Tel Aviv brand Iota will make its Milan Design Week debut next month with a collection of petal-like poufs, stools and rugs crocheted from bespoke yarns.

Founded in 2014, Iota works in local communities with high rates of unemployment. The brand produces furniture and objects that marry traditional craft techniques such as crochet with contemporary forms, resulting in objects with an unusual tactile structure.
Its business model aims to empower women by giving them an independent source of income.

"I know there are many women, all over the world, who cannot go to work because they are unable to leave home - because they aren't allowed to, or because of cultural, religious, geographical reasons or because they have young children to care for," Iota founder Shula Mozes told Dezeen. "Many of these women are unskilled and feel insignificant."
"We teach our communities of women skills of hand-knitting, we bring our yarns and designs to their homes, we pay them fair and honourable wages and enable them to take part in creating beautiful textile products," she continued.
The majority of profits from Iota's product sales are invested in welfare and educational programs worldwide. Although the company is currently only working with women based locally in Israel, Mozes hopes iota will grow into an international community.

Products in the first collection include petal-like poufs and stools made from gathered crocheted yarns. It also features kn...