Valerie, Age 27
Where is she from? New York, but more importantly, Where is she going? Many places
Valerie is the Founder and Creative Visionary behind Locals World Inspired by her multicultural European background, and as a native born + raised New Yorker , her work fuses sustainability and culture, to research ancient traditions, and natural resources within design An eye for artisanal goods and a desire to connect with other Locals, to co-create, and become the change we want to see in the world, together. She believes when we expand our horizons, cross borders, & open doors we will step into our power of infinite potential It starts with sharing culture, it ends with storytelling through design
(pictured right) Valerie at a local New York farm during NY Sustainable Fashion Week with Locals Closet, a consciously curated portal and interactive design made out of natural wood, that facilitates clothing swaps and artisan made goods
Some say it's not about the destination, it's the journey. Others say it's not about the journey, it's the company. Well what if we lived in a world, where it was all three?
The destination, they journey, and the company. When we live in a world, that embraces all three, that's when change can happen That's when we are free.
Meeting others, from all around the world, the bridges for sharing culture, craft, and community, offering natural resources and artisanal goods to one another, celebrating each other, our origins, and our missions..., sustainability is the ability to sustain many things, including connection. To ourselves, each other, and our planet in all of her beauty.
Sustainability is not only the destination, it's not only the journey, it's also not only the company it's the trifecta, of all three.
Among the various brands of Cacao we hold close to our heart and our pantry, Cacao Lab 100% cacao paste is a modern day " sponsor " of ours, aka we are an affiliate, and we are sharing it as an @sharecacao collaboration.
Share Cacao is a COME(UNITY) of locals, sisters creatrixes, initatrixes, family, and friends that have either sipped cacao with sisters leading a gathering or have followed our journey with cacao over the years. From our first cup in New York City to being barefoot on the grounds of Belize with Mayan descendants in their own back yard, a whole cacao farm, we have seen our journey evolve as we evolve and share this ceremonial grade heirloom beautiful sacred plant medicine.
Search no further, we just became your last stop, the destination We want to hug you with how much we appreciate the creative work you ' ve honed in on, articulated and perfected your craft, from generations before you, to generations to come
Some say it's not about the destination, but the journey, some say it's not the journey, it's the company We believe in all three, and that the destination is just as important as the company You don't have to go at it alone any further, because we'd like to take this journey with you
We want to the bridge between your world, and the world out there We want to share your work with others No matter where you live, what you look like, what your craft is, we are an open door to hear your story, and share it with others Storytelling through design We want to call in all projects, foundations, impact-based initiatives, from designers to trailblazers, from artisans to visionaries, we are lifting the darkness between early supply chain and end-consumer
We've done the research and discovered two communities we want to bring together
Starting with you We see you as the Local Artisan Sometimes you ' re the Local to your own city, and sometimes you ' re the Artisan, a name and geographic location that get's put "out there" into the world for others to see, feel, and experience what you are offering the world That could be in a market, shops, showrooms, anywhere that you ' re goods are displayed for the world to see and purchase
Then we have the Local Traveler The conscious consumer who seeks minimal imprint and large impact They want their values at the forefront Including sustainability, creativity, either in fashion and art, or interior aesthetic They are the end-consumers and the travelers They love to see and experience the world and meet others along the way Sometimes she's a local, and will find herself feeling most connected to others when supporting communities, like yours, around the world with what she buys
We understand We understand you have dreams We understand your values, that you have challenges, that you want to be more impactful That you want to be the change you want to see in the world That you believe in the future of humanity, that you care deeply about the planets overall well-being and your overall well-being We understand there has been a lot of chaos, and a lot of bliss and things worth living for We understand you may feel isolated at some points from the rest of the world, maybe different perspectives We understand that some of you don't want to be put in a box That you are so much more than your job title, and the city you live in
We want to be the bridge for whats in your heart and what's out there in the world To connect you with other women and individuals that are ready for YOU Your magic your questions your thoughts your visions dreams and goals To empower you enough that you are the walking embodiment of empowerment for others That you really are capable of creating change Whatever that might mean to you
