Rhyme Studio - Product Page

“Real Irish Wool” echoes design elements of that very iconic symbol of Irish style, the Aran Sweater which hails from a part of the world that is steeped in over 4000 years of history, the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. It is a design tribute to one of the many beautiful knitted design details known as the Diamond stitch. Originally a sculptured knitted jumper for fishermen made famous by John F. Kennedy’s family, the hand crafted tradition behind this creation was in itself inspired by the rich history of 7th century Irish Insula Art, a theme of Rhyme Studio’s first limited edition design collection. Traditionally knitting was a vital cottage craft in Ireland but became an endeavor of unique artistic expression on the Aran Islands.

“As resilient, undyed Galway Wool was the original choice of yarn for Ireland’s world famous sweater, naturally we wanted to celebrate this bio-fiber from Irish nature in its most sustainable and responsible form”

says designer Claire McGovern. Báinín is the studio’s first collaboration with farmers of Galway Wool Co-Op and the historic Donegal Yarns woolen mill.

DONEGAL YARNS The vertical woolen mill Donegal Yarns is located at the heart of a spinning, weaving & knitting tradition in Kilcar, Donegal that has been passed down over many centuries. In Ireland the early tradition of weaving sadly did not survive in many counties but did remain alive and well in this part of the north west. By the 1900s it was wool yarn that informed the primary craft of Donegal homes and the signature “Genuine Donegal Tweed’ derives from a sustainably made, heritage fiber by Donegal Yarns that has since earned world-renowned recognition. Firmly united in their shared goal to restore the market for Irish wool, Donegal Yarns, Rhyme Studio & Galway Wool Co-op have teamed up to translate beautiful Galway Wool eco-fiber into cutting edge carpet, tapestry and textile design.

GALWAY WOOL Galway Wool Co-op is a farmer-owned and run co-operative that represents a coalition of lowland sheep breeders producing Ireland’s only native, purebred, heritage Irish grown bio-fibre as officially recognized by the Irish Government. Established in the 1920s by a group of Athenry based farmers, they provided the original source of wool for the Aran Islander’s sweater. Arguably the happiest sheep in Ireland, Galway Wool farmers shepherd their small flocks with compassion and care providing a naturally off white creamy yarn exclusively to Rhyme Studio that is traceable, antimicrobial, naturally water resistant, naturally flame retardant and air filtering with the ability to even improve indoor air quality.

says designer Claire McGovern. Báinín is the design studio’s first collaboration with farmers of Galway Wool Co-Op and the historic Donegal Yarns woolen mill.

DONEGAL YARNS The vertical woolen mill Donegal Yarns is located at the heart of a spinning, weaving & knitting tradition in Kilcar, Donegal that has been passed down over many centuries. In Ireland the early tradition of weaving sadly did not survive in many counties but did remain alive and well in this part of the north west. By the 1900s it was wool yarn that informed the primary craft of Donegal homes and the signature “Genuine Donegal Tweed’ derives from a sustainably made, heritage fiber by Donegal Yarns that has since earned world-renowned recognition. Firmly united in their shared goal to restore the market for Irish wool, Donegal Yarns, Rhyme Studio & Galway Wool Co-op have teamed up to translate beautiful Galway Wool eco-fiber into cutting edge carpet, tapestry and textile design.

GALWAY WOOL Galway Wool Co-op is a farmer-owned and run co-operative that represents a coalition of lowland sheep breeders producing Ireland’s only native, purebred, heritage Irish grown bio-fibre as officially recognized by the Irish Government. Established in the 1920s by a group of Athenry based farmers, they provided the original source of wool for the Aran Islander’s sweater. Arguably the happiest sheep in Ireland, Galway Wool farmers shepherd their small flocks with compassion and care providing a naturally off white creamy yarn exclusively to Rhyme Studio that is traceable, antimicrobial, naturally water resistant, naturally flame retardant and air filtering with the ability to even improve indoor air quality.

The belief in mysterious and potentially mystical properties of trees are in evidence in many cultures the world over. The tendency to anthropomorphize these beautiful entities or fantasize about a world that lies within is an age old habit. In the 21st century trees have rightfully assumed a critical role in the preservation of human life. It is said that the first ever Ogham sigil written was for the birch tree which is associated with light, clarity and immense vitality. Its signature white bark symbolizes purity or purification and was thought in Celtic tradition to be one of the most healing trees, a harbinger of spring possessing the power to invoke protection and banish all darkness.

