All of our rugs are fully customizable in terms of fiber, construction, size, shape and color. We can create rounds, runners, fireplace cutouts and template any shape a designer can imagine for a rug in a space.
Please give us an overview of the more personal side of your business, who’s behind it, how did it come to be, any interesting stories about the origin or the founders you can share?
Before starting Julie Dasher Rugs, I was a quilter and spent much of my spare time assembling color, texture and pattern in my quilts. I was also a career counselor and told my clients, “Find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” One day, I decided to create a rug design for my own dining room and wired a bunch of money to a mill in Nepal that I found in the Nepalese yellow pages online. I sent them the rug design and embroidery threads from Joann’s for color. Three months later, we got a call from American Airlines cargo at our local airport. The rug had arrived. I was relieved and excited as I wasn’t sure I would ever see that rug! I loved it and after 12 years, that beautiful rug still sits in my dining room.
How important is passion to a successful business?
Passion is everything but not always so easy to uncover. I came to discover my passion for our business later in life and have never looked back. Finding something you love to do, that you enjoy and that you have some talent for is a true gift. Keep searching until you find it!
Who was your first client?
My first client was a design firm in Minneapolis. Before I ever had a single order from them, I used to drive by their studio on my way to Target and tell my young daughter, that is my biggest client! It was a process of imagination and visualization, so powerful. One day, after many attempts to show them rug samples, I popped in and the owner said, “Julie, I’m so glad you’re here, we have a client who needs a rug in a peacock-like design.” After dinner that night, I worked for hours creating a stylized peacock motif and repeated it in a rug design. The designer loved it and showed the homeowner. They also liked the design and selected 6 other of my designs for other rugs in their home. The client was the football player, Brett Favre and his wife. This was my very first order.
Thanks . Before you go, is there anything else you’d like to share?
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