Selly Raby Kane first African designer to sign with IKEA
In order to make its flagship collection in 2019, the Swedish brand Ikea, which specializes in the design and retail sale of furniture and decorative objects ready to pose or to assemble kit, has recruited young stylist Selly Raby Kane.
This Senegalese fairy with magic fingers who is joining the world's great international stylists, has seen her models featured in Vogue magazine and queen Beyoncé has even sported one of her creations.
Selly, will be part of a group of African fashion designers, architects and illustrators who will come to produce a historic range of creations for Ikea.
"The creative explosion that is taking place in African cities right now is something quite interesting that IKEA is curious about. We want to learn and spread to the rest of the world. " Said Marcus Engman, Design Manager at IKEA. The project was born during a meeting between Engman and Ravi Naidoo, founder of the Indaba design creative center, which holds an annual conference presenting the best of African design. Ravi Naidoo provided a list of talents from the Indaba alumni network.
This is how the Rwandan architect Christian Benimana and Senegalese designer Selly Raby Kane were revealed. The designers were invited to a Brainstorming session in the woods of Almhult, headquarters of Ikea in Sweden. The first prototypes will be exhibited at the 22nd Indaba design conference in Cape Town. The furniture will be in stores around the world in 2019.
