Rochford Wines - Fund Raising

Rochford Wines
Fund Raising

Bholu

Bholu is the work of Australian designer Jodie Fried.

Bholu products are designed in Australia and brought to life by traditional Gujarati women artisans from the remote desert communities of The Rann of Katchchh, Western Gujarat, India. Each piece is hand embroidered using traditional techniques, giving each product its own unique and original personality.

The philosophy behind Bholu is about creating products that we love and live with, while benefiting the people we work with along the way. By using their traditional skills, the women artisans gain an income creating independence and opportunity for them.

Bholu designs are simple, textural and bold and designed for contemporary interiors and modern day living. Bholu products include cushions, throws, bags and journals, all made from felt with silk hand embroidered stitching.

With designs that are bold and free, it is Bholu's childlike simplicity that gave the label its intriguing name - a Katchchhi word, describing the naivety and free expressions of a small child.

"They used to call me the 'bholu' lady, with the 'bholu' designs...and it just stuck.'

Jodie is talking about the women artisans of Katchchh, a desert community in Gujarat, with whom she lived, while she helped to rebuild and traditionally decorate their earthquake-devastated village.

During her 2 years in India, Jodie developed an enormous love and respect for the country and its people. But it was her relationship with the Gujarati artisans in particular which she found most difficult to leave behind, and she is thrilled to be working with them again on Bholu.

But, as the NIDA graduate who's credits include designs for films Candy. The Caterpillar Wish and Romulus My Father and theatre designs with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Aleida Theatre London, Company B Belvoir (www.jodiefried.com), it is exactly this contradiction - the fresh dynamic between modern design and traditional rendering - that lends the Bholu range its energy and charm.

'I find great joy in being able to combine the things I love,' she says. 'The theatricality of designing, the bliss of colour, fabric and thread - and most of all, India and its people...'

'There is a story behind these pieces. I want people to know how they have come to life, and to enjoy them for their individuality.'

Bholu designs are stocked in fine homeware stores around Australia and New Zealand including Chee Soon Fitzgerald, Papaya, Funkis, Sydney and Hub Furniture, Hermon & Hermon and Luft in Melbourne.

For more information or details regarding the Bholu products please contact Maria or Eva Konecsny: