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King Kennedy Rugs owner Mikael Kennedy treats his inventory with a unique blend of reverence and irreverence, according to Robb Report.

The photographer-turned-rug dealer, who opened a Los Angeles showroom in 2020, has an understanding of and respect for the late 19th- and early 20th-century Persian and Armenian rugs that make up much of his enviable collection. At the same time, he’s able to see them as more than just that.

Over the years, he’s transformed beloved rugs into everything from mules to bomber jackets to tactical vests. But his latest endeavor is on a different scale: a one-off duffel bag made from a rug to a customer’s own specifications. And its name? The King.

“If I’m going to make something, I want it to be unique and stop people in their tracks,” Kennedy says of the special offering he spent two years developing. “There’s enough crap in the world. I’m not making stuff for the sake of making stuff.”

While a few pre-made bags are available for purchase on the manufacturer’s website, the King Duffle program is custom-made, starting at $3,800, but ultimately depending on what rug the customer wants to transform.

While Kennedy’s entire inventory of nearly 150 vintage rugs can be viewed online, not every one can be turned into a bag. Some simply can’t be transformed due to their size or thickness, while three categories—Navajo rugs, Afghan war rugs, and prayer rugs—are ruled out by Kennedy based on what he calls his “old punk rock morals.”

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