In the late 1881 it was Jacob Willard who started in Laren ( N- H ) his business as a weaver with his own  factory, where the production in those days existed in making cloths and covers for cows, all made by hand.

The start of the Willard family company

The start of weaving rugs was in 1890. Those rugs were called “Tapis Belge”

In 1919, two mechanical weaving machines were bought to enlarge the production capacity.

It was around the years of 1935 that Steffen Willard started making 100 cm width carpets (boucle and sisal). The in Holland famous and well known “Jabo” carpet. Five years later they started producing woolen carpets.

 Steffen Willard behind his machine 

Later on it was the third generation with Jacob Willard who started making carpets. And later his brother John joined the company so that quickly the name was changed to “Carpet Factory Willard Bros”

 Jacob Willard as the Nestor of this Generation

At the end of the sixties the complete carpet factory business in Holland was under pressure of the wall  to wall carpets which were now coming up from America.

For that reason, the decision was made by this third generation of Willard to start a wholesale trade company with carpets as their  main product.

So there won’t be a delay of a tradition in generations.

The brand name of this company is

Willard Custom Carpets.

The only difference now is that the factory is not any more based in Holland.

The sales department however still remains in Laren NH Holland.

His experience, during those 37 years, made him start producing hand tufted wall to wall carpets and rugs, for his special clients since years.

The best artisans you can imagine, are working –sometimes- for weeks or months, on a custom made carpet order. 

 The production of today's handtufted carpets

The production  of today's handtufted carpets