One of the most iconic collections edited by Nani Marquina, Shade stands out not only for its visual elegance but also for the intricate craftsmanship hidden beneath its deceptively simple surface. Designed by Turkish designer Begüm Cana Özgür, the collection has achieved international recognition for its refined use of color and advanced weaving techniques.
Precision Behind Apparent Simplicity
At first glance, Shade appears calm, minimalist, and effortlessly fluid. However, achieving its dense, uniform surface and perfectly balanced gradient effect requires a highly complex technical process.
Rather than featuring a single dominant hue, each rug is built around a carefully curated palette of six colors. These tones are arranged into a structured color gradient — or dégradée — that unfolds both vertically and horizontally across the loom. As the weaving progresses, the gradients merge seamlessly on a single plane, creating an organic transition that feels smooth and continuous.
The secret lies in the disciplined alternation of solid color sequences and transitional blends. Every stage of the chromatic shift must be executed with precision, ensuring that the movement between tones feels natural rather than abrupt.
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A Craft Demanding Mastery
Such complexity can only be realized by highly skilled weavers with years of experience and deep respect for traditional flat-weaving techniques. The process demands technical rigor, careful planning, and an acute sensitivity to color balance.
Thanks to this expertise, the Shade collection offers four striking variations, each exploring a distinct chromatic journey:
- Turquoise flowing into aubergine
- Reddish tones dissolving into Klein blue
- Raspberry blending into forest green
- Gray transitioning into earthy garnet
Each rug becomes a visual landscape, where color diffuses softly yet retains depth and intensity.
Color as Emotional Architecture
For Begüm Cana Özgür, Shade is more than a rug — it is a study in emotional resonance through color.
“Shade is a handmade flat woven rug that creates an incredibly smooth and rounded diffusion of color. Its surface exudes a sense of tranquility and well-being, balanced with the deep vibrancy of its colors,” the designer explains.
By combining meticulous technical execution with a sophisticated chromatic vision, the Shade collection demonstrates how traditional weaving can be elevated into contemporary design language — delivering not just aesthetic appeal, but a quiet, immersive sensory experience.
