In the heart of Australia, the design studio Armadillo is crafting a new narrative in interior decor. Their recent project, the Mojave Collection, fuses traditional rug-making with modern sustainability and draws inspiration from ephemeral desert landscapes. The rugs are crafted with an Indo Nepali hand-knotted Tibetan weave to create a variegated finish that is as unique as the deserts that inspired it.
Armadillo’s founders, Sally Pottharst and Jodie Fried, have spent over a decade in pursuit of their shared vision of creating a business that would thrive while centering philanthropy and sustainability at its core. A vision that is reflected in every meticulously handspun pile of the Mojave Collection.
The Mojave Collection is available in three colorways – Natural, Cashew (an exclusive for Mojave), and Laurel – that can be paired with other rugs in Armadillo’s collection to lend a complementary and concise natural layer to homes. The collection is offered in various sizes.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is not just a buzzword but an unwavering dedication to creating in a way that is gentle on the planet, doing business ethically, and giving back to the communities where they operate. This commitment has earned them the title of the first B Corp-certified rug brand in Australia and the U.S., holding themselves to the highest standards of social and environmental transparency.
However, Armadillo’s dedication to the community goes beyond the rugs they create. In 2017, the company founded the Armadillo Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged communities through educational, health, and community structures. It’s funded through Armadillo sales, with 10% of net profits from each product sold contributed to the charity.
The Foundation sponsors the Kantilal Vidya Mandir (KVM) School, fully funding overheads from staff salaries to textbooks. It also sponsors a local medical clinic, providing free medical care to students, families, and local village residents. It also partners with the Girls Inc chapters in Los Angeles and New York, and the Stars Foundation, which helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls attend school and transition to tertiary study or the workforce.
