The new VÅRDANDE collection was inspired by the basics of well-being and care. The collection was created based on the partnership of five Asian companies that create a better everyday life for vulnerable groups with long-term employment and income opportunities.
The word VÅRDANDE in Swedish it means caring. True to its meaning, the collection includes textile products such as kimono, yoga mats and blankets, as well as a portable basket, a soft storage solution, bowls and plant pots. It was designed by Akanksha Deo and Sarah Fager, IKEA designers. A large part of their products is imade by hand or in sustainable industrial facilities of social enterprises, with which the IKEA company cooperates.
Most materials such as banana fiber, clay and jute are sourced locally. Cotton in cotton products is made from more sustainable resources. This means that, compared to conventional farming, it is grown with less water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The choice of such cotton also provides financial support Asian farmers, which they produce. Goods and raw materials come from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand and India, where the partner social enterprises are located.
VÅRDANDE is the result of an ambition to create jobs and economic opportunities for those who need them most. In collaboration with the aforementioned companies that employ people who find it difficult to find employment in the labor market, the collection can brighten the everyday of both workers and customers, who find the handmade pieces available in IKEA stores around the world.
The collection will be available in Slovenia from August 2022 onwards.
