Founded on the Lower East Side of Manhattan by Matthew Sullivan and John Madtes, DANDELION is the first social impact rug company that specializes in creating unique, contemporary, hand-knotted rugs of the highest quality. DANDELION was conceptualized in 2015 — Matt was working for the United Nations in Afghanistan and noticed the outstanding craftsmanship, detail, and beauty of traditional Afghan weaving. When Matt returned home, he partnered with long-time friend John to build a company that creates economic opportunity, positive impact, and beautiful, artistic statement pieces. They decided that DANDELION would be a different type of company; it would create pieces of woven art by collaborating with the most talented artists in the world. A DANDELION piece is a statement piece and provides opportunity to be a catalyst for social change. We partnered with Turquoise Mountain and Label Step to help empower Afghan artisan weavers by providing higher wages to our weavers in Afghanistan and India.
Brigita Krasauskaite, from Lithuania, with graduate degrees in textile design and art business, soon joined the team, bringing with her a rich perspective on art and design. Ryan Falvey, a trader on the New York Stock Exchange, brings enthusiasm, a sharp mind for business and a passion for helping others. Together, we spent many nights in New York brainstorming, sharing stories, ideas, and passion. DANDELION aims to push the boundaries of design to create woven art. We want our clients to be excited about their rugs, as an investment, a work of art, and a direct contribution to social good. Each rug has its own life and is more than just an accessory for your home. A beautiful rug can bring people together and provide a story to share with loved ones.
