The Textile Impact exhibition at Anderson Arts Center celebrates the rich history of the textile industry in Anderson County and showcases what textiles can be. At Orian Rugs, sponsor of The Textile Impact, exploring what textiles can be is a daily assignment.
Orian Rugs has been part of the fabric of the Anderson County community since it opened on former pastureland along S.C. Hwy. 81 in 1979. During its four decades in Anderson County, its manufacturing facility has expanded from 50,000 square feet to more than 550,000 square feet.
A major player in the home décor market, the Orian Rugs brand is found at large retailers such as Rooms To Go, Ashley Furniture, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Costco. The company also has a heavy e-commerce presence, according to CEO Rob Merritt.
Orian Rugs handles all production processes at its Anderson County facility, beginning with the manufacture of its own color batches and extrusion of polypropylene yarn. Processes include yarn treatment, weaving, rug finishing and packaging. The facility also handles warehousing and shipping.
“Inside one building, you get the concept going from CAD all the way to creation of samples, and manufacturing and marketing of the product,” Merritt said.
About half of the yarn produced at Orian Rugs goes into its woven floor coverings, with the other half sold to companies making products for the automotive, marine and insulation markets. An innovative new yarn developed by Orian about 18 months ago offers UV and saltwater protection and is going head-to head with some of the biggest names in the outdoor fabric industry, according to Merritt.
Employment opportunities at Orian Rugs include jobs in manufacturing, supply chain management, IT, e-commerce, graphic design, copywriting, product development and packaging science.
Video courtesy of Anderson County Media Department.
