STYLE NEWS: IKEA PARTNERS WITH FASHION DESIGNERS ON 2016 COLLECTIONS

IKEA rolls out new collections in collaboration with European designers to bring cutting-edge designs at affordable prices.

Is Kanye West next? Since the outspoken, hip hop star was recently seen leaving the IKEA headquarters in Sweden, many are speculating if West will be collaborating on a new designer collection for the popular home store.

Although it’s only speculation at this point, an IKEA/West collab may not be far away.

In a news release, IKEA has announced that, between the months of April and September 2016, it will be launching three new limited edition collections created in collaboration with fashion designers from across Europe; a first for the company.

“IKEA’s emphasis has always been on good, functional, practical design at affordable prices for the many,” says Lucy Frechette, PR Manager for IKEA Canada.  “The Limited Edition Collections allow us to explore the unknown, try new things with fashion experts bringing excitement to homes across Canada”.

The designer collections will begin in April with menswear designer Katie Eary’s “GILTIG” collection; an eclectic collection of soft furnishings and dinnerware with fish, cat and eyeball prints at the forefront of the design aesthetic.

“A decade or so ago, you could get an idea about who a person was from their cd’s or books. Now it seems that, as far as the home goes, furniture and personal bits and pieces are the last things left that show your identity,” says Eary. “I’ve learned loads through working with IKEA - it’s great to see my designs in a totally different context. There’s so much you can do within home furnishing and so many boundaries to break still.”

June will see the launch of “GLÖDANDE,” the collaboration with fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck, which uses the designer’s playfulness in assorted fabrics and ceramics.

The final collection, “SVÄRTAN,” was created with textile designer Martin Bergstrom, will launch in September and focuses on merging modern Indian and Swedish design, with the use of white, black and shades of grey.

“Every item is special and you get a sense of the human hand in the collection. These are things you want to keep, and that come with a story. That’s important to me, whether I work with fashion or design,” says Bergstrom. “The company that’s producing the paper products has made paper for over 300 years. It’s been incredibly fascinating to see my designs interpreted by that kind of expertise, and I’m very happy IKEA has such high standards when it comes to production.”

“We can learn a lot from how fashion designers work with colours, prints, patterns and shapes. They constantly have to re-invent themselves and what they do, and are used to working in the forefront of pattern and colour development,” says Henrik Most, Creative Leader, IKEA of Sweden.