Jaipur Rugs, India’s largest handmade rug manufacturer and a pioneer in artisan carpet-making, has partnered with renowned Dutch designer Richard Hutten to create Playing with Tradition, an exciting collection of large-scale carpets set to debut at Milan Design Week 2025. The nine-piece collection draws inspiration from the rich heritage of hand-knotted wool rugs, blending centuries-old traditions with contemporary design and a touch of humour. Playing with Tradition is unveiled at Jaipur Rugs’ flagship store at Via Marco Minghetti, Milan, Italy. Reflecting on the collaboration, Richard Hutten says in an official statement, “Collaborating with Jaipur Rugs has been a truly rewarding experience. Their artisans—men and women—are among the most skilled in the world. Beyond their exceptional craftsmanship, Jaipur Rugs champions a social mission, offering fair wages, healthcare and education to their workers and families. They are a shining example of how businesses can combine excellence with ethical responsibility, setting a standard for the future.”

Hutten is recognised as one of the most important contemporary designers from the Netherlands. He is famous for his iconic creations, such as the iconic Table Chair, which is now in the permanent collections of many museums, including MoMA in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In this dynamic collaboration, Hutten infuses his innovative vision with Jaipur Rugs’ handcraft and technical expertise.

For Playing with Tradition, Hutten has reinterpreted the age-old craft of hand-knotted rugs with a modern twist. His carpet designs feature innovative elements such as 3D textures, layered traditional motifs and playful confetti-inspired patterns. The vibrant confetti colours draw inspiration from India’s Holi festival, infusing the collection with a sense of celebration and joy. The inclusion of bananas adds a touch of whimsy, paying homage to the slapstick humour of silent film icons like Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin, whose famous banana peel gags remain timeless. “Playing with Tradition evokes immediate joy and surprise, blending the vibrant splashes of Holi with contemporary art influences, providing an exciting vision for the future of handmade carpets. From Jaipur to Milan, Richard honours the tradition of decorative arts while breathing fresh energy into timeless designs,” says Greg Foster, artistic director of Jaipur Rugs.

Jaipur Rugs, known for its commitment to ethical and sustainable design, crafted this collection with a focus on longevity and artistry. Each rug design is meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in Rajasthan using natural wool, prized for its durability and graceful ageing, and silk, valued for its renewable and biodegradable properties. While contemporary in style, the Playing with Tradition collection is timeless, designed to become heirlooms and the antiques of tomorrow.

"As Jaipur Rugs continues to go global, this collaboration provides a new benchmark for our approach to a meaningful exchange of ideas between designers and artisans. It’s a pleasure to see our artisans look at their own designs with new delight, with the brilliant interventions by Richard,” Yogesh Chaudhary, director of Jaipur Rugs, comments on the collaboration in the official release. “Jaipur Rugs is both a design company and a social enterprise in craftsmanship, and where they merge is when real magic is created. The power of this convergent is exactly what we like to showcase at Salone,” he adds.

'Playing with Tradition' collection by Jaipur Rugs is being exhibited during Milan Design Week 2025 from April 7 – 13, 2025, at Via Marco Minghetti, Milan, Italy.