People are lining up to buy this rug, and for Ikea’s much celebrated art event. Known mostly for nifty gadgets, simple design and good prices, Ikea has long been an Inner West household’s go to for pretty much everything, except this rug – which is going to be the hardest thing to ever buy at Ikea. Due to popular demand, the highly sort after “KEEP OFF” rug designed by Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton and the founder of fashion brand Off-White Virgil Abloh, will be first available to IKEA Family members via ballot.The rest of the rug collection of Art Event 2019 will be available in stores from 15 May 2019.
Abloh’s contribution to IKEA Art Event 2019 is an ironic take on overbearing parents who protect their furniture by any means necessary.
“I wanted an ironic take on the traditional attitude to furnishing where the living room is just a showroom, not somewhere you sit. The parental ‘don’t ruin the furniture’ kind of thing I think has really impacted how younger people think of furniture today,” said Abloh.
How to Enter the Ballot to get your hands on the “KEEP OFF” Rug:
- Join IKEA Family by visiting ikea.com.au
- From 1 May, IKEA Family members can enter the ballot to register their interest
- The ballot closes on Wednesday 8 May. A draw will take place on Friday 10 May and winning members will be notified on Monday 13 May to inform them their rug is available for purchase at their local IKEA store
- The IKEA Family members must show their email with their membership card to make the purchase between 15-20 May.
- Should the ballot winner not purchase their rug during this time, their rug will be made available for sale to the general public from Tuesday 21 May
- Ballot is only required for the “KEEP OFF” rug
The fifth IKEA Art Event is a short-term collection that mashes-up tapestry art, rug handicraft, avant-garde fashion, street culture and modern design. The collection is designed by eight leading creative figures who have all designed a contemporary rug as part of the unique, ‘woven artworks’.
Made from wool and other natural materials, all but one of the rugs in the collection are handmade by craftspeople in India and Egypt, vividly bringing to life the creators’ visions.
The designers, including the likes of Virgil Abloh, Filip Pagoswki and Misaki Kawai, all apply a fresh and modern perspective to the traditional craft of rug making. Drawing from their own personal experiences and inspirations, the eight designers have explored a number of differing ideas and concepts.