“The early celts venerated certain trees across Europe and we share their fascination with the ancient Irish sigils of Ogham. I like to imagine this “tree alphabet” brings one closer to the natural world whilst also creating a perfect carpet design that can spell just about anything”

says designer Claire McGovern

Zwartbles sheep meaning quite literally “Black with a white blaze” yield a high quality sustainable, all natural undyed wool that is traditionally spun and tufted by hand for The OM Series. Designs inspired by lettering for Birch, Rowan, Alder and Willow all hold great meaning and are offered in unique colorways to choose from such as Burgundy and Green Isle.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of carpet design, Rhyme Studio uses only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed and hand dyed by historic woolen mills. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

Composed of either our rich brown eco-wool fiber of rare Irish Zwartbles fleece or from our heritage Irish wool, The OM series derives from a 1600 year old alphabet Ogham, used mainly to write the early Irish language. Known for monumental inscriptions on standing stones, its history dates back to at least the third or fourth century A.D, placing it in use long before the arrival of Latin to Ireland. Also called the tree alphabet, some believe it was created by druids and scholars as a secret form of communication. These mysterious letters of Ogham were paired with ancient Irish tree and plant species, many of which were considered sacred but have all but disappeared from Ireland’s landscape today.

says designer Claire McGovern

Zwartbles sheep meaning quite literally “Black with a white blaze” yield a high quality sustainable, all natural undyed wool that is traditionally spun and tufted by hand for The OM Series. Designs inspired by lettering for Birch, Rowan, Alder and Willow all hold great meaning and are offered in unique colorways to choose from such as Burgundy and Green Isle.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of rug design, Rhyme rugs use only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed by a 300 year old woolen mill and hand dyed by a 200 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

Made primarily using the rich deep brown wool of the rare Irish black sheep Zwartbles, The OM series derives from a 1600 year old alphabet Ogham, used mainly to write the early Irish language. Known for monumental inscriptions on standing stones, its history dates back to at least the third or fourth century A.D, placing it in use long before the arrival of Latin to Ireland. Also called the tree alphabet, some believe it was created by druids and scholars as a secret form of communication. These mysterious letters of Ogham were paired with ancient Irish tree and plant species, many of which were considered sacred but have all but disappeared from Ireland’s landscape today.

says designer Claire McGovern

Zwartbles sheep meaning quite literally “Black with a white blaze” yield a high quality sustainable, all natural undyed wool that is traditionally spun and tufted by hand for The OM Series. Designs inspired by lettering for Birch, Rowan, Alder and Willow all hold great meaning and are offered in unique colorways to choose from such as Burgundy and Green Isle.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of rug design, Rhyme rugs use only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed by a 300 year old woolen mill and hand dyed by a 200 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

Known for monumental inscriptions on standing stones, the Ogham alphabet dates back to at least the third or fourth century A.D, placing it in use long before the arrival of Latin to Ireland. Also called the tree alphabet, some believe it was created by druids and scholars as a secret form of communication. Its mysterious letters were paired with ancient Irish tree and plant species, many of which were once considered sacred but have disappeared from Ireland’s landscape today.

Composed of the finest hand spun pure Irish wool, the first collection of rugs by Rhyme Studio draws upon the history of ancient art forms and symbols while incorporating traditional techniques of master artisans.

Inspired by Insula Art, an artistic movement that emerged during early Irish monasticism, the series explores a minimalist interpretation of swirling motifs and spiral forms typical of this period of creativity. Often referred to as the age of saints and scholars, the era was considered a golden age for the arts in Ireland. Introducing five sculpturally graphic designs with the launch collection, each rug evolves from a hand drawn artwork inspired by classical depictions of triskels, spirals and other forms. The result is a unique edition of designs crafted meticulously by hand at every stage in their production. “The desire to express a more contemporary interpretation of Irish art whilst celebrating the beauty of irish wool and sustainable craftsmanship provided the inspiration for these rugs” says Rhyme founder Claire McGovern.

With a color palette evoking the nature and landscape of Ireland and using only the highest quality woolen yarns, the material is sourced from Irish sheep farms and processed by a 300 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then delivered to our master rug maker, where they are tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications.

Composed of the finest hand spun pure Irish wool, the debut collection of rugs by Rhyme Studio draws upon the history of ancient art forms and symbols while incorporating traditional techniques of master artisans.

Inspired by Insula Art, an artistic movement that emerged during early Irish monasticism, the series explores a minimalist interpretation of swirling motifs and spiral forms typical of this period of creativity. Often referred to as the age of saints and scholars, the era was considered a golden age for the arts in Ireland. Introducing five sculpturally graphic designs with the launch collection, each rug evolves from a hand drawn artwork inspired by classical depictions of triskels, spirals and other forms. The result is a unique edition of designs crafted meticulously by hand at every stage in their production. “The desire to express a more contemporary interpretation of Irish art whilst celebrating the beauty of irish wool and sustainable craftsmanship provided the inspiration for these rugs” says Rhyme founder Claire McGovern.

With a color palette evoking the nature and landscape of Ireland and using only the highest quality woolen yarns, the material is sourced from Irish sheep farms and processed by a 300 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then delivered to our master rug maker, where they are tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications.

The Trinity Series consists initially of three designs with titles such as Infinity, Equality and Power. Inspired by the classical Spiral of Theodorus, Infinity offers a departure from the traditional interpretation of what form a carpet must assume. A complex piece involving sixteen painstakingly selected subtle gradations of hand dyed Irish wool yarns, the shape evokes the duality of a spiral that is at the same time made up of a series of triangles. Subsequent designs explore avant garde compositions of triangles and colors resulting in a synthesis of wool and geometry. More designs in this series to be released soon.

