About Lifestyle by Cara
Hi, I'm Cara Welch. For over a decade, I've been a trusted source for homeowners and interior designers across the United States — and around the world — looking for a truly custom, handmade cowhide rug. I design and craft every piece myself in my own factory in Buenos Aires, Argentina — home to some of the finest leather artisans and cowhide in the world — and ship it directly to your door, wherever you are.
I grew up in Michigan, spent many years in Aspen, and eventually made my way to Buenos Aires, where I still live and work today. Along the way I spent several years at Gucci, which gave me a trained eye for quality leather long before I ever thought about making rugs.
When I moved to Argentina, I found myself surrounded by some of the best leather in the world. I spent time networking and searching out the most skilled leather artisans in the country, and eventually opened my own factory in Buenos Aires. I'm still there five days a week, personally involved in every stage of production — this isn't a business I oversee from a distance.
My days are split between making rugs on the floor and answering client emails myself, so when you reach out, you're talking directly to the person actually making your rug.
I personally select every single hide for every single order, and I'm hands-on through nearly the entire process — cutting, piecing the rug together, detailing, and packaging each one myself. When it comes time to sew, I'm right there alongside the seamstress the whole way through; I just don't operate the machine myself, since I'll admit I've never had the patience to learn it! After every single piece is sewn, I personally inspect the quality of the stitching before it moves on to the next stage.
Since founding the company in 2009, I've made it my focus to treat every rug like a one-of-a-kind piece of art rather than a mass-produced product.
We work with premium Argentine cowhide, sourced from free-range farms where cows graze on grass rather than being raised in feed lots — the difference shows up in softer leather, shinier hair, and a richer natural color range. Our tannery is ISO 9001 certified, and the leather itself is a by-product of Argentina's beef industry, not something raised specifically for its hide.
Every piece that leaves my workshop is made to order — no two rugs are ever exactly alike, because no two hides are ever exactly alike. I work closely with each client on size, color, and pattern, because I'd rather spend more time getting a rug right than rush out something generic.
If you're considering a custom piece, I'd love to help bring it to life. Browse the collection to find a design that speaks to you, or request a quote and we can start the conversation.