Shop For A Cause
Ikea introduces Lone Star-inspired textile line crafted by refugees living in Texas
New Lone Star-themed textiles at Ikea do more than appeal to our Texas pride. Called Hållning, the collection was handcrafted by refugees living in Austin, as a result of a collaboration between Ikea, Austin's Multicultural Refugee Coalition and its subsidiary, Open Arms.
The new collection, available only at Ikea's Houston and Round Rock locations (close enough for us), consists of handmade cushion covers and wall decorations. Prices range from $14-$18 for the former and $29.99 for the latter. The pieces are crafted with fabric reclaimed from Ikea's "As Is" area.
“We are so proud to offer these beautiful textiles to our Texas customers. Ikea is passionate about creating a better everyday life for the many people; this collaboration not only provides refugee women with a source of income, it provides local customers a unique, limited-edition product,” said Ikea Houston store manager Nabeela Ixtabalan.
Since 2012, IKEA has been creating partnerships with businesses across the world that focus on benefiting social issues and creating lasting change in their communities. Last fall, Ikea designers met with the Austin-based artisans of Open Arms and the Multicultural Refugee Coalition to agree on design and production standards. The line of products was created this spring at the Open Arms Shop in Austin.
Open Arms' mission is to provide living wage employment to refugee women living in Austin. Last fall, Open Arms merged with the Multicultural Refugee Coalition to become a nonprofit social enterprise that not only provided living wage job opportunities but also a sustainable funding model for the whole organization, ultimately benefiting the entire refugee community.
This video explains more about the project: