Canadian homewares brand Obakki, recently announced a collaboration with IDS to introduce the IDS x Obakki Design Incubator, an initiative geared towards mentoring and supporting emerging Canadian design talent.
Each year, Obakki will select one participant from IDS’s Studio North program, providing them with a comprehensive 360-degree mentorship program. This program offers practical experience and valuable insights into establishing the fundamental groundwork for achieving global brand success.
Curated by Treana Peake, Obakki’s founder, each brand selected for the program will receive mentorship and direction in various areas including marketing, navigating wholesale markets, branding, and business expansion. Additionally, Obakki will commit to placing a wholesale order for products from each chosen designer, granting them access to a worldwide market through the well-regarded Obakki website.
The first brand selected for the Incubator initiative is Cyrc, a Montréal -based company dedicated to crafting functional household items from recycled plastic waste. “Cyrc’s ethos of sustainability deeply resonates with Obakki, and they are genuinely revolutionizing ethical, climate-positive, and zero-waste furniture and home goods,” said Peake. Cyrc was awarded the Juror’s Choice award for Best Booth at the Studio North design competition during IDS Toronto in January 2023.
Obakki will kickstart this venture with an immersive exhibit in the main entry concourse at IDS Vancouver in September 2023. This multi-sensory installation will showcase Cyrc products within an environment designed to encourage show attendees to rethink the connection between their design choices and the world they inhabit.
To commemorate the launch of the program, Obakki will host an official off-site event at their Vancouver showroom on Friday, September 22, 2023. Guests will have the opportunity to explore a curated selection of Cyrc products and delve deeper into the brand’s design narrative. A site-specific installation will mirror the themes presented at the IDS show venue, emphasizing concepts of circularity, the real impact of human consumption, and true sustainability in design.