Labor of Love - Langhorne Honors Behind-the-Scenes Makers of Carpet

When Langhorne Carpets set out to create an unprecedented direct marketing campaign to highlight all the heritage mill has to offer, subjects were easy to choose. Naturally, the Morrow family focused on the traditional, historic and modern Wilton Jacquard carpets they’ve made for going on a century. The Morrows also showcased their pure wool, produced in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. They selected stunning design projects, from penthouse to beach house to state house for lush photographs.

But most important among the choices were Bill and Winnifred Morrow’s insistence on honoring the behind-the-scenes makers who make the Bucks County business the vital, vibrant and absolutely unique place it is. Each mailer—there are four in all—proudly features portraits and stories of Langhorne’s devoted community of contributors.

Andy Ruiz stands in front of a Langhorne loom, alongside his son June and brother Bennie. Together, they are two generations of weavers. “I taught [Bennie and June] to watch the looms run… to listen to them, ” said Andy, “To take pride in what they do.” To the Ruizes, the complex job of transforming skeins of wool into precise designs is both a challenge and a source of great satisfaction. “After all this time, I am still excited to come to work each day. There’s always something new here.”

In another portrait, longtime burler Danielle Archambault lays a hand on a custom design she’s inspected and hand-sewn. “There are about 80,000 loops in a single square yard of carpet,” she said, “My job is to inspect every last one.” Danielle compares her profession to another métier she knows well. “I have five kids and four grandchildren. Being a good burler is a lot like being a good mother. It’s a lot of work, and you have to keep your eye on everything at all times. But at the end of the day, you see the results—and it feels really rewarding.”