Sure, IKEA is all about DIY and assembling individual furniture parts. But they also feature recurring unique craftsmanship created by artisans via capsule collections. This year, IKEA enlisted four young contemporary designers from Amman, Delhi and Bangkok to create the culture-focused LOKALT limited collection.
No two handcrafted products are identical. Hence, they sport properties and details unique to each other. Every piece of item from this collection is handmade by skilled artisans from social businesses in Jordan, Thailand and India and provides livelihood opportunities there concurrently.
The featured designers for LOKALT are fashion designer Tania Haddad from Amman, IKEA in-house designer Akanksha Deo, who is based in Delhi, and design duo Ploypan Theerachai and Decha Archjananun of THINKK from Bangkok.
The LOKALT rundown
Each product tells stories that exhibit traits that pay homage to their respective production city. For example, the LOKALT cushion covers weaved in glimpses of everyday life in Amman with intricate hand-embroidered details.
Another highlight, the LOKALT wool rug, presents a cross between the traditional and modern. “This rug is inspired by the traditional Indian Kantha embroidery. The curved shapes that look like enlarged embroidery are in fact part of the hand-woven design”, its designer, Akanksha Duo explained. Also by designed Deo, the LOKALT baskets and lampshades from this collection are one-of-a-kind. They are made from banana bark, a fibre with natural colour variations, and constructed by hand.
Every handmade ceramic certainly has a tale to tell too. Ploypan Theerachai and Decha Archjananun of THINKK design studio were 'inspired by sharing meals and dining together as this activity is an integral part of Thai culture'. "With that—and the rich Thai history of ceramic artefacts—as our starting point, we designed a set of dishes, bowls and vases. The artisans have made a great job, manifested through the finger imprints that add to the beauty of the finished piece", said the duo on working on the project and with Doi Tung ceramist factory. Furthermore, this partnership reinforces imbuing the item with the essence and aesthetics of the native locale where it was made.
IKEA's LOKALT limited collection is now available at IKEA Tampines and online, whilst stocks last.
