diatom
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
Has fashion gone too far, too fast? How about it being sustainable, unisex, flexible?
Diatom brings textile alive by putting uniqueness back in the center, by keeping steorotypes away.
By making the best use of what already exists, we bring a new way of conceiving clothing, of staying close to your belongings, of rethinking our territories.
We are not only empowering our customers, but the whole value chain as we participate in the growing resiliency of Europe.
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
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Description of the project
Summary
A European collaboration
diatom is the creation of three europeans passionated about urbanism, fashion and sustainable production method. We are dedicated to reshape urban production by elaborating upcycled unisex accessories.
About our name : diatoms are microscopic algae. Despite their limited size, they provide around half of the oxygen we breathe. Inspired by this essential organism, we thrive in the multiplication of small impacts in order to produce a bigger one. Diatoms are diversed as snowflakes and unique as each of us. To protect these organisms, highly sensitive to upcoming climate changes, we also need to embrace resiliency and diversity.
Our adventure focuses on urban production methods that would make the most of preexisting inputs such as materials and experimented workforce in order to avoid the high environmental and social costs of the delocalization of fashion industry.
An innovative product
The product that better represents the core values of diatom? Holsters.
Two bags connected with a harness. Strong. Empowering. Unisex.
These holsters, essentially made from recycled materials, do give a true feeling of power to the ones wearing them. They are extremely convienient to go running, shopping, working, climbing, travelling, dancing, kissing, partying, or basically live with.
This product will not only empower the ones wearing it, it is dedicated to empower the value chain that will make this creation possible. make urban production valuable. Give the credit back to the supply chain.
Key objectives for sustainability
Let's make fashion sustainable
European studies estimation brings fashion industry as accountable for 10% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
Shocking, especially when you know that the average Belgian wastes 15 kg of clothes per year. By collecting a fraction of these 15kg per person per year, the possibilities are almost unlimited for a small structure like ours.
In order to reduce production and transport emission, upcycling appears as the optimized way to take control back, to make the urban territories switch from ecessive consumption to sustainable production.
A traceable product
Let's detail our key product : the holsters.
Two bags, efficiently made from recycled textile collected thanks to our partners.
The suspenders are equally made from diversed recycled material such as security seatbelts or broken backpacks.
The connecting pieces will be made from recycled plastic and aluminium materials. We are currently investigating the companies with which we would like to collaborate for this matter (Bel Albatros is one of them)
Sewing implies waste : scrap of tissues, strings and others. These will be equally reused in order to fill pillows made of recycled textile.
Overall, diatom implies a complete new method of urban production, making the best use of what is already existing (and despised), in order to turn it into a practical, aesthetical, fashionable, completely traceable and gender neutral product to carry your belongings in any type of environment.
Responsible operations
Finally, diatom will be supply through non carbonated transport and will focus on the use of renewables to power its activities.
Energy is mostly consumed for sewing machines and maintenances facilities. Almost all supplies will be collected or produced locally. Sustainability is not only our marketing argument, it is the paradigm we are willing to impose.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
It is all about power
Fashion is all about power, a power that is provided through the feeling of looking good. That would be a very accurate motto for diatom ; that is the experience we want to provide. With our products, with our hearts and hands, we want to make people confident, naturally powerful.
Holters feel good. Not just in their functionality, but in the idea you have of yourself while they embrace your body. Holsters were historically used to carry weapons or ammunitions ; with this collective psyche, wearing holsters gives you the impression of being an urban sheriff. No desperados or mexican standoffs for this modern sheriff : the crime to fight is against the mind. The idea of buying products made thousands of miles away, that implied modern slavery and conforted gender stereotypes, these are the ideas that this european cow-boy is fighting.
Personalized experience
People must have the possibility to chose. Or even better, to have enlightened people chose for them when they don't want to.
Circular economy imposes a constrain : you can not always select your supplies. That can be seen as a roadblock, or as a stimulator ; we obviously went for the second answer. Circular processes in the textile industry truly catalyze diversity. It obliges to adapt your materials to the people you want to reach out, to take everything more personal.
As the product is universal, the material that will be a decisive factor. The sailor will be flattered by products made from old boat sails, the climber will go for one made from a broken Quechua tent, and the teenager will rather go for the one made from a broken Ralph Lauren polo, as it will have the iconic horse on it.
They will all share something : the tailored suspenders. By bringing an on-site and online way of chosing the size of your suspenders, we will make sure that every product will be personnaly suited.
Key objectives for inclusion
Inclusive products
Fashion tends to be gendered. We want to break that stereotype by making all our products unisex. We want to reach all genders, cultures, and ages. Diversity was our inspiration, it is now one of our core value. Being open to diversity is also about embracing all types of bodies, in all their sizes and shapes ; noone will feel excluded by our products.
Furthermore, holsters truly are an intergenerational product that can fit a different use according to the different stages of your life.
Let's not adapt to fashion standards, but make them fit our personal needs.
Inclusive process
Through collect, we raise awareness and build citizenship engagement as we create a social link. Citizens are not only our suppliers, they are our partners. These partners will also have the opportunity to influence the design of the transformation. We also want to improve partnerships between companies by establishing contracts of waste recuperation, which will allow them to improve the local value chain as well.
Where inclusion is the most important is at the heart of the production chain. Besides public participation, we want to empower all the individuals implied in the production processes of diatom.
We want to form people and give opportunities. The local workforce is experimented and should not stay powerless because of the decolalization of fashion industry on the search for an irresponsible growth. The growth we want to provide is balanced, responsible, and would be very parcimonious in its wealth distribution. For instance, one of our wish is to limit the salarial tension to four ; the highest salary cannot be more than four times higher than the lowest. We are all as equally important, and if wealth is to declare, the first that should benefit from it must be at the basis of the production chain.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
Three dimensions forging our identity
Diatom is exactly about combining inclusive and sustainable fashion with an efficient and innovative product.
These three dimensions are at the heart of our mindset and strategy, they are comined in all aspects of our products and processes. This project is about bringing new standards for the fashion industry, about showing that fashion can be sustainable, inclusive and aesthetical.
By promoting gender equality while proposing sustainable processes and aesthetical products, we are addressing to all contemporary needs and struggles.