We see a world that is in the invisible First we want to peel back the layer of darkness in the supply chain and shine a light on those hearts and hands at the very beginning of the supply chain Specifically communities of artisans, women, and really locals all around the world, just like you, to share culture, understand stories of where each other comes from, what our cultures really look like beyond Google Maps and images, or our imaginations
We know this world can be a bit overwhelming And were not going to tell you to quit your job to travel the world full-time, maybe we will eventually But today, today we just want to introduce ourselves as Locals World Inc that wants to build a community that bridges Locals to Travelers Artisans to Consumers via storytelling through design We know the power that energy exchanges money has in this world We want to channel resources from one place to the other as we thread the golden network of hearts around the world to share our dreams visions wants and needs Welcome home as home is where the heart opens widest and you are where your medicine is needed most Aho
The Bridge is, in this case, a woman who is a partner, or key player, in the transactions between Local Communities of Artisans, in this case, communities located in Argentina, of other Women, the Artisans, that are representative to and stand in the gap between Artisans and Locals around the world
We need more people like them. However, The bridge between a Local Artisan and Local Traveler does not have to look just like this They can also be largely influential people, they can be already established and well-respected designers. It's anyone who is willing to be the cross over, between two cultures. To openly share ancestral knowledge, wisdom, goods, and services To be the face to story tell. To unveil the shroud between "Us" and "Them," the early-supply chain hearts and hands that are hidden behind the curtains, but are the makers for majority of the western modern world Or for emerging designers just starting, but have the passion to share what does not exist yet in the world, their human nature and innate creativity.
"Partners, designers, representatives, who stands in the gap between artisans and locals, we need more people like them."
A purchase is an emotional experience
Emotions and buying go together
Whether that be an item, a trip, an experience, or a donation. Purchases tend to evoke emotion. There are two sides to this story. The Locals and the Travelers. The Artisans and the Buyers There is the Empathy we can build around the artisans story & an emotional connection created when the "purchaser" is connected with the artisan Because they understood the power of their story, product, and their ultimate - Why, or where, or who, or when, really Locals W. (World) can be all the 5 W's, but it starts with Women.
As the "needs" or demand of our collective (people, planet, profits) rise, which includes the demands of natural resources, and growing desires of products, services or travel, one could imagine our environmental footprints are significantly increasing
We'd like to fundamentally inspire impact-based buying decisions (starting with goods) to be an opportunity for human-centric and environmental net positive imprints. Using storytelling in design, sustainable sourcing, and highlighting a consciously curated collection of local artisans in specific communities around the world, we can understand culture, community, and each other at a deeper level
Plugging into well-established industries to integrate a dialogue between earlysupply chain workers, artisans, crafts(wo)men and locals to focus on the relationship between makers + consumers, or locals and travelers Then, foster that connection within a community by sharing artisans stories, the context of the item, the process, and their WHY Not only are we then integrating a dialogue, but we can build on the connection with empathy as a pillar in storytelling Spreading empathy for where goods come from, why we visit places, and perhaps even growing and sustaining empathy for our planet, plants, animals and future generations to come Taking our natural resources and using them for good
Our aspiration is to build on what it took to manufacture goods to inspire intentionbased consumption and travel. We'd like to research the value and meaning that initiates an appreciation for the labors, and creates an interest to spark multicultural perspectives Ultimately giving a platform for voices, empowering those voices around our world and in our collective and inviting others to support local communities, by the innate creativity within, impact-based buying, intentional living, project initiative based goods and conscious consumption to take a journey to places and step into their own empowerment in a global community of artisans and like-minded locals alike
A circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible
The sharing economy is a socio-economic system whereby consumers share in the creation, production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods, and services.
It conjures up the idea of something - or someone - that is tied to a particular area, but it is often also used as a shorthand for deep-rooted connections to a place that go beyond mere location.
