Opulent Oriental Rugs Right in Our Backyard

A vast ensemble of wools, cottons and silks suffused in a kaleidoscope of indigo, aubergine and jade woven in an explosion of vivid designs make up the stunning assortment of Oriental rugs tucked inside a warehouse in an nondescript industrial park in Cinnaminson.

It’s hard to imagine when observing the beautiful rugs in the Orient New Jersey showroom—just behind Walmart off of Route 130—that the beautifully crafted remnants should ever have a shoe tread upon them.

General manager Lisa Fedorko understands that misconception and explains their durability.

“The quality of the workmanship is hidden in the way each carpet is uniquely woven. The preparation makes many of these carpets last for ages,” she said.

Fedorko explains that the dense knotting is essential when crafting these life-lasting rugs.

Orient New Jersey opened in 2006 as the only satellite showroom of Orient Handmade Carpets in Istanbul, a six-story building showcasing thousands of rugs. The showroom is a frequent stop for cruise ships that highlight the Turkish city as a port of call when they're sailing in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. 

Fedorko, 42, initially started out working as the freight forwarding manager for the company. Rugs bought by Americans visiting Istanbul were sent to Fedorko here in the Cinnaminson office, who in turn, forwarded them to the buyers all around the country.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for many years,” said the Cinnaminson resident, who’s married and has four children ranging in age from 10 to 17. 

When she toyed with the idea of getting back into the workforce, Fedorko didn’t have to look far. Her sister-in-law Karen suggested she come to work for Karen’s husband, Recep Sefer, owner of the company.

The totally handmade rugs are woven in villages throughout Turkey in a process that dates back over 3,000 years. Fedorko said the materials used in the craftsmanship are exclusive to the region. 

For example, the wool is from sheep raised in the rugged mountains of Anatolia.

“The animals have longer hair and are robust, allowing for a better quality,” Fedorko said.

She said the various dyes that are used in the weaves come from native flowers, plants, insects and even fruits in the region.

Some of the diverse designs, decorations and embellishments are inspired by nature such as flowers, birds and trees. As Fedorko explained, no two Oriental rugs are the same, with each remnant seeming to relay its own story and expressing the feeling of the hands who has woven it.

Turkish rugs are like a piece of art, Fedorko further stated. “Many people mount them as showpieces on walls."

"A good quality rug will have the identical pattern on the back and front of it," she said.

On Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26, the showroom will be open to the public for a two-day inventory sale.

If you visit the sale, you're likely to see wool rugs at a low price of $200 or silk rugs, those that are the most costly, nearing prices of $100,000. The range of pricing is vast.

Also on display will be the darker-colored Turkmen wools, poly-shaped Usak rugs, as well as Sumak carpets, made up of a combination of flat and course piles.

“People who buy very expensive rugs like these,” Fedorko said, while holding an $80,000 softly floral-themed silk rug, “tend to pass them down from generation to generation.”

Up to now, the Cinnaminson showroom has only sold their lovely rugs to appointment-only clients or made personal calls. Fedorko said this is the first time the company is holding such a broad in-house sale, wherein some prices will be slashed up to 70 percent from the original costs. 

Surprisingly, the stagnant economy of the last few years has not impacted the business much, Fedorko admitted, but they are holding the sale to make way for more rug arrivals from Turkey.

“I’m hopeful once people come into the showroom they will be excited about our quality,” Fedorko said of the cache of rugs. “This could prove to be a wonderful opportunity for someone who wants to add an Oriental to their home.”

If you go, the sale is Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2200 Wallace Blvd., Cinnaminson, 856-829-3977.