Ikea, the Swedish-founded multinational conglomerate, has announced the launch of the OBEGRÄNSAD, the company's first-ever record player.
Ikea Unveils its First Record Player
The OBEGRÄNSAD vinyl player was developed by Ikea together with the Swedish House Mafia, a house music supergroup.
The vinyl player has a minimalistic and chic design and is part of a new collection meant for customers who want to produce music, according to The Verge.
The entire collection has been named OBEGRÄNSAD, and it will include more than 20 items created to make a customer's home suited for music production.
So far, Ikea has unveiled three items from the OBEGRÄNSAD collection: the vinyl player, an armchair, and a desk with two built-in speaker stands.
First announced at the 2022 Milan Design Week, the items will be available in Ikea stores in mid-2022. No price list has been revealed yet, but the retailer said the record player would be affordable.
OBEGRÄNSAD Vinyl Player
The OBEGRÄNSAD vinyl player will be powered via USB, and it will have a replaceable needle and cartridge and a high-quality built-in pre-amp.
If you are looking for a speaker to pair it with, it is compatible with the ENEBY speaker. But according to About Ikea, the vinyl player needs to be hooked up to a wired speaker because it does not work with Bluetooth speakers.
The needle is made by Audio Technica, a Japanese company known for the quality of its audio equipment.
Ikea designer Friso Wiersma talked about the new record player and said that the solid design gives it "a great presence in the room," and that the vinyl record transmits the physicality of music and "claims space."
Swedish House Mafia also discussed the upcoming OBEGRÄNSAD collection and said that the design "supports creating, playing, and enjoying music."
H&M and Ikea's Community Store
Aside from designing its new collection, Ikea recently teamed up with Scandinavian fast fashion colossus H&M to launch Atelier100, the first maker-based concept store in London.
However, according to Forbes, both H&M and Ikea are thinking of expanding their store in Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, and Stockholm, but the companies did not provide any specific timeline.
The community-based project is located in Livat, a former shopping center in London that was converted into an urban, community-based retail center in early 2022.
The Atelier100 can help designers and creatives have a sustainable and local approach to retail. The project initially launched in April with a call for makers, manufacturers, and creatives to share their ideas.
The aim of this community-based concept store is to assist the first selected creatives and designers in selling their products from Fall 2022. In the meantime, the store will showcase items designed by the locals.
Aside from the showcase, the Atelier100 also has a funding and mentorship program that includes financial help and assistance with everything from accounting and creating a business plan to manufacturing and bringing the products to the market.
Atelier100 has been designed to host events, talks, workshops, and seminars to guide new creatives and designers.
In 2021, Ikea partnered with Ombori Grid to go paperless and be more sustainable.
In May, Ikea announced it would begin selling solar panels.
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Written by Sophie Webster
