Philip Newton: A Story Woven Through Time and Texture
We caught up with Philip Newton to uncover the fascinating story behind his passion for rugs and textiles, a journey that’s taken him from youthful curiosity to international travel, conservation work, and eventually to opening a specialist rug and carpet shop in Rye. In this exclusive piece, Philip shares his colourful past — from fashion belts and concert T‑shirts to tribal weaving traditions — offering readers a unique glimpse into a life woven with creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for the handmade.
“I have always been interested in carpets, ever since I was 18 years old. Back then, I had long hair and was really only interested in music, alcohol, and girls. After my grandmother died, I was helping my mum clear out her house when she was about to throw away an old rug. For a reason I couldn’t quite explain at the time, I kept it. I cleaned it lovingly, and I still have it to this day — a late 19th-century Qashqai tribal rug.
About 40 years ago, I bought an overgrown medieval house at auction. I’m still living there, having bought more surrounding land over the years, much of which is now managed for conservation. Most of the land belongs to the Maxfield Nature Conservation Trust, a registered charity. I’ve always been interested in nature — from birds to dragonflies — and began rewilding the land long before it became fashionable. At the time, local farmers thought I was mad. These days, many of them are applying for conservation grants to do exactly what I started decades ago.
Before all this, I dropped out of university after just six weeks and began making belts — hippie fashion at the time. By the early ’70s, my company was considered one of the best fashion belt makers in England. I also started making guitar slings, and many famous guitarists used them. Eventually, I supplied T‑shirts to concert promoters for a range of acts from Johnny Cash and Thin Lizzy to Cliff Richard.
Later, I travelled extensively across the Indian subcontinent, parts of Africa, and the Middle East, buying up stocks of clothing. I had a warehouse in Hackney and another in Rye Harbour, and would (hopefully) sell what I brought back.
I bought the shop at 7 Market Road around ten years ago and eventually decided to open a rug and carpet store. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to truly appreciate the weavers’ work — the natural dyes, the labour, and the extraordinary skill that goes into creating these beautiful items.
One of the joys of running the shop is giving customers the opportunity to appreciate not just the beauty and intricacy of these pieces, but also the ideas and cultural richness behind them – especially in tribal rugs. I also sell torbas (bag faces) and other remarkable embroideries. Lately, the shop has seen growing interest in kelim and carpet cushions, which are made from old, damaged items. The parts still in good condition are cut out and recycled into desirable homewares.
Kelim rugs themselves are flat-woven, tapestry-style carpets, full of character and history,
For Philip, the shop is more than a business it’s a quiet celebration of craft, culture, and conservation with some items more than 140 years old being a testament to their longevity and quality. Each rug tells a story, each textile a thread in a much larger tapestry of tradition and time. As Rye visitors browse the richly patterned carpets, amazing tribal rugs, and vibrant kelims and cushions, they’re stepping into a life’s passion, decades in the making. In a world of throwaway goods and passing trends, Philip Newton reminds us that beauty, meaning, and integrity still have a place and often, it’s underfoot.
www.antiquevintagepersianrugsinrye.com