We not only want to build a community of Locals and Travelers, and be the guiding hand for these connections, but we want to be the ones who directly connect the hands (and hearts) of early supply chain workers to the end-consumer individual. We want to be the platform that tells the stories of where these people are from, what their names are, what is their "Why," what current natural resources do they use? What are their challenges and hurdles, what are their concerns for the future of their community and people, and what do they want to share with the world
We then invite the end-consumer, traveler, or buyer, to the stages and invite them into their own empowerment and healing. We ask them what do you want to know about this specific community or culture? What do you want to know about the products you're buying? The stories you're hearing? How do you want to be a part of this community? Would you like to connect to other curious individuals like yourself, Locals around the world? Would it be of service to you to visit certain destinations, why? Slowly, we learn, and while learning, we build up the empathy between "us" and "them." We connect cultures, we become. a cross-cultural industry. We embed into industries that already exist, fashion, art, hotels, we get creative, in how we can support human-centric and heartcentric design tactics, to better people, planet, profit and humanity.
And we start by connecting Locals Artisans to Local Travelers around the world, and vice versa.
Picture this,
It's 2030
The world just worked towards as a collective our sustainability goals
We are now running carbon neutral
We have clean air, Cleaner oceans, Plentiful of healthy soil, manageable wildfires, and natural disasters,
We're exploring more Being more, Living more, Presently,
We slow down, from face paced urban settings and 5G, from technology, more this, doing more, consuming more,
and instead we are slowing down Creating more, having candid conversations with one another, living from a place of love, rather than fear Feeling borderless, and sustainable with where we are at, and where we are going We are thinking globally and acting locally Considering the effect we all have on one another, like dominos or ripples or but butterfly affect
OUR SURVEYS & INTERVIEWS LED US TO THE FRAMEWORK
Ourvisioninvolvescommunity. Fromtradeshowsandglobal networkstotheartisansand localspersonalcommunityon theground,withoutcommunity, theindividualwouldnothave thesupport,andnothavethe globalconnectionsrequiredin ourmodernworldtobe discovered,letalonebe successful.Weneedtowork togetherandco-createthe futurewewantforourplanet together,fromallbackgrounds, allheritages.Becausea sustainablefuture,requiresa greaterstrengththanone.One individualcancreateabutterfly effectofchange,butwemust allowconnectionswithothers tofacilitatetherealmagicof newworldsolutions,resources, conversationsandactivism.
Aswellas,tomoveforward withintention.Peopleare becomingmoreconsciousof theiractionsand consequences.It'sthe classicreduce,reuse, recycletothenextlevel. Peoplewanttoknowwhere theirgoodsarecomingfrom, tomakesurepeople.are beingtreatedfairly,tomake suretheirdollarisgoing towardsthegoodofallor many.Peoplewantabetter worldandhavethepowerto doso,dependingwherethey spendtheirmoney,orarea consumer.
WECANSEEACULTURE COMETOLIFEWITHIN THECREATIVITYTHAT LIVESONINFURNITURE, DESIGN,CRAFTSMANSHIP, ANDREALLYANYTHING WO(MEN)MADE
THROUGHTEXTILESOF DESIGNERSANDARTISAN ONE-OF-A-KIND CREATIONS,WESUSTAIN, KEEPANDCLAIMOUR HUMANNATUREWITH HANDMADEITEMSAND CREATIVECULTURAL PERSPECTIVESONART ANDDESIGN.
Maintainingcreativityfor Artisansiskeytowhy theydowhattheydo. Andperhapsthiscanbe appliedinearlysupply chainthroughmarketing (storytelling)toendconsumer.Givingartisans purpose,energy,joy.
Creative-thinking, creative-output,notonly tellsstoriesand preservesasenseof uniquenessthatattracts consumerstotheproduct inthefirstplace,aoneof-a-kind,meaningfulor memorablepiece.
