It was beautiful spring day in Toronto and I had just finished a late lunch with another friend and colleague from the rug industry. Our ‘morning meeting and leisurely lunch’ had turned into an hours long presentation on his part detailing what he sees as faults in the current distribution model of the handmade rug industry; but more on that in a future article. The leisurely lunch I had been promised had turned into something casual and classic – a bacon double cheeseburger and chocolate malt for me – though I had no complaints about this. Burgers are a favourite of mine and a malt is a rare find and treat. Regardless, time was now of the essence as I raced, as much as anyone can in construction plagued Toronto traffic, from lunch back toward downtown for my meeting with Jan Kath who was in town for the grand opening of Finlay and Kath’s newest showroom: Jan Kath Toronto. You can read about the opening party and learn a bit more about its staff in ‘and More!‘ following ‘Over Coffee‘ with Kath.
Meeting a German requires a degree of punctuality and though I was not yet late, I was concerned that I would be as the cab driver zig zagged his way through the gridwork of Toronto streets, dodging streetcars and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of orange safety vests, construction cones, pedestrians, and incomprehensibly slow and distracted drivers. My anxiety mounted as he asked me which route I would like him to take as if I was some navigational savant. ‘I just need to get there as fast as possible,’ I replied. My appointment was for 15:30 and when the driver pulled to the curb in front of the Gladstone Hotel where I was staying and entertaining Kath, the clock on my phone read 15:23. Safe! Then Jenni Finlay, partner of Findlay and Kath, messaged: ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t get Jan out of here on time. He’s in an Uber now but is running late.’ I am sure I rolled my eyes, laughing internally at the situation. I took a few moments to head up to my room in order to preen myself before returning, settling into a very comfortable lobby sofa to await my guest.
Over Coffee with Jan Kath
Location: The Gladstone Hotel Café, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time and Date: Scheduled 15:30 EDT, actual 15:47 EDT, Thursday, 10 May 2018
Note Bene: Jan and I both love espresso based drinks. One of us more than the other… .
<Jan Kath arrives shortly thereafter walking into the dimly lit lobby which stands in stark contrast to the bright and clear day outside. He’s wearing sunglasses and the uniform of the design trade: a tasteful ensemble consisting of various articles of black clothing.>
Jan Kath (JK): Michael! So good to see you. I am sorry I am running late. It’s so not like a German to be late.
The Ruggist (MC): No problem at all. I took the time to organize a few things from my day already. It’s great to see you here in Toronto, we normally meet in Bochum. Shall we head into the café here and find a table?
JK: Yes, of course.
<I select a table confirming with Kath that it is acceptable. He excuses himself for a moment.>
MC: May I order a coffee for you while you step out?
JK: Yes please. You don’t mind? I’ll have a double cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso.
<I order Kath’s drink and a double Americano for myself and then make myself comfortable awaiting his return.>
JK: So sorry about that. Travel and all. Ah. It’s nice to see you.
<The drinks arrive and after fussing with the drinks momentarily – which includes Kath immediately ordering another of the same drink before even starting the first – the business of ‘Over Coffee’ gets underway.>
MC: It’s really nice to see you as well. Thank you for joining me here today, taking time away from the showroom before the opening. Jenni had suggested we do this interview in the showroom but I knew if we did that, we’d not have time to focus. Too many distractions in advance of tonight. I know you are on a schedule so let’s get right to it: I count this as showroom number ten for Jan Kath. The obvious question is of course: What’s the plan, what’s next for Jan Kath?
JK: Is it really ten?
MC: Well, by counting the ones on your website, yes.
JK: You know Michael, I don’t really know if it is ten or not, I don’t keep track.
MC: Well from outward appearances you are running quite the empire. It would be difficult to keep track of everything the company is doing.
JK: Empire. You think? <MC nods> I don’t think of it as an empire. I’m working far too much for this to be an empire. I imagine an empire would allow me to be more relaxed and just collect money. But I am always go, go, go.
MC: That’s a fair assessment [of empire], but we cannot argue against your success. Nor can we expect you to keep track of all the details, empire or otherwise.
JK: I actually try to review renderings and images of every carpet we are making, regardless of size or who the customer is. I need to keep my finger on the pulse of the business. It is the details that make a carpet and a successful company.
MC: I just received my rug not that long ago; the one I told you about back in January. Did you see that one as well?
JK: I am sure I did, but we are making so many carpets. I review them and then… .
MC: Lost to the ether?
JK: Precisely. And what do you think of your rug?
MC: Oh I love it. And of course it’s much nicer to the hand than you might imagine from the photos and renderings. Honestly I had given Kyle [Clarkson, partner of Jan Kath at Kyle and Kath in New York and close friend of Kath’s] the concept but left most of the details to him and your staff. The transition from wool/nettle to silk is imperceptible visually and to the hand, hmmmm, sublime.
