During the International Carpet and Flooring Expo (ICFE) held in Istanbul, Behnam Ghasemi, Editor-in-Chief of Kohan Textile Journal, conducted an exclusive interview with Özgür Uşaklıgil, carpet designer and founder of Uşaklıgil Rug Design.
Uşaklıgil, based in Gaziantep — one of the world’s leading hubs for machine-made carpet production — emphasized the growing importance of design in today’s competitive global carpet market.
Organizing Carpet Talks and Design Awards
At ICFE, Uşaklıgil plays a dual role. In addition to being an active designer collaborating with numerous machine-made carpet manufacturers, he also serves as the organizer of the “Carpet Talks” sessions and the “Carpet Design Awards” program.
The initiative is organized in collaboration with industry associations, including IHIB and GAHIB, alongside exhibition organizer Tüyap. The awards recognize the best carpet designs of the year and have now entered their third edition.
“We are very happy to organize this program again,” Uşaklıgil stated. “It is important to highlight not only the best products of the Turkish market but also outstanding works from the global carpet industry.”
Also Read: Gaziantep Carpet Exports Continue to Drive Turkey’s Economy
ICFE as a Global Platform
According to Uşaklıgil, ICFE has rapidly positioned itself as one of the most significant carpet and flooring exhibitions worldwide. The event provides an essential meeting point for designers, manufacturers, buyers, and industry stakeholders.
He also extended an invitation to international participants, expressing hope that global professionals will continue to join the exhibition in the coming years.
Gaziantep: A Design Powerhouse
Highlighting Gaziantep’s role in the global carpet ecosystem, Uşaklıgil noted that more than 1,000 carpet designers are currently active in the city, serving over 200 machine-made carpet factories.
“These factories require new designs every day,” he explained. “This creates a dynamic and highly competitive environment where designers must be prepared to work in every possible style — from classic patterns to the most contemporary concepts.”
Turkish designers today must respond to global demand by mastering a wide range of aesthetics, including traditional, silk-inspired, wool-based, handmade, and modern machine-made carpet designs.
Machine-Made Design Leading the Industry
While Türkiye has a rich heritage in handmade and traditional carpets, Uşaklıgil pointed out that machine-made carpet design has become the most powerful and dynamic segment in recent years.
“With the scale of production and export orientation of Turkish companies, machine-made carpet design has become the driving force of the industry,” he said.
Visitors to ICFE witnessed thousands of new designs showcased by Turkish manufacturers, reflecting the country’s strong creative capacity and its ability to adapt to global market trends.
Looking Ahead
Uşaklıgil expressed optimism about the future of Turkish carpet design and its impact on international markets.
“We hope the world will enjoy these designs,” he concluded. “For global markets, this exhibition represents an important opportunity and benefit for all of us.”
This interview was conducted by Behnam Ghasemi, Editor-in-Chief of Kohan Textile Journal, during the ICFE Carpet and Flooring Exhibition in Istanbul.
