Tai Ping Carpets
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Carpet manufacturing, textile |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Sir Lawrence Kadoorie and six others |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Worldwide (over 100 countries across four continents) |
Key people | Mark Worgan (CEO), Alex Lung (CFO), Joel Frommann (CSO), Shawn Hiltz (Managing Director EMEA), Celia Yeung (Managing Director Asia), Kate Judd (Managing Director Americas), Nicholas Colfer (Chairman) |
| Products | Bespoke carpets, hand-knotted rugs, hand-loomed rugs |
Number of employees | 600+ |
Tai Ping Carpets International Ltd. (Hong Kong Stock Exchange code: 146) is a worldwide bespoke carpet manufacturer catering to architects and designers. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Tai Ping maintains flagship galleries in New York City, Shanghai, and Paris, alongside proprietary production facilities, design centers, and showrooms spanning over 100 countries across four continents.
Its Residential sector encompasses the brands Tai Ping, Edward Fields, and La Manufacture Cogolin.
History
Established in 1956 by a group of seven friends led by entrepreneur Sir Lawrence Kadoorie, Tai Ping was created to safeguard the tradition of Chinese handmade carpets and provide support to artisans escaping Mainland China.
A significant advancement was introduced by director Anthony Yeh, who invented the first motorized hand-tufting gun globally, greatly enhancing manufacturing efficiency—a technology now widely adopted within the industry.
In 1957, the company inaugurated a showroom in Hong Kong near The Peninsula Hong Kong. By 1959, production relocated to a larger plant in Tai Po, which served as its headquarters for more than thirty years.
During the 1970s, Tai Ping expanded by opening a showroom in Paris, marking its entry into European and Asian markets. With China's economic opening, Tai Ping was among the pioneers establishing manufacturing operations on the mainland. In 1991, production transitioned from Hong Kong to Nanhai in Guangdong province. Later, in 2017, operations shifted to a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-meter facility in Xiamen, Fujian province, designed by Sandrolini Architecte. This site employs upwards of 600 personnel and consolidates archives, yarn storage, and all production phases from dyeing through finishing.
Tai Ping made its debut in the U.S. market with a flagship showroom in New York City in 2005. That same year, it acquired American bespoke carpet producer Edward Fields, which continues to operate its own New York showroom and studios located within Tai Ping’s premises in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
In 2010, Tai Ping expanded further by acquiring French hand-woven Jacquard carpet maker La Manufacture Cogolin, established in 1924 by Jean Lauer. Under Tai Ping’s guidance, Cogolin’s original workshops were restored and a new Paris showroom opened in June 2012.
Also in June 2012, Tai Ping unveiled its European flagship store on Rue Montalembert in Paris, designed by Ramy Fischler, a Belgian-born designer based in Paris.
Management and strategic development
In September 2017, Tai Ping divested its commercial division—including machine-made commercial carpet production, distribution, and sales—to an independent third party. This strategic move allowed the company to focus its resources on custom-crafted artisan products targeted at residential applications as well as luxury yachts, private jets, and high-end commercial environments such as boutique retail outlets, hotels, and corporate offices.
In January 2018, Mark Worgan succeeded James H. Kaplan as CEO after serving as COO. The executive leadership team includes CFO Alex Lung, CSO Joel Frommann, and regional Managing Directors Shawn Hiltz (Europe, Middle East & Africa), Celia Yeung (Asia), and Kate Judd (Americas). Nicholas Colfer holds the position of Chairman.
Products
Tai Ping creates custom-tufted carpets at its exclusive manufacturing facility located in Xiamen. Hand-knotted rugs are crafted in separate workshops situated in China and Nepal. Additionally, the Manufacture Cogolin line continues to produce hand-loomed rugs using Jacquard looms based in France.
Sustainability
Tai Ping has earned Gold and Platinum NSF 140 certifications awarded by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and holds LEED certification. The company has launched the Tai Ping Towards Sustainability (TPTS) initiative, which emphasizes environmentally responsible practices and milestones.