IKEA has reached out to social enterprises and local designers in Jordan, Thailand, and India, to create the new LOKALT collection: a modern take on traditional handicraft inspired by local traditions. Every cushion cover, rug, basket, and bowl in this collection is handmade by skilled artisans and creates work in regions where it’s most needed
I looked for designers with a modern expression because I wanted to show that handicraft doesn’t have to look traditional or old-fashioned. It can be modern and even avant-garde.
LOKALT came to be with the help of contemporary local designers from Amman, Delhi, Bangkok and IKEA in-house designer and includes a diverse collection of handmade products where local traditions meet traditional handicraft.
The designers of LOKALT are the design duo Ploypan Theerachai and Decha Archjananun based in Bangkok, Tania Haddad from Amman, and IKEA in-house designer Akanksha Deo who is based in Delhi. The social businesses partners contributing to the LOKALT collection are Jordan River Foundation in Jordan, Doi Tung in Thailand, Industree in India and Diamond carpets female weavers in India.
The designers of LOKALT are the design duo Ploypan Theerachai and Decha Archjananun based in Bangkok, Tania Haddad from Amman, and IKEA in-house designer Akanksha Deo who is based in Delhi. The social businesses partners contributing to the LOKALT collection are Jordan River Foundation in Jordan, Doi Tung in Thailand, Industree in India and Diamond carpets female weavers in India.
Social enterprises around livelihoods are actually quite rare, but those are the ones that need to be scaled. We have to engage with big business, otherwise, we are not able to see scale. We need the power of big business behind us and that’s why the relationship with IKEA is crucial.
The products in this collection have a modern touch and are full of details that tell stories from the places where the products are actually made. Most important though, every pillowcase, rug, and bowl produced in this process contributes to creating equality, inclusion, and improving livelihoods in regions where it’s so most needed.
The collaboration for LOKALT focuses on mutual learning and building on each other’s strengths. It’s about co-creating unique, affordable, handcrafted products and merging IKEA design with local techniques.
IKEA will continue to invest in business partnerships that help create long-term job opportunities and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable individuals. LOKALT will be launched in 294 stores on 25 IKEA markets in June 2021.