2. By Sylvie Peron Images Costa Christ
Mersine Patts
Tai Ping’s
Global Managing
Director AviationThe House of Tai Ping comprises six celebrated brands spanning over six continents and
more than forty distinctive collections bonded by one common path, the bespoke choice
of designers worldwide. Headquartered in Hong Kong, with 14 showrooms across Europe,
Asia and North America, the House of Tai Ping covers every sphere of the residential and
hospitality markets. Each distinctive brand creates bespoke rugs and textile floor coverings
designed and customized to the unique vision of its exigent clientele. Its foundational values
of craft, respect, preservation and collaboration are further expressed by its substantial
investment in environmentally sustainable practices and its commitment to positive
workforce development at the heart of corporate planning. Its diverse range of proficiencies,
wide breadth of service offerings and vertically integrated production capacity enable
the company to effectively manage the unique demands of virtually any type of project.
Presiding over the development of the Aviation sector, Global Managing Director Mersine
Patts has weaved a solid network within the business aviation industry, bringing the Tai Ping
‘savoir faire’ to the forefront of cabin interior design.
Texas-born, Mersine Patts grew up in Dal-
las, raised by a stylish mother who took
her young children on vacation to far
away places after the premature death
of their father. “I grew up with a mother
who took me and my brother around
the globe as children. I was fascinated by
the travel, the different cultures and of
course, the experience of flying,” says the
seasoned traveler.
Her father was a Geologist in the oil in-
dustry and her parents lived in Tripoli,
Libya and travelled to many regions of
the world. “As a result, I grew up hear-
ing stories from my parents and friends
about their experiences living abroad, ”
she says. With a twinkle in her dark, al-
mond shaped eyes she adds: “After all,
it’s hard not to be a multi-cultural person
growing up in a Greek family where the
Greek language was often spoken!”
portunity to push the boundaries. Being
a part of Tai Ping’s worldwide presence is
a pleasure because we can truly provide
our clients with their own vision.”
Premier luxury designer of
custom carpeting
Tai Ping Carpets is the world’s premier
luxury designer of hand tufted cus-
tom carpeting for the aviation, yacht,
commercial and residential markets.
Mersine Patts who was appointed Tai
Ping’s Managing Director of Global
Aviation four years ago, notes that
“in a world that is getting smaller and
smaller due to technology and ease of
travel, the ‘getting there’ experience is
one of the most important aspects of
travel to the private aviation customer.
Key elements to pleasurable travel are
the beautiful designs with which these
woman
Aviation design experience
One look at Mersine Patts and it is clear
that she has a keen eye for fine design.
Under the influence of her mother, she
developed a taste for all things beauti-
ful at an early age. “My mother was a li-
censed interior decorator and she always
instilled in me an eye for tasteful and clas-
sical design. Her international perspective
and design work have been major influ-
ences on my life.” As a young lady, she
studied law with the intention of using
her education in the business world, but
when an opportunity came up to com-
bine her love of design with business, she
jumped at the chance.
“Aviation design has never been more
exciting,” says Patts, who brings over
eight years of aviation design experience
to her position. “It’s a big business but a
small community, and there is real op-
3. 100
woman
clients can now surround themselves.
Working with architects, decorators
and their own design team, Tai Ping
seeks to create a bespoke environment
tailored to the client’s individual tastes
and needs. With designs that are inex-
tricably woven into the overall design
of the aircraft in a seamless manner, the
idea is to create a breathtaking and yet
subtle experience that flows effortlessly
throughout the aircraft, allowing the cli-
ent to be taken to a new level of travel.”
Tai Ping does not cater to any one seg-
ment of the market. Customers include
countries, commercial aircraft, and own-
ers of private aircraft ranging from small
corporate jets to the world’s largest air-
craft. No client is too small and Tai Ping
seeks to give every customer an identi-
cal first class experience knowing that
the same customer who now owns an
entry level jet may one day own or man-
age a 777 and require Tai Ping’s services
in the future. As the head of the global
sales force, Patts travels extensively
across North America, Europe and Asia.
When she is not on the road- or in the
air- she works out of Tai Ping’s office
in Dallas, Texas. She spends much of
her time on conference calls to multiple
time zones at all hours communicating
with her staff, management, customers,
manufacturing operations and design-
ers throughout the world. “Addition-
ally I must travel to Asia and Europe
frequently- no easy task while raising
three young children. Fortunately, my
mother lives nearby and is always ready
to jump in and help when I am rushing
to the airport for my next trip!”
‘Flight’, a ready to wear
offering
In addition to custom designs manufac-
tured in conjunction with the customer’s
aircraft designer, Tai Ping is aware of the
need for a ‘ready to install’ product line for
situations where scheduling or customer
requirements mandate the installation of
the carpet on a rapid time frame. ‘Flight’
is Tai Ping’s newest reach into this market
where an owner can have the carpet de-
all the time gets tricky at times. Her job
requires visiting people from different
backgrounds and countries. “Appreciat-
ing the different cultures and ways of life
is interesting and meeting these often
amazing persons and understanding
their cultures is key.”
Each stage must move forward on
schedule with continuous dialogue be-
tween Patts and the client. Frequently
she will travel to Asia to meet the cus-
tomer rep for inspection of the carpet
during the manufacturing process.
This ensures that all parties are on the
same page and that Tai Ping will follow
through on its mission to always deliver
a flawless product.
Ultimately, says Patts, “It’s about the cus-
tomer experience through all stages of
the purchase, from conception to design,
manufacturing and installation.”
“Aviation design has never
been more exciting”
livered to the aircraft in a matter of days
as a ‘Ready to Wear’ offering. This line is
affordable and allows Tai Ping to service
every owner of aircraft, from helicopters
to the larger jets. It carries the ethos and
feel of Tai Ping’s bespoke luxury designs
at an affordable entry point. Whatever
the need, Tai Ping recognizes the impor-
tance of being at every entry point in the
aircraft world when it comes to the cus-
tomer’s carpet needs. Patts enthusiasti-
cally exclaims, “It’s a new endeavor and it
is very exciting to work on ways of help-
ing our customers achieve elegance and
beauty at any and all levels.”
Amazing people
Constantly on the move, Patts shows
no sign of slowing down even if juggling
between her role as a young mother of
three teenagers and being on the move
