At the London Design Festival 2025, renowned luxury carpet house Tai Ping unveiled Ami, an avant-garde collection of hand-tufted rugs designed by Ed Ng and Terence Ngan, co-founders of the acclaimed Hong Kong-based design studio AB Concept. The new collection reimagines the familiar warmth of cable-knit textures through the lens of contemporary architecture and artisanal craftsmanship.
A Collection Rooted in Heritage and Emotion
Comprising six distinctive designs in oval, round, and rectangular shapes, Ami draws inspiration from Ng’s grandmother’s knitting and the traditional art of textile weaving. In Japanese, “Ami” means weave — derived from Amimono, which represents the patient act of creation.
“The collection began as a very personal reflection on heritage,” said Ed Ng, recalling how the idea was born when he and Ngan designed a cable-knit rug for their Karuizawa forest home in Japan. “Knitting has always been associated with warmth and care. Watching my grandmother knit jumpers for us left a lasting emotional connection to handmade craft. With Ami, we wanted to translate that comfort into design — creating a sense of relaxed luxury and sustainability.”
Artistry in Every Stitch
Each rug in the Ami collection is hand-tufted by Tai Ping’s master artisans, combining New Zealand wool with intricate needlepoint and crochet finishes. The designers explored the geometry of knitting with mathematical precision, introducing multi-level loop piles that add sculptural depth and texture to each piece.
The collection’s autumnal palette of burnt orange, mustard yellow, and sage captures a timeless warmth, while the use of a single natural material – wool – showcases versatility through texture, height, and form.
“We were fascinated by how different patterns and heights could create entirely new expressions using just one material,” Ng noted. “The simplicity of geometry and the depth of craft make Ami feel both timeless and modern.”
Celebrating Nature and Calm
The six rugs — An, Ikoi, Kara, Wa, Sei, and Iyashi — each embody a different mood and tactile experience:
- An (“calm”): A burnt-orange rectangular rug resembling an intricately knitted sweater, offering serenity through its needlepoint detailing.
- Ikoi (“repose”): A sculptural piece that explores the geometry of knitting through hand-tufting and precision finishing, radiating warmth and elegance.
- Kara: A cosy beige design in a rectangular form, featuring cut-and-loop textures that create a three-dimensional woven surface.
- Wa (“harmony”): A soft grey runner celebrating balance and craftsmanship, with layered textures symbolising unity and tranquillity.
- Sei (“tranquillity”): A minimalistic composition evoking peace and gentle connection through tactile simplicity.
- Iyashi (“healing”): A sage-green, rounded rug that captures the soothing quality of wool and the organic flow of hand-stitching.
A Dialogue Between Tradition and Innovation
Michelle Chu, Design Director of Tai Ping Asia, praised the collaboration:
“We are delighted to showcase Ami at our London showroom. Working with Ed and Terence has been a journey that celebrates heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary artistry. The collection beautifully bridges tradition and innovation, nature and design.”
With Ami, Tai Ping and AB Concept invite design enthusiasts to experience a poetic balance of comfort, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling, redefining the art of modern rug-making for a global audience.