JK: Always better than the image! Real is always better and that is the difficulty in conveying high-quality carpets. You have to see and to touch.
MC: Well the quality and attention to detail… it’s just… while not flawless, it is impeccable.
<I say this to Kath having anticipated a discussion of my little rug. Kath looks at me with a bewildered stare as if I have just treaded close to insulting his honour. I feel compelled to elaborate as my intent was and is not to be insulting.>
MC: Oh, there is one spot on the iron motif where one of the ‘dots’ was trimmed a little too closely with the scissors. It’s all but unnoticeable. I myself only noticed as I was examining the rug so closely; I feel confident that no other person would even notice. Old habits die hard and finessing a rug as I call it is a holdover from my days selling rugs. I cannot help but look them over closely.
<Kath listens intently carefully trying to discern whether or not I am pleased.>
JK: But you are happy with it?
MC: By all means. It is far better than I had hoped. But as is said ‘Nothing is perfect.’ so perhaps to a future envisaged collector maybe this will add provenance. To get back to my question, that was the plan right? To make high-quality, collectable carpets?
JK: There is no masterplan, except to say that we are always looking for new opportunities, new markets for our carpets. China and the Middle East are two emerging markets with potential for phenomenal growth; we should not underestimate China. But to say something about our quality: We are not comparing ourselves to the past, but we know the community of the future will judge our carpets of today.
MC: Is that where showroom eleven will be?
JK: Actually in August 2018 we will be opening two new showrooms in Riyadh, Saudi Aradia.
MC: And afterward?
JK: I cannot say too much you know. But China has cities of say five million people that no one [in the West] has even heard of. Five. Million. People.
MC: That’s the potential for a lot of rugs.
JK: It is. You know, showrooms are just the anchors. The places where people can come to see a rug in person as opposed to just an image. Designers remain our main focus though, they drive our business.
MC: Speaking of ‘go, go, go’ and designers, didn’t you just fly in last night from visiting with a designer?
JK: It was actually a private client in Portugal.
MC: So if a client is buying enough rugs, Jan Kath himself will come oversee the project?
JK: Like I said, I am still working very hard.
<The second double capuccino with extra shot arrives for Kath. He immediately orders a third.>
JK: Jet lag.
MC: Indeed. I’ve already had too much coffee today as I flew in very early as to spend the day here in meetings before the opening tonight. Is the showroom looking good?
JK: It is. I was actually reviewing the guest list with Jenni this morning. To me it is important to make sure the crowd is the right mix of people – of customers. It’s one of the reasons [amongst several] we stopped exhibiting at Domotex. This opening party is our moment to show the company and our carpets to new clients. It’s important to have the right mix. Do you understand?
MC: Definitely! It’s your moment to shine as is said.
<We both sip our coffees while nodding.>
MC: But you are also enjoying life more are you not? When I saw you in January during ‘A Family Affair’ you were aglow – shinning if you will – with delight as you had finally gotten married. Married life is treating you well then?
JK: Very. I am so very blessed. <Kath jestures: 🙏🏼> After ten years she finally decided to say yes and make me the happiest man. After ten years together she finally said yes.
<Kath says this with an almost giddy schoolboy tone to his voice.>
MC: Well… did you wait ten years to ask? That could be part of the reason. Or had you asked before?
JK: I had asked before. And now, finally, she said yes, and I am so very happy.
MC: What’s her name?
JK: Nairat Kath (nee Thanompiew).
MC: Oh! She took your name?
JK: She did, but I would have taken her name if she wanted me to. There are some restrictions with that though with the company name, and of course with her immigration status in Europe. [Nairat is Thai by birth.] We actually just found out this week that her visa is all sorted out. But when you find happiness, what does it matter whose name you use?
<I nod in agreement.>
MC: Congratulations. I am all to familiar with the hurdles of immigration. Oh wait, how do I spell Nairat?
JK: N… A… I..
<Kath hesitates because English is not his first language and the pronunciation of letters differs between German and English. He opts to simply show me his phone with Nairat Kath’s contact on the screen. I make a mental note that Kath and I share an affinity for using proper names for our contacts, even for our spouses/partners. No ‘bae’, no ‘wife’, no ‘honey’ nor their German or Thai equivalents, simply her name. I admire this perhaps more than I should.>
JK: But we are getting off the topic of rugs.
MC: We don’t have to talk about rugs. The premise of ‘Over Coffee’ is that we get together and talk, allowing the conversation to go where it may. We can talk about anything, whether I can write about it is another thing. So I just thought, ten showrooms, ten years, today is the tenth of May. There seems to be a pattern developing.
