The Art of Making Rugs

In 2018, Studio Soliven first debuted its own collection of designs, produced by Marco Soliven. Initially, his idea was to share his passion in photography by printing his works and playing with textures and colors through experimenting with everyday life scenes

March 15, 2023

Marco Soliven, founder of Studio Soliven

Rugs have a way of making the atmosphere and ambience of a space look brighter and more cohesive. When you walk into a room, you will often see rugs in its simplest and most common form—as a floor covering and piece of decoration. But there’s more to rugs than what we usually see. Studio Soliven, a rug design studio based in Manila, further explores weaving techniques and the making of handmade artisanal rugs.

In 2018, Studio Soliven first debuted its own collection of designs, produced by Marco Soliven. Initially, his idea was to share his passion in photography by printing his works and playing with textures and colors through experimenting with everyday life scenes. The first collection includes a series of silhouettes and fascinating subjects found around his house.

Having worked in the rug industry for a decade, Soliven envisions rugs as a medium for creative expression. “Rugs can be the centerpiece, too.” As he ventured into this journey, the company collaborated with celebrity and artist Solenn Heusaff. The concept was to bring in her style and her chosen subjects to life with rugs. Working with different materials and weaving techniques, the first collection was immediately sold out. As the company geared towards a more creative side, they produced a second collection together, with more designs available this time.

The company continues to collaborate with local creatives and celebrities, producing designs that are prominently distinct from one another. The second collaboration they did was with interior and furniture designer Marella Custodio. This was paired with a furniture collection that drew inspiration from nature and its forms. It was followed by a collection with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach that exhibited designs inspired by the beauty queen’s favorite places and cities around the world.

As Studio Soliven approaches their fifth anniversary, Marco Soliven, together with the young creative team he leads, continues to produce ever-evolving designs. They are currently working on new sets of collections and collaborations to be launched within the year.