IKEA Introduces MÄVINN Collection with Social Businesses in Asia

May 17, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The collection comprises 20 handmade items, made together with seven social businesses across Asia that provide long-term job opportunities for people from vulnerable groups.

MÄVINN features handmade accessories for the home, all of which celebrate the traditional craftsmanship of the artisans involved in their creation. Each product is handcrafted, ensuring that no two pieces are the same in shape and form.

The collection includes baskets, rugs, a lampshade, an apron, bags, cushion covers, a wall organizer, and more. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand, and each piece creates jobs for people from vulnerable groups.

"Our initial idea was to emphasize craftsmanship and bring the person who made the product to the forefront. This led us to think about the experience of visiting a local craft market: the interesting objects you might find there and the people selling their crafts,” says Paulin Machado, designer at IKEA of Sweden.

“Every item has a distinctive look and rustic feel of a handpicked item, blending colorful splashes with natural materials through embroidery and woven designs where their handmade nature gives its uniqueness.”

The collection is comprised of cotton, over-run materials from denim production and natural fibers such as paper made from the bark of mulberry trees, banana fiber and jute. Most materials are sourced locally in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Vietnam, where the social businesses are located.

The natural fiber materials are selected for their durability and renewability, as well as their potential to create job opportunities in both sourcing and production. The combination of materials and production techniques is based on the skills and expertise of the seven social business partners, resulting in diverse products while giving value to talented weavers and craftspeople in the local communities where they operate.

Since 2012, IKEA has been collaborating with social businesses to create long-term job opportunities and livelihood for people. Today, this effort has expanded to over 11 social businesses around the world, with a focus on creating global products that can be produced in higher volumes, leading to more job opportunities.

MÄVINN is the second global social entrepreneurship collection from IKEA and marks the first annually recurring collection that will go under the name. The collection name "MÄVINN" is an expression of dialect from Småland, where IKEA was founded, and means “having the wind at your back.”

“As a designer, it has been a joy to work closely with local artisans, infusing their skill and creativity into every piece. Not only does it celebrate traditional craftsmanship, but it also creates meaningful job opportunities for those in need,” says Maria Vinka, freelance designer at IKEA of Sweden.

“With MÄVINN, we can support artisans and their communities, while making handcrafted items accessible to people all over the world.”

The MÄVINN collection will be available at IKEA US stores and online at IKEA-USA.com starting in June 2023.