Bholuland

WE HAVE MOVED!!!

2009-07-08T02:05:00.010+10:00

Time to update your RSS feeds as this blog is no longer in use.

We have moved to a lovely new blog in our website.
After updating your bookmarks, click back into the site and see our beautiful new categories of News, Interiors and Bholuland.

We hope you like it in our new home!

Bholu
xx

Ps. You can also follow us on twitter!

Peppermint Magazine has landed!

2009-07-02T06:33:00.002+10:00

Issue 3 of Peppermint Magazine has landed! An uber cool Eco Fashion Mag interviewing Australian designers and this issue our founder Jodie Fried is profiled! Check it out.

Branch Home - San Francisco

2009-07-02T05:54:00.002+10:00

A happy marriage right from the beginning when Branch and Bholu met when they both found themselves in TIME magazines Top 100 Green designs for 2009. Now, Bholu sits in a fantastic Branch Summer Picnic, sustainable style perfect timing for launch of Summer in the US!

Branch : Sustainable Design for Living is a beautiful sustainable online store from San Fransciso.

"Branch exists to advance the sustainability movement, and to encourage sustainable thinking by everyday people in everyday ways."

We have seen for ourselves the pride they take in their choice of products, their company ethics , right down to their packaging ( sustainable and environmentally friendly of course). We couldn't have been happier!

Southwood Home in Home Beautiful

2009-06-29T09:53:00.003+10:00

One of Bholu's top retailers Southwood Home, North Fitzroy, Melbourne is featured in this month's Home Beautiful in the SHOP WATCH section. We love our new Bholu collection merchandised so wonderfully.

Follow Us On Twitter!

2009-06-27T01:00:00.002+10:00

Ok, call us a bit slow, but we finally got ourselves sorted for Twitter.

You can follow us here.

The Girl Effect

2009-06-19T01:21:00.004+10:00

Please Watch.

http://www.girleffect.org/#/video/

TIME- Top 100 - Style & Design

2009-05-08T09:07:00.003+10:00

2009-04-27T12:01:00.011+10:00

THE DESIGN 100
The People and Ideas Behind Today's Most Influential Design.

Today's most influential design -Great design is no longer reserved solely for museum-worthy products, as multitasking designers turn their attention to everything from books to artisanal food, and from lighting to transportation.

We are thrilled that Bholu has been announced as one of Time Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential Green Designs for 2009.

Check out the list of the full 100 and be inspired by the wonderful calibre of designers. For those of you in the USA, the Time Magazine Design Annual hit newstands today!

Bholu Rugs Playground

2009-04-19T06:52:00.005+10:00

Last year we visited a local school in the community where our rugs are made. We made a promise to them to assist in building a new playground for the children. Here are the beginnings of a new space which will bring much joy and laughter to hundreds of children. The playground will included badmington court, table tennis, play gyms, sand pits and grasses play areas for the children to enjoy and let their spirits fly free!

Stay tuned, more updates to come.

Bholu 6 - Update

2009-03-06T20:32:00.002+11:00

We found this land some time ago, in November 2009 and it is finally happening. It is a sweet little area with a coutryard and tree out the front. Leeanne is working on a shade screen structure made from old sari's. Beautiful, resourceful and practical.

Bholu 7 - Up it goes!

2009-03-06T20:20:00.003+11:00

It is amazing how quickly Bholu 7 has gone up. It's going to be very special this one.

Bholu 7 - Update

2009-03-06T17:25:00.003+11:00

In January and February this year a team of 3 AWF Architect Volunteers headed off to India to build and design Bholu 7 School. The building which was totally funded by the volunteers own fundraising and is based on sustainabilty and environmental education.

Tucked away deep in the slums, surrounded by beautiful trees, this location was perfect for this team to develop some great concepts to do with permaculture and play. More updates on the building soon.

Homebody - Launceston

2009-03-06T16:19:00.004+11:00

Bholu is one lucky brand to call home to such individually beautiful stores worldwide. One of our fav's is the beautiful Homebody in Launceston, Tasmania. New Autumn/Winter Collection in stores later this month.

