What’s It Like Touring the World’s Largest Carpet Manufacturer? Let Me Tell You…
In June, I had the absolute treat of touring Mohawk’s manufacturing plants in Dalton, Georgia, and wow, what an experience! Honestly, I always feel a little spoiled when I get invited on a vendor trip. It’s like I’m living out my best influencer life… even though I’m definitely not one. (But hey, if you’re not following me on Instagram yet — you should be! I’ve got a mighty 1300 followers and I share the behind-the-scenes of growing a business, design projects, and all the fun stuff in between.)
This trip felt extra special because Mohawk was one of the very first reps to reach out to me over a decade ago, back when I was still figuring out vendor relationships and navigating the design world with wide eyes and big dreams. So, to come full circle and actually walk through their facilities? Major full-heart moment.
Now, just to clear things up, when you get invited on a manufacturing tour like this, there are no strings attached. No one’s paying me to be there, no one’s paying me to write this, and I’m definitely not being sponsored. I’m just genuinely obsessed with how Mohawk operates and wanted to share what it was like from a designer’s POV.
The best part? The people. Our group was small (less than 10 designers), and it was so inspiring to meet other creatives and hear their journeys, especially because we are all local. We swapped stories, shared laughs, and bonded over a mutual love of good design (and good food because they spoiled us with amazing restaurants). We even got to explore the adorable town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The architecture was stunning, the train station was like something out of a movie, and don’t even get me started on the ceiling detail, which was total inspo!
Now, let’s talk about the plant tour…
Mind. Blown.
Every single detail of the process was so thoughtfully planned out, it felt like I was walking through the set of a futuristic design documentary. From the very first strand of fiber (yes, THE strand) all the way to robots packaging finished carpets. It was next-level fascinating. They even have processes in place to recycle material efficiently. Nothing is wasted. I was especially mesmerized by the thousands of yarn colors they have on hand, ready to tuft into custom carpets. It really hit me how much care and precision goes into each piece.
We designers often think, “Oh, that’ll just be in stock,” but seeing the why behind the lead times — the craftsmanship, the machines, the PEOPLE (and yes, the robots 😊), gave me a whole new appreciation for the product we’re specifying, especially when it comes to their custom work. Designing carpet for a specific project down to the tiniest detail? The possibilities are endless.
One thing that really stuck with me was learning about the company’s values. The founders are surprisingly frugal, in a good way, and committed to giving back to the community. Employees are cross-trained in multiple jobs, creating a team that’s versatile, connected, and empowered. That kind of culture is rare, and it shows in the work.
So yeah, I may not be a full-blown influencer, but I do get to go on some pretty cool adventures thanks to this job, and this one was definitely a highlight.
Until next time,
XOXO
Eden Stringham