Free to join · San Mateo

Welcome to the
Simonian Rug Society

A community for collectors, designers, makers, and anyone who loves rugs.

We meet the third Saturday of every month at Simonian, with special events all year at museums, shops, and studios across the Bay Area.

Become a member. It's free Take a look
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What is the Society

Reviving the Bay Area's Rug Community.

Since 2020, many of the Bay Area's rug events and societies have quietly died out, or lost their flair. We are bringing that energy back, and taking it deeper.

Our new membership dives into the topics behind the rugs, and the amazing stories and collections that come with them, from artists and designers to lifelong collectors and everyone in between. Whether you are a serious collector or just falling for your first rug, there is a seat for you here.

We hold functions all over the Bay Area, and members get access to special perks announced throughout the year. Every gathering is a chance to learn, look closely, and connect, not just around antiques, but new rugs and rugs from all over the world.

Free to joinEvents across the Bay AreaMembers only perks
Artisans felting a colorful wool rug by hand at Peace Industry Making felt by hand at Peace Industry®
What happens

A Month in the Society.

Every meeting is part class, part show and tell, part good company. Here is the kind of thing you can expect.

Antique Caucasian rug detail

Show & Tell

Bring a rug, any rug, new or old. We look at it together, and you get a free identification from our team.

Rugs at Simonian

Talks & Guests

Makers, designers, and scholars share the history and craft behind the rugs, from weaving styles to the meaning of a motif.

Naturally dyed wool

Dyes & Materials

Get hands on with wool, silk, and natural dyes, and see how a handful of roots and leaves becomes a whole spectrum of color.

A rug anchoring a modern room

Design in the Room

See how designers and architects use rugs to shape a space, and where the great traditions are showing up in 2026 interiors.

Why join

What Makes This Society Different.

  • It is completely free

    Most rug societies charge annual dues. Ours never will. Just show up and take part.

  • Led by a real rug maker

    Melina Finkelstein knows dyes, mills, and looms firsthand, not just from books. You learn from someone who makes rugs.

  • Bring your rug

    Free identification and friendly show and tell at every meeting. Finally, a room where rugs are the whole point.

  • Go behind the scenes

    Field trips to Bay Area museums, studios, and private collections, plus access to our own wash plant and restoration floor.

  • Never miss out

    Every session is recorded. Members also get early invites to special events, and first look at new collections and swag.

A rug anchoring a bright modern living room A colorful contemporary rug up close An antique Caucasian rug detail
On the calendar

Upcoming Events.

See the full events calendar →
Who's in the room

A Community of Rug Lovers.

Our members range from lifelong collectors to first timers. The only thing you need is an appreciation for the art and a willingness to learn and share.

CollectorsInterior DesignersArchitectsTextile ArtistsRug CleanersRestorersManufacturersEnthusiasts
Melina Finkelstein, artist and rug maker, President of the Simonian Rug Society A bold flatweave rug designed by Melina Finkelstein
Society President

Meet Melina Finkelstein.

Melina leads the Society, and few people know the craft the way she does. An Oakland based artist and rug maker, she has spent more than twenty years working directly with mills, dye houses, and weaving communities around the world.

In 2003 she founded Peace Industry, a fair trade felt rug company, first in Iran and today with an all woman studio in Kathmandu, Nepal. She also designs flatweaves with Zapotec weavers in Oaxaca, Mexico, and hand knotted rugs in Nepal, and she has spoken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art about her felt work.

She understands every stage of the craft, from fiber and natural dye to pattern and finished rug, and her collections are made and cared for right here at Simonian. At every meeting you learn from her firsthand.

Join free

Become a Member. It's Free.

Here is how it works. Register once as a member, at no cost. Then, before each event, members get a private RSVP invitation by email. Seats are limited, and the first 50 members to RSVP get in.

  1. 1

    Register as a member

    Free, and takes a minute. This gets you on the members list.

  2. 2

    Watch for your RSVP email

    Before every event we send members a private, members only RSVP link.

  3. 3

    Grab your seat

    Space is limited. The first 50 members to RSVP are in.

Become a Member

Free to join. Register once, then RSVP to each event as a member. First 50 get in.

Free forever. Unsubscribe any time.

“
Rugs are more than floor coverings. They are history, art, craftsmanship, and culture woven together. If you feel that too, we would love to have you in the room.
Austin Reinders · Simonian Rugs

Ready to Join the Rug Society?

Become a member. It's free