Grandiose Supermarkets, in their mission to continue sustainable initiatives, has launched a completely new line of canvas bags in collaboration with an Emirati artist, Abdulla Lutfi. The new line has been launched to promote an array of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic and bring back the charm of carrying reusable bags for a regular grocery run. Customers visiting Grandiose can pick their quirky favourite at the checkout point of a Grandiose retail outlet for AED 10.
Abdulla Lutfi, or AL as he prefers to sign his work, is renowned for developing his own signature art style utilizing black marker pens against a white background. His illustrations which are complemented with humorous speech bubbles have been consistent across all of Lutfi’s artistic storytelling and also reflect in his latest collaboration with Grandiose Supermarkets.
For this launch, Lutfi has created 2 variations which use contemporary character based illustrations that humanize the go-green slogans. These range from “Stop No More Plastic” to “This Is Not A Plastic Bag” which has been creatively imbibed by the premium grocery retailer into Lutfi’s monochromatic art featuring two Emirati characters. The popular comic style has been developed over the years with Lutfi starting to draw from the young age of only 4. What started as a means for communication before he could learn to speak is now being appreciated by diverse communities across the UAE as a means for communal expression.
Talking about the partnership, Abdulla Lutfi said, “Since the time my work started to get noticed and appreciated, I knew I wanted to use my art to bring awareness to crucial subjects that need a creative push. At a time when my home country is headlining for its environment-first initiatives, I am honoured to be working with Grandiose Supermarkets which has championed the cause from its very inception. Sustainability is not a choice but a priority, and I’m glad to be contributing to the movement the way I know best. Through my art.”
Lutfi’s inspiration for the black and white artwork is a result of him belonging to the Autism Spectrum which allows him to “see the world very differently and clearly – almost like the black and white drawings.” He has previously also exhibited on World Autism Awareness Day at the Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020.
In its continual efforts to extend the True Family Value Promise, Grandiose onboarded Lutfi to imbibe the values of eco-friendliness amongst both children and adults alike and encourage them to go plastic-free. CEO James Scott of Grandiose Supermarkets said, “After the success of Grandiose saving 15 million plastic bags since its inception, we wanted to amplify our ongoing efforts to further boost the region’s sustainability initiatives. As the government is working hard to discourage the use of single-use plastic, we saw our role in developing a sustainable mindset by encouraging the use of reusable bags. It has been an honour to work with a loved artist like Abdulla Lutfi who shares the same passion for sustainability as we do. Thanks to him, we’ve been able to bring our values to life.”
Available for purchase across Grandiose stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the new jojo bags can be found at checkout for AED 10. A special offer designed just for the launch will allow customers to avail a discount of AED 1 every time they bring back a Grandiose bag for a grocery run at any of the 19 Grandiose outlets. The offer is applicable until the end of this year on a minimum spend of AED 20 and above.
