NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2017 -- Obeetee, a world leader in hand-woven carpets, has launched its special quick-ship program, Obeetee Express, with an exclusive collection to benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education. Seventeen talented interior designers and architects created customizable carpet designs for the new DIFFA Collection. Through this partnership, Obeetee is supporting hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country combating HIV/AIDS through preventive education, treatment, research, direct care and advocacy.

The launch event for the DIFFA Collection took place at the NYC Obeetee Showroom on Thursday, October 19th and showcased the 17 designs as 3’ x 5’ area rugs. These pieces were sold at the event during a silent auction, with 100% of the proceeds going to DIFFA. The event was attended by 150 designers and industry influentials. All 17 rugs were sold and the event raised more than $3,200 for DIFFA.

The dynamic mix of designers creating the line includes well-known interior designers and architecture firms: Verda Alexander for Studio O+A, Arlene Angard, Asler Valero, William Reue, Christopher Trujillo, Tina Ramchandani, Patrick J. Hamilton, Darrin Varden, Marks & Frantz, dash design, Antonino Buzzetta, M Moser, WUNO, Wesley Moon, Michael Tavano, Reeta Gyamlani and V Starr Interiors.

The participating designers used the Obeetee Express color bank of almost 200 stocked colors to develop unique carpet designs, which were expertly hand-tufted using 100% New Zealand wool.The dense quality of the construction will allow the collection to perform well in demanding commercial settings,while exuding luxury for the home.

The designs are available on the Obeetee Express website: www.obeeteeexpress.com. This new site lets customers choose from a variety of colors, view the rugs in various room settings and print or email samples to clients and expect a six-to-eight production time for most sizes. Ten percent of the net sales from the DIFFA Collection will go to DIFFA regardless of the color selections. The collection is also available to view on the Dering Hall website: www.deringhall.com.

Customers can also submit their own designs on www.obeeteeexpress.com.

The participating designers with their rug samples at the launch party with Gretchen Auer, Obeetee Sales Manager, who spearheaded the project, at center (back row, third from left).

Among the attendees, from left to right: Andrew Bodziak, New York and New Jersey-area Managing Director for Starwood Hotels and a member of Obeetee Limited's Board of Directors; Graham Head of ABC Carpet & Home and an Obeetee, Inc. board member; Paul Austin of the Austin Advisory Group and an Obeetee, Inc. board member; and Carl Adams, an international luxury goods specialist and Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Brown Harris Stevens.

About Obeetee
OBEETEE is one of the largest handmade rug makers in India and one of the oldest hand-woven rug companies in the world. OBEETEE’s outstanding quality and reputation have earned the interest of many famous and notable people. Founded as Oakley Bowden & Taylor in 1920, OBEETEE has grown to 650 permanent employees and works with 20,000 independent artisans who are engaged in weaving and processing our rugs in India. Thanks to their efforts, OBEETEE is the leading producer and exporter of hand-knotted, hand tufted and flat-woven carpets in India. OBEETEE is the world’s first wool mark licensee for hand-knotted carpets. OBEETEE has the greatest in-house capabilities of any rug-maker in India, thanks to their modern dyeing plant and inspired design department. The OBEETEE color bank holds over 4,000 color-fast shades of wool. The designers at OBEETEE constantly study new textures and fresh combinations, to ensure the production of the finest quality rugs available in India. OBEETEE cares for the artisans and the environment as much as they care about the quality of their products. Their environment friendly power systems run mainly on gas-derived biomass. The company looks after the extended families of its workers and ensures use of safe dyes and chemicals. Internationally recognized as the premier source for the finest of handmade carpets in India, OBEETEE has received countless national awards for being the country's largest and most reputable exporter. OBEETEE Pvt. Ltd. is based in Mirzapur, India, on the Grand Trunk Road between Delhi and Kolkata. Progressive, dynamic and ethical, OBEETEE is constantly striving to offer the best quality products and a lifetime of beauty and delight to its customers.


About DIFFA
DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that fight HIV/AIDS by providing treatment and direct care services for people living with or impacted by the disease, offering preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection, or supporting public policy initiatives. DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States, mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has emerged from a grassroots organization into a national foundation based in New York City with chapters and community partners across the country that, working together provided more than $42 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide.