SAN FRANCISCO -- Michela O'Connor Abrams, president and publisher of Dwell, has been named to the RugMark Foundation USA board of directors.
O'Connor Abrams has already been involved with RugMark through benefit work and events and through Dwell's lead sponsorship of The Most Beautiful Rug: RugMark's Campaign to End Child Labor. The goal of The Most Beautiful Rug is to communicate to rug purchasers that a handmade rug made by child labor is ugly no matter what it looks like and that the RugMark label ensures a rug's inner beauty.
"The foundation's focus is aligned with our values and beliefs at Dwell--to engage in a dialogue with consumers and design professionals," said O'Connor Abrams. "As both a mother and a publisher, RugMark's work to end child labor by changing purchasing practices is hugely important to me."
Nina Smith, executive director of RugMark USA, called O’Connor Abrams "a passionate and articulate spokesperson who will bring entrepreneurial skills to [the RugMark] team."
Currently, 2 percent of all U.S. handmade rug imports are certified by RugMark. According to the organization, a 15 percent market share is the estimated tipping point to end child labor on an industrywide basis.