What separates New Moon from other rug companies is its deep rooted connection to the tradition of Oriental rug weaving. Owner and resident designer John Kurtz, first began in the rug industry as an antique oriental rug collector and restorer. John has always been a respected name in the business due to his broad knowledge of the history and craftsmanship of oriental rugs, and his unerring eye for the beautiful.

As testament to his knowledge of the industry, John hosted a long running television series aimed at educating the public on oriental rugs. “Oriental Rugs et al” made its debut on the American public television network’s block of “how-to” programming and later went on to run on HGTV. The 45 episode series focused on the history, culture and tradition of oriental rugs, along with plenty of practical information for collectors and would-be collectors on the selection and care of these woven treasures.

It was this passion for the Oriental rug industry combined with his drive as an artist that led to the creation of John’s own line of handmade rugs. New Moon was born from John’s in-depth historical knowledge of rugs, combined with his contemporary artistic vision for the future of the industry.

As a family business, John has been able to pass down his passion for rugs and for New Moon to his daughters, Josephine and Erika Kurtz. As the next generation of New Moon, both sisters bring unique skills to the industry, making them a partnership to carry New Moon forward into the future. Erika’s work focuses mostly on the production which is the nuts and bolts of the company, while Josephine brings her inherited creativity and artistic drive to keep New Moon fresh.

Our goal is not just to sell any rug, but to educate consumers on the choices available in the market and show why New Moon is the best choice when purchasing. We have been in the industry for over 30 years and we look forward to the next 30 years with a drive for a positive impact on the world of handmade rugs.

For your viewing pleasure we have uploaded a few episodes of “Oriental Rugs et al” for the New Moon customer to learn a bit more about the history of rugs as well as some important tips on maintenance and care.

New Moon Rugs does not out source any of their production, which means that all of their rugs are woven in the same facility. Due to this fact, the conditions, quality and overall care of the rug production is closely monitored. President John Kurtz and Chief Operating Officer Erika Kurtz frequently travel to the other side of the world to spend time overseeing the rugs being woven and to spend time with their staff overseas in Nepal. To help educate our clients on the Tibetan rug making process and to offer a glimpse into our private production facility, Erika Kurtz has taken a home video on her latest voyage to the far east. It offers adlib commentary on the various steps involved in making a New Moon Rug and provides a personal introduction to our Nepalese staff and friends. We hope you enjoy!

Our friends, family and staff in Nepal are an integral part of making a New Moon Rug. We depend on our weavers to produce some of the most complicated designs of any Tibetan production. In this interview, you will get a glimpse into what an average day is like for a Tibetan rug weaver and what separates New Moon from other rug factories. There is an important difference. We pride ourselves on the social responsibility of our company. Our weavers and their families health, education, economic stability and welfare is of the utmost importance to New Moon Rugs.

The children of our weavers are considered to be an important part of the New Moon Family. We strive to offer many benefits to our weavers and their children, including healthcare, educational grants, daycare, after school care and tutoring. Having outdoor and indoor facilities for the children to utilize after school and on the weekends is an integral part of the operation of New Moon Rugs. We believe it is extremely important to support our weavers by providing services for their children while they are at work.

The debut program talked viewers on a carpet ride through the subjects and locales the series will examine throughout the series, including the rugs of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the ancient art of knot tying in a village in Turkey, a rug Coop in San Francisco and a rug auction at Sotheby’s in New York.

The series travels to the Navajo reservation of Arizona and New Mexico, to the 19^th century trading posts still operating today, to a Navajo woman who sits on the plain in a centuries-old manner she predicts will soon be a lost art.

In this program, John Kurtz answers everything from “how do I protect my oriental rug from the dogs and kids?” to “what do I do with worn fringes or a broken sidecord?” Proper washing, vacuuming, moth damage control and delicate restoration techniques are demonstrated.

This episode explores the different techniques of weaving in various regions around the world. The typical patterns and elements seen in varying types of rugs are explored. And the age old question of “how do you go about buying and oriental rug and what to avoid?” is finally answered.

Nepalese and Tibetan weavers revive old traditions with lanolin-rich wool from Himalayan sheep breathing new life into village economies in Nepal.