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IKEA Launches MÄVINN for Social Entrepreneurship Partnerships
August 22,
2024 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
IKEA launches MÄVINN to build on its social entrepreneurship efforts. Partnering with social businesses in Southeast Asia, MÄVINN celebrates local craftsmanship, while providing jobs and training for women and marginalized groups. Each of the 17 one-of-a-kind, handcrafted products tells a story of cultural heritage and empowers the artisans who created them.
Building on its debut in 2023, IKEA launches its second edition of MÄVINN. Since 2012, IKEA has developed business partnerships with social enterprises to design and produce products sold at IKEA stores worldwide. MÄVINN is crafted in collaboration with five social businesses and artisans from Bangladesh, India, and Jordan.
The collection supports their efforts to provide jobs for people in vulnerable communities, empowering them to grow as skilled professionals and creating a positive impact. The collection focuses on creating global products that can be produced in higher volumes to generate more job opportunities. Each piece is handwoven, braided, or embroidered to embody the unique skills and heritage of the local culture.
“This collection celebrates the 12-year partnership we have built together, setting a strong example of how we can work long-term to enable people to acquire handcrafted everyday items, while creating life-changing opportunities for those who make them. We hope this collection inspires a deeper appreciation for handcrafted items and the effort and cultural heritage woven into every piece," says Maria Vinka, designer at IKEA of Sweden.
Standout handicrafts that celebrate culture
The MÄVINN collection brings joy and warmth to any space with its vibrant palette and recurring patterns that unify the pieces. All products are made of cotton or jute, sourced where the social businesses operate. The collection includes a diverse range of products such as baskets, bags, rugs, cushion covers, bedspreads, bathrobes, plant pot hangers, throws, and pouches.
One of the highlights of the collection is a basket in natural and multicolored designs, including a special cat basket that ensures everyone in the household has a place to sleep. The colorful cotton throws and bedspreads feature handmade tassels and patterns. The handcrafted pot hangers, made using macrame techniques, bring a touch of nature and artisanal beauty.
“MÄVINN showcases craft techniques passed down through generations, and it’s amazing to create together and learn from each other with these artisans who have kept these traditions alive. By collaborating and co-creating with our partners, we have bridged their craftsmanship with our way of designing to utilize their skills in the best way, while creating products full of character and each with their own expression. As a designer, I’m proud to work with a project that helps women grow as skilled professionals and enables families and communities to reach financial independence,” says Paulin Machado, designer at IKEA of Sweden.
The MÄVINN collection will be available in IKEA stores worldwide and online, starting in September 2024. It will be launched in two stages, with the second half of the collection launching in December.