Week 2: IMPACT

Below the replies to our inquiries about the brand: Elisa Sugarotti (current employee), and Mathieu Hagelaars (who has worked for OW).

NO ONE DISCLOSES INFORMATION ABOUT OFF WHITE, THEREFORE THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THEIR CODE OF CONDUCT, PRODUCTION POLICIES OR SUSTAINABILITY. IF SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE, ETHICAL, OR GOOD WAS DONE, THERE WOULD BE INFO ABOUT IT, ALSO FOR A GOOD MARKETING MOVE.

ABOUT MY PROCESS

I personally kept digging deeper into the unresolved questions. My struggling point was not being in charge of what I was doing, as I am used to gaining knowledge from a reliable source that already gives me info for granted, like studying on books. Researching about Off White instead felt like investigating on a mistery that eventually led to blank “walls”.  Nevertheless I understand the point of this different approach and of #theworld: we have to learn how to question the market and find ethical answers and solutions. 

MY PROCESS IN THE GROUP

We confronted each other with the collected info, but no turning point was reached. Our research had so many holes that we got stuck anytime a further question about OW policies was asked. For the purpose of the research, it was frustrating not having a clue of how the brand really runs. Thus as a group, we had a hard time understanding that our main focus had to be shifted from the info we wanted to know to the untold (TRANSPARENCY).

WHAT I LEARNED

I learned that shifting your focus or point of view is useful for finding new solutions or answers. When we say that a business is consumer driven, we mean that consumers have the power to change a business’ behavior. Thus it can be implied that a more educated consumer can change the direction of demand and consequently of supply. As a designer in the fashion industry, I believe I have the responsibility to educate the consumer to his or her rights and responsibilities. When a consumer has a responsible demand, there will be a responsible supply. This can also be applied to transparency: if the consumer requests information about a brand\product, the brand\product is pushed to disclose info.