In 2016, the business, stock and library moved to its present location in the centre of the former wool-cloth weaving mill town of Stroud, Gloucestershire within the valleys of the Cotswolds. Our studio sits aside the Thames & Severn Canal, although not quite as illustrated here! Working today with outreaches in London OCC - Oriental Carpet Centre (N4 1TJ) as well as suppliers in Istanbul amongst other international connections.
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The family and business moved in 1996 to a substantial William IV / Victorian country house and grounds in the Thames-side village of Wraysbury, near Windsor. The house had stables and outbuildings that were converted to a workshop and dedicated studio in the design of a Sussex barn, incorporating novel architectural features for photography, specialist cleaning and a raised office mezzanine. Whilst residing there, Saturday mornings were taken up working in the Admiral Vernon building on the famous Portobello Road market in Notting Hill, London.
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Coinciding with the arrival of family life, a London premises was leased in 1985-1989 at 50 South Molton Street, Mayfair. During this time an interest developed in making new rugs in Turkey, something influenced by the Dobag project (UNESCO funded venture to re-establish natural dyes in the making of traditional Turkish rugs). Rather than produce traditional designs, the brand CRORMAC 'CLIVE ROGERS ORIENTAL RUGS MODERNIST ANATOLIAN CARPETS' was created to showcase the very best of contemporary designs in natural dyes and top quality hand-spun wool. The project, although massively influential and an enormous trailblazing success, fell victim to many cheaply made imitations in Turkey and elsewhere. Under capitalisation made it impossible to protect the brand internationally, forcing closure of production in 1990... the rest is history and henceforth today we are drowning in such imitative goods!
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Moving to Brighton, Sussex in 1976, first with a studio shared with INFINITY FOODS and then the short lived DUPONT GALLERIES. A year of Asian travel followed before working from a historic home within the Regency conservation zone of Brunswick Town bordering the seafront.
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CLIVE ROGERS ORIENTAL RUGS began as a dedicated oriental rug gallery. The business continues to be known by this name to this day.
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The business has progressed through several iterations over the years, its origins born of a general business SPICE ISLAND operating in Southsea, Portsmouth. A shop opened in 1972 selling oriental textiles and crafts, along with a business partner dealing in antique costume and commercial artefacts. The oriental side of the business being influenced from living in India and Afghanistan 1967-69. SPICE ISLAND was acquired in its entirety from the partner in 1973/4 and sold as a going concern. This funded a specialism dealing in antique oriental rugs, moving to a new premises a short distance away.
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As a teenager two formative years were spent living in South Asia.