Today we’d like to introduce you to Ines Tamaddon
Hi Ines, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In a world increasingly consumed by waste and disparity, I founded Elias Designs to celebrate ancient art forms, preserve centuries-old traditions, and prioritize intentional consumption. As someone raised amongst cultural juxtapositions, a father who relocated from Iran to New York during the ‘79 Revolution and a mother with multi-generational ties across North America, I grew up with a deep appreciation of family, history, and art. As I came of age, I began to understand the resilience of my paternal grandparents and particularly, appreciate the wisdom of my grandmother, who, during her annual pilgrimages to Iran, would bring back treasured carpets to adorn our family homes. Surrounded by rich fabrics, colors, and textures, I was naive to how our purchasing power was preserving pillars of our heritage.
My appreciation for textiles grew organically and eventually inspired a professional opportunity in the western highlands of Guatemala, where I worked with Maya artisans and their craft. I was astonished by the variance of techniques, parallels to my own culture, and conservation of traditions despite rapidly changing landscapes. This cemented my interest in the palpable impact history has on modern societies and a deep appreciation of how handwoven art forms continue to be the purest reflection of lived realities.
My grandmother, Azam Elias Azar Tamaddon, is the inspiration behind Elias Designs. Her spirit is felt in every knot of our exquisite rugs and our hope is that these handwoven treasures inspire you to curate family heirlooms for years and years to come. It has been a long-anticipated dream to blend my business experience, passion for design, and appreciation of artisan communities together and I’m looking forward to all that is to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We launched in April 2024 and have recently hit our 90 day mark. We’re in a time of understanding audience behaviors and desires (i.e. how prospects engage with our site, what products have sold and why, posts that generate the most engagement, feedback on styles and price points) and how we can provide the best product and customer experience.
While I am a textile enthusiast, I have also spent 12 years in social enterprise, technology, and small business spaces, which has prepared me well for launching my own business. I’ve exclusively worked for growing, mid-sized brands and start-ups, initially serving clients to now leading global operations and client success teams. Operationalizing is not where I struggle (I think it’s fun!) but I have found it challenging to know when/how to differentiate in a digital landscape and to be patient with growth. It is noisy out there. We live in an age of instant gratification and going viral, where the internet serves as a constant reminder of how seemingly ‘easy’ it is to make it and make it quick.
I’ve been reading and listening to entrepreneurs across media, D2C & B2B brands, content creators, and more who have been at this longer than me to round out my approach. The advice is industry agnostic and usually centers around the importance of consistency, launching fast and not perfectly, and what it really means to prioritize longevity. So much of success today, where algorithms influence much of what we see, is dependent on timing and exposure and, sometimes, can have nothing to do with the quality of your product. Understanding how to build a sustainable model and not be distracted by the allure of internet validation is my biggest area of opportunity.
I truly believe it is an act of courage to build something and put it out in the world. It requires a deep conviction in yourself and what you are offering so at this juncture I am focused on championing the mission of Elias Designs as naturally and organically as I can, and building a brand that will be around for years to come.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Elias Designs?
Elias Designs connects artistic communities to global markets and modern homes. We curate timeless and luxurious heirloom rugs that celebrate ancient art forms.
We are proud to offer a highly-curated, truly unique inventory of antique and vintage rugs across styles and color ways and only source those that fit our high standards. We partner directly with artisans and traders who respect the craft, ensuring the highest quality and authenticity possible. All of our pieces range from 30 – 100+ years old and boast rich histories with deep symbolism of colors, iconography, and traditions of tribal communities across Iran and the Middle East.
We are committed to staying true to handmade art forms; none of our rugs are machine-made, over-dyed (a common practice to give rugs more patina), or manipulated in any way. As such, they cannot be mass-produced and are one-of-a-kind. By doing so, we commit to championing high-quality, heirloom pieces that will last you many lifetimes.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I enjoyed riding horses and spending time with my family, especially my grandmother. I was often enraptured by her sage advice and connection to nature.
Pricing:
- Items range from $500 – $5,000+ depending on age, style, and size of rug.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eliasdesignsco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliasdesigns___/
Image Credits
Erin Elizabeth Photo https://www.
