Bamboo, rebooted

Handwoven products in natural fibres have long been part of the IKEA design heritage. Bent rattan serving carts reigned supreme in the '50s, while woven wicker beds and seating surged in the '80s. Today, our wide range of woven furniture, baskets and lamps show how handcraft is still king when it comes to adding character to your home.

The new VARPTROSS series is all about exploring how traditional handmade techniques that have existed for millennia, can live comfortably within modern homes across the world. And of course, at a price that's within reach to as many as possible.

“From the start, the aim was to move beyond the traditional lantern aesthetic and create designs that feel more streamlined and refined," explains Chiara Ripalti, product developer of the new series. "The intention was to create something that could appeal to a broad audience."

Designers Andreas Fredriksson and Akanksha Deo, with their different backgrounds and expertise, were both brought on board to bring this vision to life. Andreas' philosophy is rooted in Scandinavian tradition and guided by a strong focus on form, function, and longevity. Akanksha, on the other hand, brings a deep knowledge of textiles, materials and their behaviour, and craft traditions rooted in human stories.

Bamboo, a fast-regrowing grass and highly versatile material, was a natural fit for the brief and became the foundation of the series. The team headed to Vietnam, where bamboo is abundant and where many of IKEA's natural fibre products are developed and produced.

"Many ideas for VARPTROSS lamps were born on the factory floor in Vietnam," explains Akanksha. The two designers worked closely with Chiara and an IKEA supplier, spending long days experimenting and looking at new prototypes handmade by the weavers.

The ask was simple: bring a new expression to natural fibre lighting. Resolving the design, however, wasn't quite as straightforward. “We looked at the existing samples of weaving techniques and realised that there was nothing we could use as is – for the architectural, almost rectangular shapes we had in mind. After many design iterations, we landed on the crisscross weaving combined with double layer of slats, which is unique," says Andreas.

But the form of the lamp is only one consideration: how the form and materials interact with the light is just as important, adds Akanksha. "How do we create a glare-free glow? How wide should the slats be, how close?"

In the final design, the bamboo slats are carefully cut, bent and assembled by hand into softly rounded shapes. One of the defining features of VARPTROSS is its double‑layer construction. Two layers of bamboo slats are placed in an alternating pattern to gently block the light source, reducing glare while allowing light to flow through the gaps. Proportions, radius, slat width and spacing were refined through many iterations to make sure that all lamps in the series feel light, well‑balanced and harmonious.

As for the collaboration of the two designers: a natural creative tension emerged during the project – a pull between precision and softness, structure and spontaneity, restraint and expression. Exactly what Chiara hoped for, and exactly what makes these lamps so interesting.

Akanksha summarises the lamps well: "The pieces retain the evidence of how they are made – celebrating the hand, the material and the process – while finding a language that belongs to the present rather than looking back to the past."

The VARPTROSS series was developed using a combination of handmade techniques and industrial processes. Certain steps, like cutting bamboo slats, are supported by machinery for consistency and efficiency. Much of the work, however – like weaving, tying and assembling – is done by hand by skilled craftspeople, drawing on techniques that have been passed down through generations.

Working with local suppliers and weavers means that IKEA can integrate handmade techniques responsibly within its supply chain. Like all IKEA products, VARPTROSS lighting solutions are produced in line with IWAY – the IKEA way for responsible sourcing – which sets clear requirements for environmental, social and working conditions.