Plush Armour EXPANSION!
Cultivating a Dreaming Space for Black Women.
Project Description
We're raising money to build a Digital Platform & Co-Work Space where Black Womxn can dream audaciously and feel supported bringing those dreams into fruition.
This is where you come in!
Help us build....
SEEN: A Digital Database and Membership Portal
Ever wish you had a 1-stop shop for Black female & femme creatives? Need to find a DP? An acupuncturist? Accountant? Someone who prints 3D cupcakes? Anything you can dream of in your wildest imagination you can source via this database. All you gotta do is join!
For multi-hyphenate, multi-passionate black female creatives, artists and healers.
community | networking | grants | coaching | educational & wellness resources
*Designed specifically to address the challenges black womxn face navigating their industries.
WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
Plush Armour’s inception began in 2013 as a humble handmade knitwear Etsy Shop. Since then Plush Armour has been feature numerous times across Etsy's platform and FreePeople.com. In 2020 Plush Armour was the recipient of JOANN's Minority Creative Grant Program.
Founder Chasten Harmon is an Actress, Eco-Spiritualist, and Embodiment Specialist as well as a Knitwear Designer/Fiber Artist. She grew up passionate about art in any form. She has studied the art of embodiment through singing & acting for 15+ years. She received her B.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and her M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama where she studied Grotowski, Lucid Body, Viewpoints, The Alexander Technique, Yoga and Clown in addition to 8 years of dance training. With her background in acting and storytelling she is deeply and profoundly invested in the human experience. She has graced the stage & screen in a myriad of projects in Theatre, Film & Television since graduating from Yale School of Drama in 2015, during which she founded Plush Armour.
As her simultaneous passions for knitwear and studying the art of humanity through storytelling grew... so did her passion for healing trauma in the black community. In 2020 Plush Armour launched it’s expansion into, not only a knitwear line, but a wellness brand offering Embodiment Workshops and Healing Circles for the BIPOC community. She is currently completing her trauma informed embodied somatic healing certificate program with The Embody Lab to deepen her practice within marginalized communities.
WHERE WE ARE GOING!
We have the space! Yay! We just need the fixings!!!!
Your generous support will help us with...
Designing & building our outdoor co-work spa in Los Angeles, CA which will include:
workspace | community garden | greenhouse | outdoor shower | sauna | soaking tubs
We're dedicating 20K from this campaign to launch our inaugural grant program designed to support Black female & femme creatives!!!!!
This program will launch in 2022 when 4 recipients will be selected to receive 5K towards their creative projects. Grant recipients will be selected by a TBA committee.
*Buying into the Membership Portal gives you access to apply for grants.
PLUSH ARMOUR is Nature's Arsenal.
Our creative expression is our greatest salve. It's time to dream a new world. It's time to pick up our Plush Armour. Our softness, pleasure, play, vibrancy, creativity, curiosity, imagination and our sense of wonder. It’s time to tap into natures Arenal in order to vision and grow a new world where Black female creatives can be seen, supported, safe, and free.
I thank you for your support in this endeavor with the deepest of gratitude. This is my most audacious dream and I'm so excited to bring it to fruition with you.
*Stay tuned for more yummy rewards including Plush Armour Merch, Discounts for Plush Armour Knitwear, Exclusive One-of-a-Kind Services/Offers and more tangible opportunities to help us grow our dreaming space!
“Empowerment of black women constitutes the empowerment of our entire community”
-Kimberle Williams Crenshaw
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Can I be a part of the SEEN Collective if I am not Black?
- YES! You will not be included in the database but you will have access to search the database. *Please note that if you are a Black body you will be able to choose whether or not your profile is searchable by non-Black bodies.
Can I be a part of the membership program if I am not Black?
- YES! There will be offerings tailored for Black bodies, non-black bodies and ALL bodies and membership will grant you exclusive access to these offerings in addition to the PLUSH Shop!
When will we have access to this database & membership portal?
- We are raising funds so that we can build and launch our BETA database in 2022. After purchase you will receive an intake form for the database and further instructions.
What happens after I purchase a reward?
- You will be contacted by a member of the Plush Armour team with next steps on how and when you can redeem your reward.
What is the process and how can I apply for the Grant Program?
- If you buy into the Exclusive Access Membership you will have access to apply for the Grant Program in 2022.
This is cool! What are other ways I can be involved?
- We are building a network AND a team to bring this vision to life. If you are interested in working more closely with us we would love to talk. Please contact [email protected] for further inquiry.
Is all the money going to you?
- ifundwomen platform takes a small fee to serve as a host of this campaign. After that the remaining money gets deposited directly into our account. The platform asks for tips for coaches of campaigns. You are welcome to contribute if you value the cause. I did not receive any coaching from ifundwomen for this campaign.
What if I want to donate but not on this platform?
- Not a problem! Pleasure reach out to [email protected] for other options for financial support.
What if I cannot financially contribute at this moment but I want to help?
- We understand! We recognize the strain this pandemic has put on every household. We would LOVE your support in other ways. Here's how you can help!
- SHARE! - Post, email, tell your friends and family. Sharing is free and the BEST form of ally-ship you can offer.
- OFFER - We love to partner and collaborate! We'll accept services for our business or offered as rewards for donations. Biz Coach? Money Coach? Graphic Designer? Let's talk! (contact: [email protected])
Just Because I Care
Membership *AND/OR access to our underground network featuring Black female & femme creatives, artists, shamans, and healers.
Ever wish you had a 1-stop shop for Black female & femme creatives? Need to find a DP? An acupuncturist? Accountant? Someone who prints 3D cupcakes? Anything you can dream of in your wildest imagination you can source via this database. All you gotta do is join!