JK: You know that is also my birthday. November tenth. Ten. Ten. I was also born on the tenth minute of ten o’clock. When I was little my mother would tell me how special I was because I was born at 10:10 on 10/10.
MC: Ahhh. Very nice. How old will you be this year?
JK: Forty-six (46).
MC: Lovely, looking good. My birthday is next Friday.
JK: And you will be how old?
MC: Forty-three (43).
JK: I’m older than you?
<Kath asks this with a bit of surprise. My gut feeling is that the copious amounts of grey in my moustache and interspersed in my ever thinning hair project a more aged appearance. I begin to blush a bit from embarrassment.>
JK: You are blushing!
MC: I am, I cannot help it though. Okay. If ten is such an important number in your life, tell me, what will you be doing in ten years?
JK: Not that I am ready to retire yet, and I have no plans to, but looking ten years into the future I would like to maybe step back a bit from the company. Still design, but be able to spend more time with my wife, and to enjoy life. As <Kath makes ‘jazz hand’ motions with his hands in front of him> as it sounds, I would like to spend time gardening.
<The third double cappuccino with extra expresso arrives. I have switched to water.>
MC: I don’t see anything wrong with that. Gardening can be quite rewarding. Hmm. And since I’ve said rewarding, what would be your most rewarding carpet, your favourite?
JK: It would have to be the first Erased Heritage carpet, Tabriz Aerial.
At this point I ask a question which causes Jan to hesitate. The pensive look on his face betrays both a willingness to answer the question truthfully but also a desire hold some thoughts more private. He prefaces his answer by saying it is completely off the record, a request I am happy to oblige. After answering that question we never really return to the record per se though we continue to discuss life, privilege, personalities, copyright and copying, propriety, and the like until at some point – becoming aware of the time – I request the cheque from the waiter.
<The cheque arrives and as one must in the competitive sport of ‘No! I insist!’, I immediately take it in order to pay.>
JK: Oh thank you. You don’t mind?
MC: Not at all. It’s the least I can do. Plus it is the only other rule of ‘Over Coffee’, I pay.
Finlay now simultaneously messages us both announcing the pending arrival of the Uber. As such, the informal ‘Over Coffee’ with Jan Kath now abruptly enters permanent hiatus with his departure into the bright spring day outside. The ‘and More!’ of ‘Jan Kath and More!’ continues later in the evening during the opening party of… .
Finlay and Kath – Jan Kath Toronto
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After Kath departs I gather my things. It’s shortly after 17:00 and I’ve a few hours before the party at 19:00 though everyone knows it is completely socially unacceptable to show up precisely at the start of an hours long party. I quickly map where the new showroom is located and opt to walk the approximately 4km to the event, planning my departure as to ensure a 17:20-17:30 arrival time. I arrive to find the party just warming up with the small but quickly growing crowd swooning over the entertaining and mesmerizing Jan Kath ‘Flying Carpet’.
My agenda for the evening reads like a ‘to-do’ list written by a schizophrenic cat. I need to find a drink. I must say hello to my friend Jenni Finlay who in partnership with Jan Kath owns Finlay and Kath which distributes Jan Kath carpets in Canada with showrooms in Vancouver, and now obviously Toronto. I should make sure to take photos. Isn’t that an intriguing building across the street. I must (again) talk with Kath and follow-up with him on some future agenda items for September. Maybe I should move to a big city? I should find some food. And I absolutely must introduce myself to the dynamic duo that is Yvan Semenowycz and Robyn Waffle. No strangers to the world of rugs they are the intoxicating husband and wife who run the Toronto showroom. I had spoken with them last summer when Jan Kath first made the jump into the market in temporary space and I’m very much looking forward to meeting them in person. I should pay attention and make note of what other, less endemic guests, think of the carpets. But first, I must find the bar which is easy as it’s situated about midway in the showroom under a glowing green neon sign which reads: ‘Make Rugs Not War.’ I ask for a beer and attempt to return to the outdoors just as the official photographer of the evening, Nancy Kim, is finalizing her pre-party photographs including shooting a photo of the entire staff. My internal dialog encourages me to work as well and so I too snap a photograph.
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In the summer of 2017 Finlay and Kath opened a small office in Toronto, hiring Yvan Semenowycz and Robyn Waffle to run the location. Semenowycz and Waffle had previously been working in rugs and carpets operating the boutique house of Totem Design Company. Semenowycz has a degree in Industrial Design and his background includes a touch of oldschool rug world charm in that his mother Luba Huzan, is a former founding parter at Creative Matters Incorporated and still works in rugs via her own studio LHD Tapis. Waffle’s degree is in Fashion Communications and Design and together this due packs the proverbial one, two punch of savvy, stylish, informed design. Regardless, when speaking with the pair during the summer of 2017, their love of carpets was apparent, yet now in meeting them, I’ve come to realize I have competition ‘for the love of carpets!‘.
