APOLIS.
Thanks to my buddy Stefan, One of the more interesting business + fashion models I’ve come across is Apolis.
With a slogan like Global Citizen, you know you’re going to be looking at something that weaves the concepts of travel with culture, but these guys have gone a step, or three further.
I stayed in their LA store today for a good hour, slowly absorbing and figuring out why their approach is unique.
A summary: They act as Designer/Collaborator with 2 other partners. One is in the form of third world source of skilled labour, farmers or manufacturers. The other is with a first world brand or manufacturer. It took me a while to figure out why this was cool, as surely other companies source labour and cotton for example from Uganda. But perhaps either;
a) Some companies don’t disclose where they’re cotton/wool is sourced from; and
b) Perhaps most are just made in China with no story - or atleast no positive uplifting story (or monetary benefit) - attached to the business relationship.
Through functional fashion, Apolis cleverly steers the development of a product or garment with its partners, which ultimately produces a very fine piece of clothing that makes them look good, as equally it helps patron the third world business, as equally it makes you feel good for both in turn helping them, and for looking good.
The film which had me captivated, only happened to be launched at 12pm when I walked in at 1:15pm, and caught it on loop. It’s called Kony 2012 and you should watch it and help share it. It’s brilliant. (if the link doesn’t work, google Invisible Children and you’ll get there)
I ended up buying a new jacket, and felt that interesting emotion that comes from spending alot of money on a nice piece of clothing after just watching a film that makes you reevaluate what you value…
Interesting world huh?
