Design company Armadillo&Co has been making rugs and specialised fabrics for five years, working collaboratively with artisans and clients to create ranges that inspire and excite.

Founders Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst have always been determined to make Armadillo&Co a company with a strong focus on social responsibility, which gives back to the weavers and other artisans with whom it collaborates. Hence, the Anganwadi Project, which is an Australian not-for-profit organisation providing environmentally sustainable learning spaces for preschool underprivileged children in the slums of Gujarat in India.

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Armadillo&Co curated an exhibition of woven artworks created in partnership with some of the children involved in the Anganwadi Project. The resulting artworks were then exhibited in a silent auction and placed on eBay.

The funds raised were enough to build two new schools for the scheme as well as start working towards another one.

You can read more about the Anganwadi Project here.

For more info: armadillo-co.com

The Anganwadi Project is an Australian grassroots non-profit association, working in the urban slums of Gujarat, India. Saleesh, pictured, is just one of thousands of underprivileged children they are reaching out to.

They provide simple, safe, environmentally sustainable and beautiful learning spaces by sending volunteer teams of qualified design professionals to build schools and centres.  Here children of all denominations benefit from a nurturing environment as well as an education, hygiene and nutrition to better their health and opportunities.

The Anganwadi Project’s relies solely on donations from individuals and companies for funding. Volunteers pay their own way and give their time to the project free of charge.

Armadillo&Co passionately believes all children should thrive, not just survive, and we are excited to offer our ongoing sponsorship. Currently we are donating to their next goal of building more preschools, in order to build more futures.

Collaboration is our inspiration.

We work intently with each other, our artisans and our clients.

We follow our instincts, get excited and combine thinking to let ideas unfold, expand and evolve.

These ideas come from little things. Perhaps a shadow, a tile, a piece of folded paper. To big themes, like travel, memories and family.

They also come from aiming to better what our weavers do best. Adding our unique aesthetic to their innate understanding combines their craft skills with our artistic vision.

Yes, we do get all goose-bumpy when we’re crouched down on the floor for a month in India with our makers (which we do regularly!). We adore our ‘dye master’. We know our weavers’ families. And we always keep it real when it comes to production.

Beyond anything, we expect the unexpected.