West Elm, known for its easy-to-love midcentury-inspired modern furniture and decor, is trying something. Breaking from its classic, understated palette, the company recently launched the Atitlán Project, a series of goods produced with Pintando el Cambio Association, an organIzation that supports the artisans of Guatamala’s Santa Catarina Palopó community.
For the limited-time collection, West Elm tapped Philadelphia studio Roar + Rabbit, who lent its swivel chair and ottoman as a canvas for the artisans’ brilliant embroideries and embellishments. Beads, threads, and yarn adorn the chairs in bright patterns for the 14 one-of-a-kind pieces that are now on auction at Paddle8 until May 22. All of the proceeds from the sales will go to the Pintando el Cambio Association.
If you can’t shell out for a hand-embroidered lounge chair, fret not. A wider selection of items including pillows, tote bags, and rugs will be available on West Elm’s website, with 50 percent of sales going to the organization.