This collaboration started just like many creative journeys do, with a serendipitous industry connection. When Laylah was introduced to Alua from LUMI Interiors through a mutual friend in London, something immediately clicked. A shared appreciation for craftsmanship, unique design and timeless quality sparked the beginning of what would become a truly special collaboration. Their first rug design is inspired by Alua’s initial trip to the UK, a conversation that left both designers brimming with creative ideas.

A Shared Vision

From the very start, Laylah and Alua were brought together by a clear vision to create something timeless, tactile, and rooted in personal connections. Drawing on their complementary expertise: Holmes Bespoke’s signature artistry of handmade rugs and LUMI’s refined, elemental design aesthetic, they began to shape a collection that would honour both the craft of rug making and the quiet beauty of the natural world.

Inspired by the Desert

The Creative Rug Collection is deeply inspired by the Emirati desert which is a landscape both vast and still and ever-changing. Shifting sands, layered ridges, and sun-washed tones guided the design process, resulting in pieces that feel sculptural, grounded, and serene. This is not just a visual representation of the desert, it also captures the calmness, texture, and quiet majesty of the landscape.

Texture as Storytelling

Each rug in the collection is a tactile artwork of the place it is inspired by. Varying pile heights echo the sand dune ridges, natural fibres reflect the raw elegance of the earth and soft, tonal palettes bring to life the subtle complexity of the desert’s colours. Every detail is intentional and handcrafted to evoke a sense of immersion as though you are stepping barefoot across the warm sand.

A Moment to Celebrate

To mark the launch of the collection, Holmes Bespoke and LUMI Interiors hosted an intimate lunch at the elegant Mount St. Restaurant in London. Surrounded by friends, collaborators, and creatives from the design world, the afternoon was a true celebration of artistry, connection, and collaboration. It was a moment to pause and reflect on the journey and appreciate what Laylah and Alua created.