IKEA is Launching a Homeware and Decor Line Made by Artisans from Around the World
IKEA is known for its Scandinavia-centric designs, but in June the Swedish homewares giant is branching out with a new collection handmade by local artisans around the world. Called Lokalt and crafted by designers in India, Thailand, and Jordan, the line will comprise textiles, decor, and ceramics pieces as part of IKEA's social entrepreneur initiative, with the goal of creating long-term employment opportunities for marginalized communities.
“LOKALT is a collection with a modern and expressive take on traditional handicraft,” Maria O’Brian, creative leader at IKEA Range & Supply, said in a press statement. “It’s full of quirky details that tell stories from the places where the products are actually made. The ceramics are giving a tribute to the Thai way to serve food, there are glimpses of everyday life in Amman in the home textiles and expressive shapes inspired by the Indian heritage in cushion cover and rugs.”
Among the artisans featured in the Lokalt collection are Tania Haddad in Amman, Akansha Deo in Delhi, and Ploypan Theerachai and Decha Archjananun of Thinkk Studio in Bangkok. They will also partner with the social enterprises Jordan River Foundation, Doi Tung in Thailand, and Diamond and Industree Craft Foundation in India.
For many of the local artisans participating in the collaboration, working on this collection has been an eye-opening experience. “The designs by THINKK Studio have been challenging, but that means we’ve developed new techniques and new ways of working,” Kiang Aitao, a ceramist at Doi Tung, said in a statement. Those interventions will likely transform how artisans work for the foreseeable future.
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