# City-Influenced Rug Series Sebastian Herkner Designs Mainland Rugs Resembling City Landscapes By Amy Duong | Published 2018-02-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mainland-rugs References: [design-milk](https://design-milk.com/mainland-a-city-inspired-rug-collection-by-sebastian-herkner-for-the-rug-company/) & [therugcompany](https://www.therugcompany.com/us-en/) German designer Sebastian [Herkner](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loja) debuted his Mainland Rugs collection for [The Rug Company](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/masterpieces-ii) at the IMM Cologne. The series of hand-knotted rugs features grid pattern details and layered textures. The series is comprised of two different designs: the Mainland Dark rug and the Mainland Light rug. Both designs consist of four-sided figures that overlap one another to envision the idea of a city landscape packed with roads, intersections, moving cars and negative spaces. The Mainland rugs are both crafted out of a blend of silks and Tibetan wool -- made in four overlapping textures. The rug vary in pile heights to evoke more depth and encourage a three-dimensional feel. Every piece is hand-knotted within Nepal, using intricate weaving techniques by talented craftsmen. As Herkner states about the collection: "There is a sensitivity and clear identity to my collection. I was inspired by cityscapes and transported characteristics from various contexts to create these dramatic and unique designs." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Hand-knotted Rugs:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore sustainable and eco-friendly materials for hand-knotted rugs to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. - **City-inspired Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate augmented reality technology to allow consumers to visualize how the rug would look in their own city-inspired spaces. - **Layered Textures:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Utilize advanced 3D printing techniques to create intricate layered textures for rugs, offering unique tactile experiences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Interior Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate smart home technology into rugs, such as built-in sensors to detect motion or temperature changes for enhanced functionality. - **Textile Manufacturing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement AI and machine learning algorithms to optimize production processes and reduce waste in rug manufacturing. - **Artificial Intelligence:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop AI-powered virtual interior design assistants that can recommend rug designs based on individual preferences and existing decor. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Textured Rug Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/textured-rug-design.md) - [Season-Inspired Rug Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artistic-rug-range.md) - [Customized Film-Inspired Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rugriders.md) - [Textured High-End Rug Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reuber-henning.md) - [Dynamic Flatwoven Carpet Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matter-colection.md) - [Artful Versatile Rug Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nanimarquina.md) - [Math-Inspired Colorful Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weave-collection.md) - [Abstract Geometric Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/discorectangle.md) - [Mesmerizing Artful Patterned Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electtrico-collection.md)