The IOU Project – Our latest ethical fashion crush
When we were putting the final touches on the DIY with IOU and Source4Style contest last week we couldn’t have been more excited. If you haven’t yet heard about this amazing opportunity to be the first designer of The IOU Project’s capsule collection AND get your designs on Fab.com, click here to read more.
But to get back to our excitement. Firstly, Source4Style is all about giving young designers the tools and opportunities to make it big. And second, since The IOU Project debuted last year, we’ve been totally smitten.
Here are just a few reasons why we ♥ The IOU Project and can’t wait to see which member of the Source4Style community will be their next designer.
1. Transparency
The questions of “Where was my shirt made? And under what conditions?” are questions that in an ideal world, all designers and fashionistas alike would ask.
The IOU Project not only prompts designers to ask those questions but answers them through a transparent platform that connects consumers directly to the artisan weavers responsible for the fashionable new addition to their wardrobe. As a company that connects designers directly to the producers of their materials, we ♥ IOWEYOU’s commitment to promoting that same transparency on a consumer-facing level.
2. High Artisan Fashion
The IOU Project is leading the way in preserving the artisan craft of beautiful, handwoven colorful Madras cotton. They then weave this storied material into our fashion landscape, translating the fabric into timeless and timely designs that are as chic on the NYC subway as they are in southern India.
3. Getting Sustainable Materials in the Hands of Designers
DIY with IOU is the first foray into The IOU Project getting their traceable material not the hands of designers through Source4Style. And we are so excited to give designers the opportunity to work with the first material we know of that can connect the designer creating with it to the weaver who created it. After the winner of DIY with IOU is announced, fabric from The IOU Project will be available for sale on Source4Style. So designers around the world can DIY with IOU.
If you are interested in entering the DIY with IOU contest (and we hope you are!) keep these points in mind.
1. This is not a one-off, couture piece.
The five finalist designers will be given 8 meters of handwoven madras made in India from which to work from. The product is for S/S 2013 men, women or unisex – clothing item or accessory (i.e. bag). The product has to be reproducible. Part of the cool factor of this competition is that your design is going to go into production.
2. Yes you share in the profits of what gets sold of the piece you made!
The IOU Project gets 50% of profits – and you get 50% of the profits. And guess what, you get sold on Fab.com (close to 3 MN registered users! ABC Carpet & Home! and the IOU Project’s website! Not bad).
3. Any designer – from anywhere in the world – can submit!
All you need to do is enter on http://marketplace.source4style.com/signup and then TWEET or EMAIL your portfolio.
4. The final product will be manufactured in NYC.
To raise awareness and support of the NYC Garment Center (via the help of Save the Garment Center and Made in NYC), the winning product will be manufactured at a local production unit in New York. The winning designer only submits the sample and the pattern. S/he does not have to pay for the production costs.
5. You get some sweet deals along the way.
Even if you don’t win (and you’re all winners!) you get a Source4Style Premium Level Membership for the year (at a very, very reduced rate – and only available up until contest ends, which is February 24th). If you are a finalists – you get added press. And if you are the winner, you get to have your garment produced, sold (via Fab.com, ABC Carpet & Home, and The IOU Project), have total supply chain transparency along the way, and not to mention your story told to millions of viewers around the world!
Look forward to seeing designers around the world DIY with IOU! ♥
