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Reviving the traditional: Nada Debs and Ikea’s collaborative collection LJUV

The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
Lebanese designer Nada Debs with Karin Gustavsson, creative leader at IKEA. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
Lebanese designer Nada Debs with Karin Gustavsson, creative leader at IKEA. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
Lebanese designer Nada Debs with Karin Gustavsson, creative leader at IKEA, and a group from the textile supplier sit in a circle on a floor in southern India. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
Lebanese designer Nada Debs with Karin Gustavsson, creative leader at IKEA, and a group from the textile supplier sit in a circle on a floor in southern India. (Supplied/Nada Debs)
The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied)
The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied)
The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied)
The LJUV collection by Nada Debs for Ikea. (Supplied)
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10 Mar 2020 12:03:52 GMT9
10 Mar 2020 12:03:52 GMT9

Carla Chahrour

Ikea has announced its latest collaboration with Lebanese designer Nada Debs for a new home collection LJUV, — named after the Swedish word for delightful — that is described as a blend of traditional Middle Eastern patterns and symbols with simple Scandinavian design.

The collection includes a mix of big and small decorative and functional items like floor cushions, rugs, trays, ceramics and glass ware that make it easy to host many guests.

Debs’ signature style of mixing material and patterns, such as wood and metals, is prevalent within each piece in the collection, effectively weaving her ideas, skills, and techniques with the five dimensions of IKEA Democratic Design: form, function, quality and sustainability at a low price.

The implementation of Debs’ handicraft techniques within a collection that is more affordable, light and flat packed than her personal label is aimed at reaching young IKEA customers.

“I have always worked with handicraft, so this way of working was both inspiring and challenging,” said Debs.

Raised in Japan, Debs earned her knowledge of design and in the US, and currently resides in Beirut Lebanon, where her work has developed from furniture design to craft, art, fashion, and interiors.

The LIUV collection features unexpected combination of materials, such as ceramics with brass, and contrasting elements such as machine embroidery and degrading colours used on traditionally patterned floor cushions.

According to Debs, the inspiration behind the collection is the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, where Muslim families gather and fast from sunrise to sunset.

“You host many people during this season so floor cushions are an easy way to make space for extra family and friends. My parents always have some small decorative objects like lanterns and they put center pieces on the table with dried nuts and fruit,” said Debs.

The Ramadan motif is most notably depicted in the colors and shapes of the floor cushions, which encompass hexagonal shapes, recalling vintage geometric patterns and fading colors, which are used to metaphorically resemble sunrise and sunset.

“In the Middle East, family is more than just mom, dad and siblings. It’s all about the extended family- -grandmothers, aunts, nieces, cousins and beloved friends! People are always inviting each other to evening feasts during Ramadan. For me, this time of the year is about compassion, empathy, and generosity,” said Debs.

Inspired by the Middle Eastern designs associated with Ramadan, Debs and Ikea’s collaboration results in the production of a collection that revives traditional patterns through the incorporation of simplistic elements.

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