The AGRA FORMA desk set
AGRA FORMA by Armadillo x Tom Fereday marks a refined exploration of natural materiality, craftsmanship, and conceptual clarity.
In partnership with Armadillo.
Launching 15 May during Melbourne Design Week 2025, AGRA FORMA unites the material sensibility of Australian-founded rug house Armadillo and the sculptural precision of renowned Sydney-based industrial designer Tom Fereday. Together, they present a considered body of work that examines how handmade processes shape texture, structure, and spatial experience in a meaningful way.
Guided by Armadillo’s iconic Agra rug and Fereday’s vision of integrating their natural wool rugs into furniture, the collection comprises seven pieces that merge textile and timber craftsmanship with quiet complexity. It reflects a shared commitment to material exploration, balancing Fereday’s architectural innovation with Armadillo’s deep-rooted understanding of surface and rhythm.
“From the beginning, there was a mutual interest in the longevity of natural materials and the beauty of a handcrafted process,” Fereday says. “We aligned on a less-is-more approach, where every curve and join had a purpose.”
In AGRA FORMA, traditional rug-making and woodwork are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Each piece contributes to a restrained yet expressive dialogue between form and function, grounded in tactility, material integrity, and thoughtful construction.
The AGRA FORMA desk chair
The AGRA FORMA armchair
In the collection, wool offers a soft counterbalance to timber’s structural strength, infusing the pieces with warmth and character.
The AGRA FORMA stool.
Crafted from sustainable, enduring materials—pure abrash-dyed wool and solid red oak—the collection spans chairs, a bench, a desk, and a stool. These time-honoured elements serve as both foundation and focus, retaining their raw beauty while embracing a future-facing purpose. Rather than altering the materials’ nature, Armadillo and Fereday preserve their integrity, allowing subtle shifts in texture and tone to speak with quiet confidence.
“We tried to celebrate the abrash-dyed wool, particularly in the Thistle and Ginger hues, to bring a tonal richness and softness,” Fereday says. “Natural wool is also incredibly durable, and I was intrigued to investigate its potential in furniture as an alternative to conventional foam and fabric upholstery.”
Following a preview at Armadillo’s Fitzroy showroom, AGRA FORMA will make its public debut at Melbourne Design Week. Presented in alignment with this year’s theme of challenging conventional design paradigms, the exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with the collection’s sculptural presence.
“The pieces aren’t meant to be observed at a distance; they’re meant to be touched, sat on, and explored,” Fereday says. “We laid out the exhibition to encourage interaction and allow people to slow down, notice details, and feel the materials under their hands or against their backs.”
Tom Fereday overlooking AGRA FORMA’s natural materials, including pure abrash-dyed wool and solid red oak.
