The magic of the knot: kymo's new carpet world

For thousands of years, people have placed rugs at their feet – whether as an expression of culture and lifestyle or to enhance living comfort. One of the most unusual knotting techniques is the Senneh knot, also known as the Persian knot, which is rarely found today. And yet, compared to other techniques, it creates a particularly homogeneous surface that is visibly and tangibly inspiring.

The eyes of Denis Türker and Friedrich Bender also light up when they talk about this experience. For the two managing directors of the South German brand kymo, this is precisely the subtle difference in their work and company philosophy. Denis Türker laughs when he says that he grew up on piles of carpet. Even as a child, he was able to accompany his parents, who were among the first and largest importers of oriental carpets, on their travels and learned a lot about patterns, techniques and, above all, the nature of carpets.

While still a student, he designed his own modern line, with which he set up his own business in 2005 together with Friedrich Bender under the name kymo. After a few years of finding their feet and taking different paths, the two founders have now redefined the company.

‘Kymo is currently undergoing a profound change. The return to our DNA – the values of tradition and expertise – has prompted us to rethink kymo once again, which has been very inspiring and has developed an incredible dynamic. We now want to share the results of this process with the outside world and look forward to inspiring our companions once again’, explains Friedrich Bender.

Not only have the structures been rethought, but the entire collection has also been turned on its head. In addition to THE COLLECTION, THE FINEST has complemented the range since 2018 with an exclusive collection for connoisseurs that focuses on fine natural materials. Whether made of pure, shiny silk, heat- and moisture-regulating mohair from Angora goats or wonderfully soft New Zealand wool – combined with millennia-old knotting techniques, the finest craftsmanship and artistic design – the rugs speak for themselves. ‘THE FINEST is the essence of kymo and the soul of our company. The aspiration and inspiration behind our work is to preserve traditional craftsmanship and produce rugs that may last for generations and one day tell a story of their own’, says Denis Türker.

The fact that materials, technology and design go hand in hand is thanks to the extensive knowledge of everyone involved. The company is constantly asking itself how individual processes can be further refined. Creative Director Eva Langhans has always loved combining the artistic with the technical. For THE FINEST, the textile designer experiments with pictorial alienation and exquisite materials.

While Katharina Tannous' THE FINEST models Mokume and Ornamental Garden reflect elements of goldsmithery and garden architecture, Eva Langhans' Illuminate reflects kymo's own passion for music. Images of DJ equipment, fragmented, rasterised and reassembled, ultimately dissolve into an ornament of a thousand stars. Echoing the visual language of traditional carpet patterns, the result is an artistic abstraction of interwoven history.

‘To stay with the image of music: with THE FINEST, the quiet tones are in the foreground’, says Eva Langhans. ‘The collection can be experienced very sensually. The extraordinary quality is revealed when you touch it with your hand. For the eye: the subtle elegance of the fine surfaces. The impression of the carpet changes depending on how the light is reflected. I also love the smell of real silk.’

What unites all the rugs is the preservation of traditional craftsmanship and its translation into the present day. Each rug is produced by hand with impressive dexterity, a precise eye, a lot of patience and, of course, under fair, protected working conditions – from the careful spinning of the yarn to the chaining of the edges. They are produced by family businesses that have been passing on their craftsmanship for many generations with great respect for nature and attention to detail.

Even if, as with the Persian knot, a longer production time requires a certain amount of perseverance, kymo relies on this special feature for various items, which is responsible for their unmistakable feel and extremely elegant appearance.

In the end, ideas, materials and skills come together to create a living work of art that can be customised. Numerous national and international collaborations now speak for themselves and kymo's new path remains true to its motto: GO ON. AND CREATE.

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