Apartment Therapy #2

2009-02-05T18:26:00.003+11:00

Big thanks to the folks at Apartment Therapy!

New York Top Picks by Apartment Therapy

2009-01-30T20:03:00.007+11:00

Pillows anyone? This new company, Bholu, was founded by Australian Jodie Fried, in India, and is a Fair Trade and Climate Neutral Company. The designs come from children.

We were pretty chuffed to get a mention on the fab Apartment Therapy blogspot in the Top Picks Section of New York International Gift Fair! Thank you Apartment Therapy!

Bholu 3 - Inauguration - Party Time!

2009-01-30T20:00:00.009+11:00

It's party time at Bholu 3.

The kids of Bholu 3 have a reason to celebrate. A gorgeous new Bholu School has been born. Bholu 3 School has been beautifully designed by architect Leeanne Marshall, an AWF volunteer, the building will give these little mites a bright and safe future. A simple space, filled with creativity, education, nutrition and love.

An article was published in DNA India Newspaper on the project:

'Bholu 3' to give wings of freedom to kids
Anganwadi, launched with foreign aid, will give education & health services to children
Aidila Razak. Ahmedabad

The Vadaj Tekra slum area of the city, a section surviving with inadequate means for long, was enlivened with excitement when the third anganwadi was inaugurated on Friday last. The anganwadi, which stands on land donated by a local resident, will provide pre-school education, health services and nutritious meals to more than 30 children in the area. Meals will also be provided to young and expectant mothers in the community.

The establishment is built as part of the anganwadi project, which is jointly initiated by local NGO Manav Sadhna, Australian organisation Architect Without Borders and Sydney-based home ware company, Bholu.

The anganwadi, named Bholu 3, is designed by AWF volunteer Leeanne Marshall, who along with fellow Australian Harry Gardiner and other local builders, spent about two months to complete the project in record time.

Addressing parents, volunteers and other community members present on the day Marshall said, "I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this community, and for the many things which I have learnt during my stay."

A number of AWF volunteers are making their way to Ahmedabad which means more anganwadis can be expected to crop up soon. Plans are in place to rebuild six existing anganwadis and renovate six more before the upcoming monsoon season.

"It is my dream to see the 86 anganwadis in the Tekra slum get reconstructed and renovated through the Anganwadi project. And I am sure we will be able to do this with the help of AWF volunteers," said Bholu founder, Jodie Fried, who also celebrated her birthday yesterday.
Bholu, which has received multiple awards for responsible business in Australia, was inspired by the sophisticated skills and craftsmanship of the women artisan in the region of Kutch.

Bholu 4 - New Site!

2009-01-30T19:58:00.002+11:00

Things are moving along very quickly with our great team of architects designing and building the Bholu Schools. This is the site for Bholu 4. It was a small school, no light or ventilation and now is being rebuilt and designed into a community centre and school. This is a lovely community in an area by the river who have embrace our presence in their community. The site opens up to a little village square so it is perfect for the use by all members of the community.

Bholu 3 - Decoration and Painting!

2009-01-30T19:57:00.002+11:00

It has been a busy week on Bholu 3 site getting ready for the big inauguration. With the construction now finished, it's time for the painting and decoration. Local crafts people were employed to finish mosaic artworks on the exterior and local artists donated their time to create some wall learning charts for the children.

A Bholu School would not be complete without a red elephant which seems to now be a running theme through all!!

Bholu 3 - Final Construction

2009-01-30T19:56:00.001+11:00

It is amazing to see the dedication and commitment from everyone involved to have got Bholu 3 up and running. Nanayma, the wonderful woman who donated the land to Manav Sadhna for us to build the school. Our volunteers Leeanne Marshall and Harry Gardener who have given up their time and skills to design this and make it happen, our wonderful and tireless construction manager, Bakarbhai, all our project support crew at Manav Sadhna and a special mention to Neetaben for running the anganwadi program.

It's also wonderful to see the kids starting to use the school and it isn't even finished! Everyone seems to be getting pretty excited!

Hermon & Hermon

2008-12-20T20:08:00.002+11:00

We love the way Hermon & Hermon works our product into their ranges.

