Early in her career, Nani Marquina was working as an interior designer when she couldn’t find the right
rug for a client’s space. She decided to design it herself, which led to a new career as a textile and rug
designer. In 1986, she started her own company and showroom in Barcelona. Her Gingko Rug (2012)
celebrates the natural beauty and patterns found in the veins of a gingko leaf. “I wanted to show that
beauty exists in shapes and textures naturally,” says the designer, “without the need to intervene with the
human hand.” In 2005, Marquina was honored with the National Design Award from the Barcelona Center
of Design. This prestigious award is one of the highest honors granted to designers by the Ministry of
Industry in Spain. Together with the nonprofit Care & Fair, Nani Marquina is fighting against illegal child
labor in the manufacturing of carpets. Made by hand in India.
Nani Marquina studied industrial design at the Massana School and she began her career with a job in interior design. When she couldn't find rugs that were in tune with a client's space, she filled the gap with her own creations, which led to a new career as an independent textile designer. In 1986, she created her own company and showroom in Barcelona.
A superb colorist, Marquina finds inspiration in nature, as well as in the challenge of creating something that hasn't been done before. The designer is also a firm believer that a rug must surprise and captivate, but never be too aggressive. The result is her striking depth in materials, ranging from low pile to long strands of felted wool to die-cut rose petals. In addition to her own work, Marquina's collection includes the work of select contributors, such as Tord Boontje and Joaquim Ruiz Millet. Nani Marquina is known internationally for her textiles and rugs, both of which have been exhibited in New York, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Osaka and Tokyo. Read more >
