Following on the heels of other recent social and ecological partnerships, Ikea Canada has launched a collection of handmade products created entirely from recycled Ikea textiles and designed by Indigenous artists.
The limited collection, called ÅTERSTÄLLA, includes 2,000 upcycled and unique pieces that are available as of June 8. But you’ll have to travel to Toronto’s west side to get them as they are only available in-store at the company’s Etobicoke location.
The collection has been created in partnership with the Setsuné Indigenous Fashion Incubator, a Toronto-based social enterprise that fosters new works by Indigenous artists working in fashion, textiles and crafts. Two designers and six artisans worked on the project.
Promoting Indigenous voices
“This is an incredibly exciting collection that celebrates culture and collaboration,” Setsuné co-founder Sage Paul said in a release. “Through our shared values, partnering with Ikea Canada helps to promote and sustain the voices and visibility of Indigenous women and the work we create.”
In Swedish, ÅTERSTÄLLA means to restore, heal, or redecorate, speaking to the “upcycling” approach, Ikea said in the release, while working with salvaged textiles reflects the traditional Indigenous philosophy to “use everything” and applies it to contemporary living.
The collection’s four fabric products – an apron, small bag, basket, and tea towel – are meant to symbolically represent Indigenous traditions for transporting, storing and preparing food, the company said.
#IKEA has partnered with @setsuneinc to create a unique, handmade textile collection from indigenous artists: https://t.co/pjevNiH8m2 (1/2) pic.twitter.com/r1iGW000EK
— IKEA Canada (@IKEACanada) June 6, 2017
While there are no plans to bring a similar collection to Ottawa, Ikea spokeswoman Stephanie Harnett left the door open to considering the idea.
Other recent initiatives by Ikea have included releasing DIY plans for a futuristic flat-pack vertical garden sphere to encourage consumption of locally grown food; creating a line of kitchen cabinets made from recycled plastic bottles; and partnering with various social enterprises around the world to support their business development.