Bholu 3- In go the doors and window!

2008-12-20T19:01:00.004+11:00

The final stages of the Bholu 3 School walls with the doors and windows being installed. The doors and window were carefully chosen on a budget by our terrific volunteers. Read about Leeanne's experiences (AWF Head Architect Team Leader) volunteering here.

Bholu 2- Times of India

2008-12-17T21:23:00.003+11:00

Bholu 2 School: A Boon for Slum Kids

Last month, Bholu Pty Ltd, along with Ahmedabad-based NGO Manav Sadhna opened an anganwadi, Bholu 2 School', in the poor neighbourhood of Wadaj where about 180 kids study. This is the second Bholu school the first pre-school was opened last year in the same area.
"A big development in this project is that Bholu has now joined forces with Architects Without Frontiers - Australia (AWF). Together we have raised money from Bholu profits, donations and fund-raising to continue the building and development of these schools," said Fried, who was inspired by Gujarat's traditional art during her stay in Kutch as a relief worker after earthquake in 2001.

Two Australian architects are working full-time in Ahmedabad on the designs of six schools that the Australian firm has adopted.

"The idea is Jodie will adopt as many schools as she can. We manage 66 pre-schools cum nutrition centres in Ahmedabad serving over 3500 children and 700 mothers every day under state government's integrated child development scheme. Presently, Bholu Pty Ltd has adopted six schools for infrastructure upgrade and providing better facilities," says a Manav Sadhna volunteer.

If Bholu products have already created waves across the world, Bholu Schools have made a bigger impact. "Last month, we got a four-year old son of a poor scrap vendor operated up for an eye disorder from our anganwadi funds," said the volunteer. The stitch in time saved the kid's eyesight. That's called vision.

Harit Mehta

(Bholu HQ- It really is so wonderful having the support of local media. Thank you!)

Times of India Article

2008-12-17T20:50:00.004+11:00

'Bholu', Guj kids' designs win global glory 16 Dec 2008, Harit Mehta, TNN

AHMEDABAD: Bholu in Gujarati is often referred to a child lovingly. Down Under, however, the word has acquired a new meaning, thanks to a group of urchins and distressed women from Gujarat.

Renowned Australian designer Jodie Fried's award-winning brand Bholu has women and children from Kutch and Ahmedabad at its heart. Bholu Pty Ltd sells homewears, books, etc designed in Australia and brought to life by hands of traditional Indian artisans each piece selling in top boutiques across the world. The products sell in high-end shops in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, California, Dubai, France, Belgium, London and Ahmedabad among others.
"While on my performing arts residency in India, I went for relief work in a Kutch village with NGO Manav Sadhna following the 2001 earthquake. Here, I was so inspired by the women, whose beautiful traditional embroidery adorned their own daily clothes and home wares. I thought immediately, I have to do something with this," said Fried.

A few years later, Fried came back with some designs, some fabric and gave the samples to different village women to see what would happen. "The women laughed at the lack of sophistication of my designs and thought that their Bholus' (children) could do better!," Fried told TOI.

About 500 women in Ahmedabad and Patan are given part of the profits. Aside from the way the label was named by the women, it is very apt, as the designs are so free and child-like. "Exactly the look I wanted to achieve. I wanted to bring a sense of naivety and playfulness," she said.
Since then, Fried has ventured into many poor Ahmedabad slums, pre-schools and street corners to hold drawing workshops with children to find the perfect Bholu design.

"All the designs are drawings of these little children. I ended up getting the most amazing animal drawings and divine creatures only a child could imagine," said Fried, who has taught at NIFT-Gandinagar.

Bholu 3 up up and away!

2008-12-15T22:00:00.002+11:00

Bholu 3 is building very very quickly, we love the windows which were designed by our two volunteers. Even as the kids look out the window they still get to learn!

Bholu 3..from little things big things grow.

2008-12-10T18:34:00.005+11:00

Bholu 3 walls go up and the children remain being schooled in the background as they watch their new school grow! Also a little model made by our architect volunteer Leeanne who is heading up the designs.