Weaving Together Stories, Artistry And Impact

Denise Kelly, MS ’20 and Shelby Lynch, MS ’20

“Weaving Stories, Honoring Traditions” encapsulates the character of Anthology Textiles, a women-owned company offering sustainably and ethically produced rugs from Morocco. Founded by alumni Denise Kelly, MS ’20 and Shelby Lynch, MS ’20 of the Urban Strategy program at Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Anthology Textiles showcases the stories of the women artists that hand-weave each piece.

“Rug making is passed down through the generations,” says Lynch. “There are beautiful stories of women learning the craft by weaving with their mothers and aunts. The rugs themselves often tell a story through the symbology and colors the artisan has used.” This sense of artistry and history is woven into the mission of Anthology Textiles, which launched in January 2025.

Sustainability and social impact are two other key values of Anthology Textiles. The use of chemical-free wool is a production requirement, and with each rug sale, a percentage goes back to the women who made them, providing opportunities to grow their roles as economic engines of their communities.

It all started when the two friends, both with a passion for travel and adventure, went on a trip to Morocco.

Kelly and Lynch met at Drexel as students in the Urban Strategy master’s program. The course, Civic Engagement and Participatory Methods, made a particular impact. The course teaches community organizing, and it includes both Drexel students and community members who work side-by-side around a common cause. For both Kelly and Lynch, the experience deepened their understanding of marginalized communities and made the concept of social impact more real. The practice of finding common ground and purpose within a diverse group would inform their practice of founding Anthology Textiles.

In fall 2023, both Lynch and Kelly found themselves in need of rest and celebration after completing exams for professional certification, and Morocco was a top destination.

The souks, or marketplaces, in Morocco captivated Kelly’s imagination. She recalls, “I’ve always had a passion for textiles, and the textiles in Morocco were amazing. We went into many souks that had rugs, covers, pillows, and scarves made of wool, silk, and all different materials. The men in the souks talked about the women who made them, about the labor of love and family tradition.”