AAKS x NANDOS
Making big impact happen through the power of weaving
Entrepreneur and founder of luxury handmade accessory brand AAKS, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, is seeing a dream come true this month. Her high impact Weaving for Change project is seeing a collaboration with Nandos to create beautiful, woven pendant lamps in their London restaurants.
For entrepreneur Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of award-winning accessory and home decor brand, AAKS in Ghana, creating beautiful products has always gone hand-in-hand with making a big social impact. Her most recent initiative, an impact driven home decor project, Weaving for Change, which is a collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, is now coming to fruition. A new range of lamps has been created for global restaurant chain, Nandos, the first of which have just been rolled out in Greenwich, London.
Weaving for Change is a long term weaving project which bridges the gap between innovation and traditional craft. The project aims to produce a limited edition of home interior products which in turn creates a fair and dignified employment for refugee artisans in Burkino Faso. The new Light Shade Collection of pendant lamps is both beautiful and unique, offering a range of open and semi closed lampshades with direct light source. When lit, the characteristics of the crocheted surfaces gives the entire shade an effervescent glow which captures the perfect equilibrium between light and shade.
The Ihaya Lamp
The Ihaya Lamp is a planetary pendant light inspired by the symbolic projection of the Tuareg life through the Sahara suggesting boundless boundaries. Crafted in a post modern shape, this large and flat yet light weight design boldly blends straw, leather and bronze metal to render this spatial lamp orbiting right above our heads. Ideal for dining tables, over head lighting and as a feature piece. It is composed of straw, hand-dyed yarns and finished off with a hammered bronze cup.
The Oude Lamp
The simplicity of the Oude Lamp evolved from the desire to create a timeless and quietly opulent lighting solution. Whether as a single piece or clustered in a cascading tier; this is an arresting and sculptural shade which never fails to add presence and elegance. Ideal for bedrooms and social spaces. It is composed of straw, hand-dyed yarns, bronze plate and finished off with a bronze ring to hold the bulb and wire fittings in place.
The Bella Lamp
Artisanal textiles are woven together to form a highly refined classic silhouette, allowing our Bella pendant lamp to transcend a variety of interior styles working harmoniously in a traditional, contemporary or a minimal environment. It creates a timeless yet playful lighting solution, adding warmth to any space. It is composed of straw, hand-dyed yarns and finished off with a bronze plate and ring to hold the bulb and wire fittings in place.
Speaking about the project, Akosua says:
“We are inspired to create in a world already full of things because we believe that well designed objects embody original ideas.
About the Weaving for Change Project
LIONESS CoLAB: AAKS X UNHCR - Lionesses of Africa
AAKS in Ghana and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees joined forces for a home décor project titled 'Weaving for Change'. The collaboration to produce a range of beautifully handcrafted lamps and light fittings reflects the preservation of a time honoured Mal
AAKS in Ghana and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees joined forces for a home décor project titled ‘Weaving for Change’. The collaboration to produce a range of beautifully handcrafted lamps and light fittings reflects the preservation of a time honoured Malian weaving technique of the Tuareg community from Northern Mali, who are living as refugees in Burkina Faso. Behind every handcrafted lamp you will find a cultural identity of the Tuareg. The design combines craftsmanship of unique artisanal skills and techniques in basketry; an important activity carried out by Tuareg and Fulani/Peulh women who weave with straw and yarn to make traditional basket lids for food platters used during celebrations in their communities. The artisans use a needle and thread to wrap hand-dyed strands of organic yarns and leather around bunches of straw to create tightly coiled, durable lampshades in an impressive range of patterns and colours. The result is a beautiful range of lamps in kaleidoscopic yellows, tone down reds, reds, blues and rustic oranges combined with natural straw and hints of vegetable tan leather, bronze and copper metal finishing. The collaboration of textures and tones is crucial to the cohesion of the overall design ideas. Depending on the size and shape, each lamp can take one weaver anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month to make!
The artisans who produce the work are supported by A A K S and UNHCR. The project facilitates their access to quality raw materials and adequate work spaces and offer them product-line development and tweaking for international markets. Training in design and production techniques, working efficiently as a group, literacy and numeracy are also provided by A A K S and UNHCR. The objective of this collaboration is to bring out multi-cultural and innovative designs to assist in the growth of a sustainable business for the refugees. It is our belief that this may go some way in aiding the economic livelihoods of the refugee artisans whether they stay in their country of refuge or eventually return home. A comprehensive training and follow-up support program is offered to refugees and local artisans to build production and marketing capacity whilst improving the socio-economic integration of refugees. Prepayments are offered to the artisans for all orders, reasonable production times are agreed upon, and prices are based on Fair Trade principles and the need for the artisans to earn sufficient profits to take care of their families, rebuild their communities and invest in their futures.
AAKS Weaving for Change
The Light Shade Collection
About AAKS
A A K S was founded by entrepreneur and designer, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi with the goal of introducing the world to her favourite weaving techniques done by the women of Ghana while also creating and igniting sustainable jobs within Africa. Handcrafted in Ghana, A A K S creates bags in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral counterparts characterised by bright exuberant colours. The very essence of the A A K S design philosophy is a complex combination of thoughts, design element which come from a critical attention to craftsmanship, authenticity and ethical values in their production ; while having a strong sense of identity and quality. Each collection silhouette is unique and tells a different story through detail, colour and shape. Akosua is connected to every stage of the design and production process to oversee and ensure that the end result is imbued with the spirit and soul worthy of the A A K S stamp. www.aaksonline.com
