A Day With Jennifer Manners In Charleston
Written by Mara Brown 5/14/26
Global Design, Local Charm
At Fine Rugs of Charleston, we are always searching the globe for stylish, high quality floor coverings. On April 24th, we were honored to host a guest whose stories span the globe, London-based designer Jennifer Manners.
Jennifer made a special trip to our Charleston showroom to celebrate our new collaboration and the arrival of her exquisite line of stair runners. Transitioning from a career as a foreign news journalist to a world-class rug designer, Jennifer brings a unique perspective to her work. Her designs aren’t just beautiful, they are inspired by the cultures and landscapes she encountered during her travels, resulting in a collection that feels both timeless and distinctly modern.
Innovation in the Lowcountry
During her visit, Jennifer walked us through her latest samples, and we were particularly struck by the innovation behind her Stair Runner Collection. These pieces feature her award-winning /re/PURPOSE PERFORMANCE fibers. While they have the soft, luxurious feel of traditional hand-knotted wool, they are actually crafted from recycled water bottles.
These runners are:
Eco-Elegant: Sustainable luxury that helps the planet.
High-Performance: Specifically designed for high-traffic areas (with a "rub test" of over 60,000!), making them ideal for busy family stairways. Many fabrics go through a standard rub test to measure upholstery durability and abrasion resistance. It works by stimulating every day wear to determine how many times the fabric can be rubbed before showing wear. For perspective, fabrics considered "light duty" are usually rated around 15,000 rubs, "heavy duty" fabrics are around 30,000+ rubs and "commercial grade" fabrics are rated at 50,000+ rubs. This shows how incredibly durable this stair runner collection is!
Easy to Clean: Moisture-resistant and bleach-cleanable without losing their vibrant color.
A Collaborative Afternoon
After an inspiring morning in the showroom exploring patterns like the coastal-inspired Santa Cruz Stripe and the geometric Ikat Grid, we enjoyed a lovely lunch together. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss upcoming design trends, projects and how Jennifer’s aesthetic fits so perfectly with the historic and contemporary homes of the Lowcountry. We are so grateful to Jennifer for stopping by before her next meeting, and we are even more excited to share her vision with you.
Ready to elevate your staircase/entryway?
Stop by the showroom to see the Jennifer Manners collection in person and find the perfect runner to tell your home’s story.
