Peace Industry, The Mission, San Francisco

October 24, 2013 — 3 Comments

felt rugs

clean design

felt rugs

stack of rugs

felt with pattern

wall hanging

wall hanging

natural colors

foot stools

contemporary design

round

warm

On Monday in the Mission District in San Francisco traffic is relatively slow. My friend and I arrived early for a lunch date in order to shop and look around in the area. It turned out to be the perfect off peak time to be there. We found metered street parking right outside the restaurant, set it up for 4 hours, and set off in search of whatever there was to find. We had been told that the area is becoming so hip and gallery filled that regular folks are being priced out of the commercial space. This is kind of true.  Upscale art and restaurants, clubs and clothing dot the landscape of the Hispanic neighborhood of the city.

The first stop on our tour was an amazing felt gallery with modern designs and very special material. Peace Industry felt rugs are produced in Turkey.  The texture is sturdy but also really soft.  I enjoyed feeling the felt under my feet.  All sizes are made with designs created especially for this purpose.  Fair trade is practiced and the result is amazing merchandise at very fair pricing.  I want one still, and have remembered what Dodd Raissnia, the proprietor, told us while we were looking at the pieces in the gallery.  The sales tax in San Francisco is about the same as shipping to most US locations, so many of the customers do purchase from home.  I still recall how wonderful it feels, and I know it would last for the rest of my life.  I may start with one of the small baskets constructed out of pieces of felt just as a warm up.  I thought all the pieces were delightfully designed and very well crafted.  The stools would be super cozy by the wood stove in winter.