AKOLA X ARTIZIA
Akola is a growing, innovative jewelry brand employing women in crisis in Uganda and Dallas, Texas
Role
Art Direction + Design
Strategy+ Logistics: Madeline Franklin
Jewelry Design: Oula Yassine
PROBLEM: Find a popular retail partner for Akola to collaborate with to produce a jewelry line in order to raise more widespread awareness of who Akola is and the causes they support.
INSIGHT: Akola and Aritiza share the same convictions of women empowerment, community outreach, and a commitment to creating high quality products.
SOLUTION: Collaborate with Aritzia to create the perfect partnership.
Packaging
The women behind Akola, the materials used to make the products, and some beautiful landscapes of Uganda will be featured. The name of the woman (if applicable), the date, and location will be on each bag. The woman, materials, and landscapes featured on the bags will change throughout the Akola x Aritzia collection.
Each Akola x Aritzia card will have a unique QR code directing consumers to a video featuring the woman on that particular card. The women highlighted on the cards and the customized message will update throughout the Akola for Aritzia collection lifetime.
Social Media
Taking advantage of Aritzia’s highest volumed social media accounts, the Akola for Aritzia collaboration will first be marketed on their Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. These accounts have high digital foot traffic with strong consumer interaction. Aritzia will post about the collaboration, the Ugandan woman, and editorial shots for this collection.
Event
Akola and Aritzia will hold an exclusive private shopping event allowing a select few to be the first to shop the Akola x Aritzia capsule collection. Along with the chance to be the first to shop the collection, customers will learn more about the groundbreaking collaboration and chat with the founder of The Akola Project, Brittany Merrill Underwood. A live stream to Uganda will occur in order to meet the women who handcrafted the Akola x Aritzia collection.