‘Any deep interest or passion cannot be learned, it’s inherent.’ Waffle told me when we first spoke last summer and it is this phrase which sums up not only their passion for rugs, but that of a majority of the staff of Jan Kath globally. There is a deep rooted interest in rugs and carpets – perhaps beauty itself – which seems to permeate everything the firm does.
Semenowycz and Waffle were exhibiting at ‘Come up to my Room‘ – hosted by the aforementioned Gladstone Hotel – during IDS in Toronto in January of 2017 when they met Finlay and the connection was all but instant. Finlay had been wanting to expand into Canada’s largest city, and now, finally, had met people with the passion and interest equal to the task. ‘When we thought about joining Jan Kath, we realized Totem would have to move to the background, but Jan Kath has the scale [infrastructure, and brand caché] to attract large clients.’ said Semenowycz before Waffle added, ‘Jan Kath is Jan Kath. We both kind of idolize his work and look up to him. The opportunity to work within the company will allow us to learn on a new level.’
In late 2017, the decision was made to take Jan Kath Toronto up to it’s own new level moving from small office to a proper showroom. After numerous construction delays, the space finally opened earlier this year in advance of the grand opening on 10 May 2018. Just like last summer, the new space will allow Semenowycz to, in his own words ‘Introduce the quality and style of Jan Kath to Toronto.’ and Waffle to ‘Work with quality. Presenting rugs in a gallery forward manner. Educating customers so that collaboratively we can create their own unique carpets.’
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For Finlay the addition of Toronto makes it that much easier to attract clients to the noted brand. Previously served from the Vancouver location, the local showroom now provides designers, architects, and consumers of all levels the opportunity to see, and touch, the carpets first hand. This returns to Kath’s insistence that real tangible carpets are ‘Always better than the image! Real is always better and that is the difficulty in conveying high-quality carpets. You have to see and to touch.’
Note bene: For those not aware. Canada is a geographically huge country spanning a continent. It is approximately five hours from Toronto to Vancouver – by plane. The difficulties of expeditiously serving clients from only one showroom should now be apparent.
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I have been following the work of Jan Kath since approximately 2005 when I first became acquainted with the firm by way of a solicitation I received in the mail promoting the line to North Americans. Since then I’ve come to know Kath and many of his staff personally, and have enjoyed the honour of attending every ‘A Family Affair’ since its inception. Professional courtesies, marketing drivel, and fluff aside, I say with the utmost of sincerity that I have always been made to feel like family – extended perhaps, but family nonetheless – each and every time I have visited with the firm in Bochum, or New York, or back in the day during Domotex, or now in Toronto. Watching the staff of Jan Kath Toronto interact with guests, seeing Finlay’s own son deftly piloting the ‘Flying Carpet’, and enjoying the camaraderie of the evening now only re-inforces my belief that success on this scale requires more than simply making beautiful carpets. It requires a family, of biological relation or otherwise, of dedicated, intelligent, creative people who understand – intrinsically – it’s not just about making beauty nor is it just about making money. It is the fusion of the two, three if we are to include a sense of family as a required characteristic, and we are.
Tired as I was from my early flight into Toronto I enjoyed the party until I was one of the few guests remaining. For me the carpets on display were nothing new; I had seem them all in my esoteric rug world travels as of late. But for guests in Toronto, the beacon of colour and texture which shone brightly punctuating the night revealed a world where everything was new, heretofore unseen, and familiar yet still intriguing and fresh. Situated in a former disused auto repair shoppe, Jan Kath Toronto has not the bland homogeny one might critically associate with Toronto, that is to say, ‘clean New York,’ rather its tucked away location in the heart of a major metropolis gives it an inviting, if not also slightly rough around the edges unintimidating charm. It exudes classic Manhattan SoHo Gallery of the likes before corporate America moved in, and it’s sized rightly as to be functional as well as comfortable.
When I started to say my good-byes Finlay asked me to stay a little longer, basking as it were in the afterglow of a successful evening. We danced a bit more but shortly thereafter I had to beg off as I neared twenty hours awake. With farewells said I walked down to the corner to grab a cab and thought to myself: ‘Is it tacky to write that when you are in a Jan Kath showroom they make you feel like family? When you’re here, you’re family! Oh wait, that was the Olive Garden and no-one wants to be compared to them. Damnit Michael! No more alcohol for you.’ Well even if it is a bit tacky, it is true! And besides, no-one reads this far anyway. 😉
Statement of Potential Conflicts:
Finlay and Kath graciously provided accommodations during my visit to Jan Kath Toronto. All other expenses, including but not limited to airfare and meals (and coffee) were covered by The Ruggist.