I.C.E. to showcase new carpet collections by renowned designer Edward van Vliet at INDEX 2006

The company recently entered into collaboration with renowned Dutch designer Edward van Vliet, and the first results, a range of rugs for their contemporary 'Geometrics' collection will be showcased at Index 2006. Featuring regular lines and fields plus repetitive grids, stripes and patterns, the collection reflects the graphic characteristics of artists such as Sol Lewitt, Victor Vasarely and Elsworth Kelly.

"This exciting new carpet collection is just one of the many new product highlights at this years Index," said Kim Willis, Exhibition Development Director, dmg world media Dubai.

"With the increased floorspace available to us this year, we have been able to accommodate more exhibitors than ever, and visitors will find the show packed with inspirational interior ideas from floor to ceiling."

Quality is the keyword at I.C.E. - ever since the company began trading, this family run business has built strong links with knotting and weaving companies throughout the East, and this has enabled them to develop innovative new collections, which are a distinctive part of their range, and to offer quality-conscious consumers a matching carpet for each and every interior.

"As the founder of I.C.E., I find it superb to see how Edward van Vliet manages to take us to an even higher level. For me, as a carpet fan, it is wonderful to see how Edward, with his professional view on design and strong sense of colour, knows how to bring new impulses to our collections," said Frits Janssen, General Director at I.C.E.

As an import and wholesale business, I.C.E. specialises in hand-knotted carpets and hand woven kelims, and has established an circle of customers across the Middle East and North Africa through their participation at Index. Their clients include retailers, interior designers and project developers, all of who demand both a wide stock range and the option of having bespoke carpets designed specially for their projects.

The collaboration with Edward van Vliet is through SEVV, a multi disciplinary design studio in Amsterdam for interior and industrial design, which he founded in 1990. SEVV specialises in luxurious and image strengthening products and interior design for customers worldwide. His work is characterised by an inspiring balance between the aesthetic, atmosphere and emotion. Amongst the many prestigious projects undertaken by SEVV are the interior of the NL hotel in Amsterdam, Hotel Derlon in Maastricht and a series of enormous chandeliers with Swarovski crystals for the Macau Tower in Macau. SEVV also designs for prominent international labels and customers such as Moooi, Moroso, Ligne Roset, De Bijenkorf, Palau, K-Swiss, L'Óreal, Quasar and Forbo Marmoleum.

I.C.E. is a member and co-founder of Care & Fair, an organisation that is committed to improving the living conditions and future prospects for employees in the hand knotting carpet industries of India, Nepal and Pakistan. Its primary concern is to put a halt to child labour in this industry, and the company demands that its producers and their suppliers do not use child labour. In addition, by building schools and medical centres Care & Fair offers children in the knotting areas of India, Pakistan, and Nepal better prospects for a bright and healthy future, and finances projects using money from import charges and contributions from members.

Index, which this year celebrates 16 highly successful years of showcasing the very best in furniture and interior design, will prove to be even more effective for the region's key interior designers, architects, consultants and specifiers, as it offers an even stronger focus on specific product areas that are of particular relevance across the region.

The show's global reputation is based on its strength in the textiles, furniture, wallcoverings and residential lighting sectors, and among the many product areas to be significantly expanded this year is flooring. Index, the Middle East's International Furniture And Interior Design Exhibition, takes place from 7-11 November 2006 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.