OBSERVE
Post Consumer textile waste is becoming a major issue.
Especially social organisation, who receive clothes donations, feel the impact of fast fashion. The Berliner Stadtmission receives approximately 10 tons of clothes donation per week. All male casual clothes in size S-M go to the Kleiderkammer, where people in need get fresh clothes. About 80% of the donations are female clothes. Some of are resold in second hand shops. After the sorting process about 60% of the clothes donation go to a cooperating textile recycler, although a lot of the clothes are still wearable.
IDEATE
How might we help social organisation to create the most value of their clothes donation?
optimize sorting process - material based sorting for upcyclers - more shops to resell clothes - cooperate with fashion schools and universities - donation against donation - new shopping experience: surprise bag - sell in kilos - cooperate with building company - organize popup sales in the city - develop new material out of old clothes - create new engagement with the donators
DEFINE
New shopping experience:
I buy a surprise
Although buying second hand clothes has gained popularity in the last decades, many people have reservations about used clothes. For many people it is hard to orientate and find the right pieces in a second hand shop. There is no style guidance which would help to orientate. Another challenge is finding the right size. Often old size tags are not uptodate, or due to washing process the garment has shrinked. Furthermore it can be a challenge to create a whole outfit out of many, many unique pieces, because the second hand collection doesn´t follow any colortrend.
PROTOTYPE
The Vintage Surprise Bag:
three pieces, which are one outfit
A mystery bag full of fashion cuts all decision making off. There is only the question: Do I want to spend money for a surprise? The size and gender is marked on the bag, and a little hint gives you a clue what kind of style could expect you. The hint could be: "friday night" or "sunday afternoon with aaron carter".
TEST
The Test: Do people spend money on a surprise outfit?
The test took place on Karneval der Kulturen in Berlin pushing a shopping cart full with surprise bags...
Yes they do!
So we developed that idea further and created: Katze Im Sack, the vintage-surprise bag. We sold bags on festivals, markets and online.
