For over 80 years, the Couristan brand has been revered as an icon of style and quality for its exquisite area rugs, wall-to-wall carpeting and custom floorcovering fashions. Founded in 1926 by brothers Basil J. Couri and George J. Couri, Couristan, Inc. has been privately owned and operated by the Couri family for two generations. Today, the business has a global presence as it continues to thrive under the creative vision and innovative leadership of brothers George G. Couri, Chairman, and Ronald J. Couri, President and CEO.  

An embodiment of the quintessential Amercian Dream, Couristan began its rich history over eight decades ago with humble beginnings in  New York City. The company, which quite appropriately was orginally named "Couri Brothers", was established as a direct importing business specializing in fine handmade area rugs from Persia. This in itself was no small task, as Ron Couri remembers of his father and uncle's adventurous excursions: 

"I recall listening to their travel stories in absolute amazement. First they took a trans-Atlantic ship to England, then another boat to the mainland of Europe. Once there, my father and uncle rode the Orient Express inland through several countries. The last leg of the trip was a long, treacherous drive through the desert of Persia, which they finally reached 32 days after leaving New York. Needless to say, it was quite a journey." 

Some of the first area rugs imported by "Couri Brothers" were from Smyrna, an ancient city which is now part of Turkey. At that time, the company began affixing trademark labels reading "Couristan" to the back of each and every area rug it imported. This mark was composed from the family's surname "Couri" and the frequently used suffix "stan", referring to the region of small weaving villages from which the company imported its products. The trusted "Couristan" name, and its high-end floorcovering designs, became widley popular and by 1927 the company was broadening its horizons and importing area rugs from India.

Despite the economic break down of the Great Depression, Couristan continued to expand as a global importer and in the 1930's the company began importing hand-hooked rugs from China and hand-braided rugs from Japan. For 30 years, between the 1930's and 1960's, Couristan was regarded as one of America's largest importers of  Japanese braided area rugs.   

Recognized as true trend-setters, Basil and George Couri helped create a lucrative marketplace and subsequent demand for handmade Oriental area rugs throughout the United States.  

It is this kind of ingenuity and innovative spirit that has made Couristan into the household name that it is now.    

Today, Couristan's handmade assortment consists of over 35 area rug collections. The company continues to import handmade area rugs from China, as well as from India, Nepal and Pakistan. Maintaining a strong belief that handmade area rugs are like works of art, each and every handmade area rug the company imports is hand-crafted with extraordinary detail and elegance. Styles range from antique-inspired looks, updated Persian designs, deeply contoured Orientals, casual-contemporary trends and 'green' eco-chic fashions.

One of Couristan's most celebrated and best-selling area rug collections, Kashimar, made its debut in 1961. This marked a significant date in Couristan's history. Through the use of technological weaving advancements, the company was able to produce a power-loomed area rug collection inspired by original handmade Oriental and Persian designs at a fraction of the cost. The result was truly an "affordable luxury" for consumers.   

Couristan's power-loomed assortment now includes over 35 collections, imported from such countries as Belgium, Turkey, China and Poland. Woven from natural fibers, like wool, jute and cotton, as well as various synthetic blends, each collection offers a diverse selection of beautiful, distinctive designs and patterns in today's most sought after color combinations. As a pioneer of new constructions and color techniques, the company is currently weaving power-loomed area rugs consisting of up to 36 shades of color. In addition to its advanced color techniques, Couristan's power-loomed assortment features a full-range of sizes and shapes, providing consumers with endless decorating solutions for the entire home.