Italy on Madison – The Iconic Kama Rug Captivates New York Design Week
Kama celebrates its 25° anniversary in New York between the ambassador icons of Italian Design
May 2025 marked a historic moment for G.T.DESIGN at New York Design Week. During the prestigious NYCxDESIGN festival and ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), the Italian design brand presented its legendary Kama rug at the third edition of Italy on Madison. Architecture professionals and contemporary design enthusiasts experienced this luxury rug within the Casa Italiana exhibition, a “living Italian home” that told stories of craftsmanship excellence and Made in Italy heritage.
The excellence of Italian Design showcased at Casa Italiana within Italy on Madison
From May 13-15, 2025, the Italian Trade Agency transformed its historic Upper East Side residence into an immersive showcase of Italian craftsmanship. The Italy on Madison event ran alongside the broader NYCxDESIGN Festival and just before ICFF at Javits Center (May 18-20). Among the featured historic Italian brands, G.T.DESIGN highlighted one of its most celebrated creations: the Kama rug, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. First introduced in 2001 by designer Deanna Comellini, Kama revolutionized the contemporary rug industry, transforming this furnishing element from simple accessory to absolute protagonist of design interiors. The Casa Italiana exhibition, curated by Paola Navone in collaboration with Interni magazine, transformed the ITA headquarters into an immersive environment furnished with the most iconic Italian design brands.
Kama by Deanna Comellini: a revolution in rug design
What made Kama a revolutionary design rug in the modern rugs landscape was its innovative use of hand-woven viscose, which captures and reflects light with a unique effect in the contemporary rugs sector. The rich mass-dyed yarn is hand-woven on traditional looms and cut with an irregular technique that creates that sensual, luminous surface that inspired its name after the Indian god of love. Deanna Comellini, founder and creative director of G.T.DESIGN, has continued redefining the boundaries of the luxury rugs sector for decades. Her visionary approach combines artistic sensibility with technical innovation, creating rugs that become sensory experiences.
Comellini’s philosophy focuses on creating rugs that interact with space through matter, light and texture – an approach that revolutionized the market when Kama was first presented. “Even after 25 years, Kama continues to be a bestseller and trendsetter in contemporary interiors,” declared Deanna Comellini. “Its ability to transform spaces through light has made it the favorite of architects and interior designers worldwide.” The most recent evolution of this iconic design includes new textures and color combinations that enhance the distinctive light-capturing characteristics while maintaining the original artistic vision. The Kama capsule collection features two models: Kama Allegro a Piacere and Kama Allegro con Brio.
Where design meets history
On May 14 at 6:00 PM, Italy on Madison hosted the special talk “Where Design Meets History”. The event, organized by INTERNI magazine, focused on the Casa Italiana project curated by renowned architect Paola Navone. The discussion explored how Italian design merges tradition with contemporary innovation – a philosophy perfectly embodied by G.T.DESIGN’s approach in creating luxury rugs that honor Italian craftsmanship while pushing creative boundaries. During the three days, visitors experienced various aspects of Italian culture through dedicated experiences in fashion, design, beauty, food and wine – a complete journey through Made in Italy excellence.
Italian Design and craftsmanship in New York City
Italy on Madison provided the perfect setting for G.T.DESIGN to showcase Kama’s enduring appeal, demonstrating why this iconic rug continues to influence contemporary interior design internationally. The Italian brand’s presence at New York Design Week 2025 confirmed G.T.DESIGN’s role among historic Italian brands that continue defining excellence in the design rugs sector.
