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Contemporary design meets traditional craft

LOKALT collection is available for purchase in IKEA Tampines and online from 3 June 2021, while stocks last.

    What happens when four young designers from Amman, Delhi and Bangkok meet local artisans and local traditions? – You get LOKALT, a vibrant collection of handmade items that are statement pieces as much as everyday objects. Also, each item helps to create jobs in regions where they’re most needed.

    From Amman with love

    Modern city life with hand-embroidered details.

    Close-up showing the hands of an artisan who embroiders a pigeon and other details on a printed cushion cover.
    A woman holding up a hand-embroidered cushion showing a flock of pigeons on an Amman rooftop.

    Take a tour of Amman

    Looking at the throw and the cushion covers by Jordan-based designer Tania Haddad is like taking a tour of the old part of Amman. Here are the water tanks, the laundry lines, the satellite dishes and the oasis of greenery that characterise the bustling city. The hand-embroidered details are made by skilled artisans working for Jordan River Foundation – a social business that creates jobs for Jordanian women and women refugees in the region.

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    A throw, printed with hand-embroidered details, showing city life in Amman is draped over a chair.
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    Two hand-embroidered cushions showing laundry lines and cars in Amman placed in front of a window.
    “
    I take lots of pictures of pickups, and almost every time the driver stops and tells me the story of the design and how proud he is of the car.
    ”

    Tania HaddadDesigner

    Modern-day Delhi meets traditional India

    Handmade textiles with a contemporary twist.

    A woman is sitting in a sofa with a LOKALT cushion, handmade by Indian artisans and inspired by traditional embroidery.
    A woman in a brown shirt dress is lying down on a white sofa resting her head on a yellow LOKALT cushion.

    A modern take on traditional shapes

    The pattern on the handwoven wool rug takes its cue from the matka, a pot traditionally used as a home water cooler, and the organic forms and curves that can be seen everywhere in India. “The idea was to take a traditional motif and give it a modern expression”, says designer Akanksha Deo.

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    A young woman in jeans and a white top is sitting on a handwoven LOKALT wool rug with elevated colourful patches.
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    Handmade and outstanding

    The elevated figure on the cushion cover is made with a traditional hand tufting technique. Each item is handmade by skilled female weavers in the Uttar Pradesh region, meaning that no two products are identical.

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    A woman sits in front of a handmade LOKALT cushion that is white with a hand tufted pink patch.
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    Wool for the win

    All LOKALT rugs are handwoven in wool – a material that tends to outshine the competition. Why? Well, it’s sustainable, renewable, durable and beautiful (just to mention something).

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    A person standing in a staircase holds a corner of a handwoven white and black LOKALT wool rug.
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    A lampshade with a mission

    No two LOKALT lampshades or baskets are identical. How do we know that? They are made from banana bark, a fibre with natural colour variations, and they are made by hand. Even better – they are made by women artisans working for Industree, an Indian social entrepreneur that provides long-term livelihoods where it’s most needed.

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    A woman holds up a LOKALT lampshade that is made from banana fibre and handwoven by skilled Indian artisans.
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    Designed in Bangkok – made in Doi Tung

    Fusing contemporary Thai design with traditional handicraft.

    A handmade, tall ceramic bowl with two handles, placed on a marble surface in front of a window.
    Close-up showing the hands of an artisan attaching a handle to a handmade tall LOKALT ceramic bowl.

    Brimful of great traditions

    Sharing meals brings family and friends together and is an essential part of Thai culture. With that and the rich Thai history of ceramic artefacts as their starting point, THINKK studio designed a set of two bowls, a vase and a plate. Each item is handmade by artisans working for the social entrepreneur Doi Tung DP that creates jobs for villagers and the tribal groups in Northern Thailand.

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    A handmade ceramic vase with two handles, placed on a marble surface against a light background.
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    Showing off the craft

    Thanks to their skills and input on the designs, the artisans are vital for the collection. Here, the handmade element is emphasized by the finger imprints left on the surface – making each item unique.

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    Two rings placed in a black LOKALT ceramic bowl, sitting on a marble surface next to a book with a leaf on the cover.
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    Handle with respect

    The LOKALT vase, plate and bowls all have two handles which reflect an old tradition. “Thai people are known for treating their elders and guests with utmost courtesy. When you offer something or accept it, it’s customary to do it with both hands as a sign of respect”, says designer Decha Archjananun.

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    A vase, a plate and two bowls from the LOKALT collection placed on a marble table top against a grey background.
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    Brand-new rug with a history

    This wool rug, handwoven by Indian artisans, is inspired by the traditional Indian kantha embroidery. “The curved shapes that look like enlarged kantha embroidery is, in fact, part of the woven design”, says designer Akanksha Deo.

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    A woman lying on her bed looking down on a handwoven, black and white, small LOKALT wool rug.
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    Portrait of Kiang Aitao, ceramist working for the social business Doi Tung DP in Thailand.
    “
    The designs by THINKK Studio have been challenging. But that means we’ve developed new techniques and new ways of working – and that we’ve developed our skills.
    ”

    Kiang AitaoCeramist Doi Tung DP, Thailand

    Portrait of Anwar Jaradat, working for the social business Jordan River Foundation in Amman.
    “
    I think the prints are really beautiful. Not only because they represent my neighbourhood, but because they make the final product simple and elegant – and unique.
    ”

    Anwar JaradatTeam member Al Karmeh Center, Amman

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