COMING 2022: A member of our team will contact you with further instructions.
Membership *AND/OR access to our digital database.
+
Exclusive access to grants, workshops, coaching, and educational resources designed to specifically address the challenges Black Womxn face while navigating their creative industries.
COMING 2022: A member of our team will contact you with further instructions.
Make a Black Womxn feel seen and special! You can choose your desired recipient or we can pick for you! Flower Seeds will be sent to a special someone, in partnership with Plant Gem, in exchange for your contribution.
*Plant Gem donates a part of their profits to fighting racism.
Want to learn how to knit? Now's your chance!
This rewards gets you a 1-on-1 knitting session with me via Zoom or In-Person (Los Angeles/New York) . Choose a beanie or a cowl for your knitting adventures! *materials not included.
Make a Black Womxn feel seen and special. You can choose your desired recipient or we can pick for you! Flower bulbs will be sent to a special someone, in partnership with Plant Gem, in exchange for your contribution.
*Plant Gem donates a part of their profits to fighting racism.
Ready to tap into your most audacious dream?
Let's go deep in a 1-on-1 session where we will tap into your core values and vision for your expression in this world and map a plan to bring this vision into fruition.
Includes Digital Database & Exclusive Access Membership
*Sessions offered in person or via Zoom (New York/Los Angeles)
Host a knitting party or gather a group of friends for a crafty afternoon of knits & purls!
This rewards gets you a group knitting session with me via Zoom or In-Person (Los Angeles/New York) . Choose a beanie or a cowl for your knitting adventures! *materials not included.
*Funder will be contacted after purchase for further instructions.
Ready to tap into your most audacious dream?
In 4 deep dive sessions we will tap into your core values and vision for your expression in this world and map a plan to bring this vision into fruition.
*Sessions offered in person or via Zoom (New York/Los Angeles)
Includes Digital Database Exclusive Membership Access.
We're seeding our flagship IRL space in Los Angeles, CA!
A Co-Work Spa for Black Female & femme creatives featuring a community garden, soaking tubs, sauna, outdoor shower, greenhouse, event garden, work & lounge space.
Help us grow a space where Black Womxn can tap into community, nature creativity, vibrancy and expansion.
*Each funder will receive an honorary fence plaque in our garden commemorating contribution as an original founder.
We're dedicating 20K from this campaign to launch our inaugural grant program designed to support Black female & femme creatives!!!!!
This program will launch in 2022 when 4 recipients will be selected to receive 5K towards their creative projects. Grant recipients will be selected by a TBA committee.
*If you purchase this reward one of the grants given will be named after YOU! This is your chance to make a Black Womxn's dreams come true and become and original founder!
Rewards
Just Because I Care
Membership *AND/OR access to our underground network featuring Black female & femme creatives, artists, shamans, and healers.
Ever wish you had a 1-stop shop for Black female & femme creatives? Need to find a DP? An acupuncturist? Accountant? Someone who prints 3D cupcakes? Anything you can dream of in your wildest imagination you can source via this database. All you gotta do is join!
COMING 2022: A member of our team will contact you with further instructions.
Membership *AND/OR access to our digital database.
+
Exclusive access to grants, workshops, coaching, and educational resources designed to specifically address the challenges Black Womxn face while navigating their creative industries.
COMING 2022: A member of our team will contact you with further instructions.
Make a Black Womxn feel seen and special! You can choose your desired recipient or we can pick for you! Flower Seeds will be sent to a special someone, in partnership with Plant Gem, in exchange for your contribution.
*Plant Gem donates a part of their profits to fighting racism.
Want to learn how to knit? Now's your chance!
This rewards gets you a 1-on-1 knitting session with me via Zoom or In-Person (Los Angeles/New York) . Choose a beanie or a cowl for your knitting adventures! *materials not included.
Make a Black Womxn feel seen and special. You can choose your desired recipient or we can pick for you! Flower bulbs will be sent to a special someone, in partnership with Plant Gem, in exchange for your contribution.
*Plant Gem donates a part of their profits to fighting racism.
Ready to tap into your most audacious dream?
Let's go deep in a 1-on-1 session where we will tap into your core values and vision for your expression in this world and map a plan to bring this vision into fruition.
Includes Digital Database & Exclusive Access Membership
*Sessions offered in person or via Zoom (New York/Los Angeles)
Host a knitting party or gather a group of friends for a crafty afternoon of knits & purls!
This rewards gets you a group knitting session with me via Zoom or In-Person (Los Angeles/New York) . Choose a beanie or a cowl for your knitting adventures! *materials not included.
*Funder will be contacted after purchase for further instructions.
Ready to tap into your most audacious dream?
In 4 deep dive sessions we will tap into your core values and vision for your expression in this world and map a plan to bring this vision into fruition.
*Sessions offered in person or via Zoom (New York/Los Angeles)
Includes Digital Database Exclusive Membership Access.
We're seeding our flagship IRL space in Los Angeles, CA!
A Co-Work Spa for Black Female & femme creatives featuring a community garden, soaking tubs, sauna, outdoor shower, greenhouse, event garden, work & lounge space.
Help us grow a space where Black Womxn can tap into community, nature creativity, vibrancy and expansion.
*Each funder will receive an honorary fence plaque in our garden commemorating contribution as an original founder.
We're dedicating 20K from this campaign to launch our inaugural grant program designed to support Black female & femme creatives!!!!!
This program will launch in 2022 when 4 recipients will be selected to receive 5K towards their creative projects. Grant recipients will be selected by a TBA committee.
*If you purchase this reward one of the grants given will be named after YOU! This is your chance to make a Black Womxn's dreams come true and become and original founder!