IKEA has drawn on the wildlife of the Himalayas for ALPTALL, its latest collection of soft toys and children’s accessories. Red pandas, snow leopards and domestic Bactrian camels are among the animals represented, all of which live in the region’s remarkable ecosystem. Now in the third year of its collaboration with wildlife conservation centre Nordens Ark, the brand invites children and adults to explore the animals, mountain landscapes and stories behind the collection.
Nine soft toys inspired by real animals
Children can explore mountain peaks, forests and desert landscapes through play, without leaving home. Any one of the collection’s nine soft toys can turn an ordinary afternoon into a story about discovering wildlife. The range includes a red panda and a miniature version, an Asiatic black bear, a Bengal tiger, a snow leopard and a yak. Each has its own character, offering a way to learn more about animals that children may otherwise know only from pictures or screens.
The long-eared jerboa can jump up to three metres high, while the domestic Bactrian camel can withstand temperatures as low as −40°C. The Pallas’s cat has distinctive round pupils and is the only small cat to have them [?]. These help it see in bright conditions, such as sunlight on snow-covered fields.
Such surprising traits can prompt children to invent stories and ask questions about the real animals behind the toys.
Himalayan landscapes in children’s rooms
Imagination and a few accessories are enough to turn a child’s room into the setting for an expedition. A rug patterned with animal tracks can mark out a route, with floral cushions and colourful textiles setting the scene. The adventure can continue after dark with bed linen and sheets featuring themes from the collection.
‘When we work with our supplier to develop soft toys, we try to capture the animals’ natural appearance while making sure they are safe, affordable and easy to cuddle,’ says Bodil Fritjofsson, Better Homes Leader at IKEA.
Children can also use a colouring paper roll, an activity book and stickers to create their own landscapes and stories. A storage bag provides somewhere to gather their treasures once the expedition is over.
Play as an introduction to conservation
Each ALPTALL animal represents a real species with its own habitat and story. Through its collaboration with Nordens Ark, IKEA has drawn on wildlife conservation expertise to introduce children to animals they may not know well and raise awareness of the challenges they face.
The animals depicted in the collection are included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which records the extinction risk of individual species.
‘The IKEA team were really interested in our animals and open to our feedback. I love talking about animals, and they were keen to listen,’ says Emma Nygren, head of conservation at Nordens Ark.
‘Although we specialise in very different things, we share the same values. We want to make the world a better place. We just go about it in different ways.’
Questions about where an animal lives, how it survives in its habitat and why it needs protection can lead children to learn more about nature. The Himalayas are more than a colourful backdrop for play: species across the region face threats including climate change, habitat loss, pollution and illegal hunting.
Curiosity can begin with a soft toy, a drawing or a question about an unfamiliar animal. Play can then become a first step towards understanding and caring for species in need of protection.
ALPTALL is available from 5 October in IKEA stores, online at IKEA.com and through the IKEA app, while stocks last.
Designing a child’s room means making space for play, rest and storage. Find architects, interior designers and interior photographers in the PLNDesign directory.
See also:
- The Design Group gives Yareal Polska’s Warsaw office a domestic feel
- Kartell updates Componibili storage units with six colours