Dedicated to the incredible oeuvre of celebrated Irish designer Eileen Gray, Shine is an exercise in geometric minimalism. The simplicity of form also lends itself perfectly to the company’s first hand tufted series to explore the nuances of texture, featuring surface sculpting, penciling and beveling techniques. The border of each shape is painstakingly beveled to add dimension and depth, with subtle geometric sculpted textures to be found embedded in the occasional circle, square or triangle.

At an early age growing up in Ireland, designer Claire McGovern discovered Gray’s work and was smitten by the unique aesthetic forms represented across a wide variety of disciplines including furnishings, interiors and architecture. A brilliant architect, Gray also produced an array of groundbreaking designs during her lifetime even though tragically neither her or her works truly received the recognition they deserved while she was alive. Gray’s rug designs were notable for their extreme simplicity where only the fewest decorative elements are used to maximum effect. A true pioneer of the Modern Movement, Gray was one of the very few female designers to attempt a career in an entirely male dominated world and Shine is Rhyme Studio’s tribute to the legacy and importance of Eileen Gray for women in design today.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of rug design, Rhyme rugs use only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed by a 300 year old woolen mill and hand dyed by a 200 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

“In 2017 we produced our first hand tufted Irish wool rug prototype in Ireland only to discover that all local rug makers use only non native wools and fibers” says designer Claire McGovern. “Delving further, we found that the market for Irish wool and indeed wool internationally, has declined significantly over the last half century, not only due to mass production of cheap petrochemical based synthetic and non recyclable fibers but a failure to recognize the vital renewable and biodegradable qualities of this age old, natural material. Wool as a fiber has been in many respects forsaken and we intend to change that.”

says designer Claire McGovern.

Calling upon the inspiration of pure geometric and architectural lines, Modernity is a new collection of naturally dyed Irish wool rugs and tapestries presented in a series of sleek, minimal, design forms. The series seeks to embrace the legacies of renowned Irish designer Eileen Gray and abstract painter Kasmir Malevich, while continuing Rhyme Studio’s mission to highlight the critically urgent need to support the use of natural wool fibers in design manufacturing. The simplicity of design form also lends itself perfectly to the company’s first hand tufted series to explore the nuances of texture, featuring surface sculpting, penciling and beveling techniques. The border of each shape is painstakingly beveled to add dimension and depth, with subtle geometric sculpted textures to be found embedded in the occasional circle, square or triangle.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of rug design, Rhyme rugs use only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed by a 300 year old woolen mill and hand dyed by a 200 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

Most agree that Modernist art began with the geometric abstraction of Kasimir Malevich. The design Supreme explores his idea of geometric and minimal form as divine and the artist’s desire to liberate the canvas from the representational world. Elevating the rectangle and clean line to a high art, form & colour for Malevich took precedence over other considerations and his arrangements of these elemental shapes had an influence that reverberated throughout the creative arts including upon the work of Irish designer Eileen Gray. The simplicity of form also lends itself perfectly to the company’s first hand tufted series to explore the nuances of texture, featuring surface sculpting, penciling and beveling techniques. The border of each shape is painstakingly beveled to add dimension and depth, with subtle geometric sculpted surfaces to be found embedded in the occasional circle, square or triangle.

One of the most important eras in the history of design, architecture and art, Kasimir Malevich’s era of Modernism represented pivotal change - not unlike recent times. The built environment that we inhabit today is largely shaped by the Modernist movement, the buildings we live in, the chairs we sit upon and the graphic design that surrounds us have all been influenced by the aesthetics and ideology of Modernist design.

On a mission to breathe unique form, color and sustainable craftsmanship into the world of rug design, Rhyme rugs use only traditionally spun Irish wool and non toxic dyes. The wool is sourced from Galway sheep farms, processed by a 300 year old woolen mill and hand dyed by a 200 year old woolen mill. The yarns are then carefully tufted by hand to exact Rhyme specifications in our farmhouse studio.

Báinín

Real Irish Wool

Báinín

Crooked Roads

Báinín

Spiralis

The OM Series I

Birch

The OM Series I

Rowan

The OM Series I

Alder

The OM Series I

Willow

The OM Series I Owl Grey

Birch

The OM Series II Owl Grey

Rowan

The OM Series I Owl Grey

Alder

The OM Series I Owl Grey

Willow

The OM Series II Owl Grey

Peace

The OM Series II Owl Grey

Welcome

The OM Series II Owl Grey

Health

The OM Series II Owl Grey

Shelter & Protect

The Insula Series

Suaimhneas

The Insula Series

Suaimhneas

The Trinity Series

Infinity

The Trinity Series

Infinity

The Trinity Series

Pewter

The Insula Series

Fadó Fadó

The Insula Series

Fadó Fadó II

The Insula Series

Croí

The Insula Series

Croí II

The Modernity Series

Shine

The Modernity Series

Heal

The Modernity Series

Supreme