Merida's New Colorful Rug Collection Is Inspired by Our Favorite Global Destinations

Merida, an all-natural rug company that graces the offices of Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Goop, and many other high-profile names, has just launched its latest collection, Portfolio, inspired by the Italian Renaissance, Ottoman Empire, and Artistic Director Sylvie Johnson's love for the region.

Johnson, who is currently based in Paris, is a self-taught weaver with masterworks that can be found in King Mohammed VI's Ozymandian Hotel in Morocco. She has spent the last week of January in Florence (one of her favorite cities in the world) for the last 13 years, which helped inspire the Portfolio collection. This latest line was influenced by many of the colors in Renaissance artwork, details in Italian architecture (like the Pitti Palace), and the everyday details of Mediterranean design.

This collection was made with rapidly replenishable materials like crimped wools, Belgian linen, and South African mohair and woven with a hand-stitched look that offers a bespoke, tailored aesthetic. You'll find an inside look into the inspiration behind this beautiful collection below.