Launched in July of 2017, Ugly Rugly is an exploration into using unconventional textile methods to produce wild and wacky home goods. Ugly Rugly is currently based in Bushwick, Brooklyn NY and is run entirely by married duo Lauren and Cole Hansen.
Originally started as a side project in 2016 making rope and recycled items on her home sewing machine. Lauren explored the rag-rug making methods taught to her by her grandma and expanded the practice by using rope and other more consistent materials. Eventually making coiled rugs, baskets, and placemats. Shortly after, Cole imported a tufting machine and mastered it. They began to combine tufting and rope coiling techniques and thus Ugly Rugly was born.
The tufting machine arrived in a box full of parts that Cole painstakingly figured out how to put together. The tufting craze hadn’t quite hit yet and there were virtually no resources available. Cole and Lauren spent many long evenings scouring the internet and library books for any resources on how to use the machine and learned to make beautiful, high quality rugs. Sometimes making slightly risky deals with overseas yarn vendors and driving all over the North East sourcing materials. Eventually gaining the knowledge and expertise to launch a full collection at the end of 2017.
Ugly Rugly has gone on to innovate textile home goods and create objects that embody a silly, irreverent, and cheerful spirit. To this day, Lauren and Cole make, inspect, and ship most items and are committed exploring fair domestic and overseas manufacturing. Ugly Rugly is proud to be represented in over 15 stores nationwide and shown in major print and online publications. Ugly Rugly’s goal is to make soft objects for a hard world.