Ecotourism,buying local(food,art,crafts)
Theseareallmediumsthat weaveinandsupport sustainabilitySustainability shouldn'tmeantostop consuming,itshouldmean startexperiencingnew waysofdoingthings,while creatingnewvaluesFrom eco-lodgesandhotelsto farming,tolocalartisans sharingtheirresourcesand makingitintosomethingof valuetoothers,wecan alwayscountonthetourism dollarandlookoutfor "madelocally"or"made withlove"thatgoesback andsupportscommunities aroundtheworld,rather thanhouseholdbigbrand names
Trainingand Education,Inclusivity
"The“EscuelaJohanna Ortiz”isanonsitetraining programfoundedin2016 Theaimistodevelop high-levelseamstress& high-endembroidery skills,buildinglocal knowledgeandtechnical skillsonHauteCouture andJOtechniquesAlso, todeveloplifeskillsand integraltrainingwith genderapproachfor vulnerablewomenand offerpsychosocial supporttoboosttheir personalempowerment andimprovetheirquality oflife"
MarketOpportunities
EquallyonlineandIRL
Aconsciouslycuratedmarketthat highlightspeoplethataredoing thingsininnovative,sustainable ways,justlookatbiodynamicwine farminginthe80s,revealswayshowersandpioneers(leaders) beforetheirtimethatdrive solutionsforwardforothersto learnfromandcreateturnkey solutionsandnewmarket opportunitiesforotherstobea partoftheirjourneyGivingthose aplacetosharetheirvoiceand marketopportunitiesforsmall hotelchainstoindividualsstrongly impactingtheircommunity,isnot onlydoinggood,butmightinspire moreandotherstodothesame
Theuseofnaturalresources, thepassingofancient traditionsontonextgen,those whoknowhowtoworkwiththe land,anequalgiveandreceive, extractingresourcesand nourishingthesustainabilityof howmuchtotakefromour naturalworld,thatworksfor qualityoverquantity,works withthesoil,livestockand preservesit,iseducatedin sustainablepractices,the supplychainweknowisto pleasethemass,butthesupply chainwewanttoseeinvolves...
SUSTAINABLEFUTURES= ASUSTAINABLEPRESENT CONSIDERSALL STAKEHOLDERS.
PEOPLE,PLANET,PROFIT
PLANTS,ANIMALS,NATURAL RESOURCES.
environmentalnetpositive imprints Wewanttohavethe consumerwantthis,justas muchasthemaker.The travelerjustasmuchasthe localsandthepeopleputtingin theeffortforsupplyinglocal food,takingcareoftheir naturalhabitats,resourcesand land.It'snowanon-negotiable. Theveilhasbeenlifted,and peopleexpectotherstoknow betteranddobetter.
The questions you made seem like they’re more more geared towards designers that work directly with artisans (like Namai! Wish you got to talk to Bianca more) but that’s also something I’d eventually love to do because caring about artisan made sustainable fashion is what led me down this path :)
As far as Krop Jeans goes I’m here to give new life to old denim It started as a hobby for me when I was in high school and took a pair of my brothers jeans and started experimenting with bleaching them (I never liked how brands designed “boyfriend jeans” for women men’s jeans have always been my go-to)
I was also a big fan of thrifting at that age thanks to my grandmothers influence, so I began collecting mens Levi’s from goodwill, etc
I never thought about it from a business perspective until I started working at my previous job at small, motherdaughter owned boutique in Westchester It was there that sparked my career passion to start my own boutique however, it was the day that I saw “The True Cost” that sparked the passion inside of me to want change the fashion industry
I began taking the ‘sustainable design entrepreneurs’ certificate program classes at FIT in 2015, when ‘sustainable fashion’ was seen as a Eileen Fischer aka “hippie”/“crunchy granola”/“paper bag fashion” and the only other brand that was gaining popularity as “sustainable” was Everlane (now huge LOL)
So the more I dove into these classes and started learning about what truly “sustainable” fashion meant (because it’s an oxymoron in itself tbh and I now don’t like using the word) I saw so much value in artisan made products. I then applied to finish my degree at FIT in their Entrepreneurship program to learn the business/consumer side, for ex Are consumer’s willing to pay higher prices for better quality, if so, what’s better quality than hand-made? I also loved the idea of supporting the craftsmanship that has been an integral part of the community these artisans live in Long story short, artisan and handmade clothing and goods is what got me on this journey. Vintage denim also carries so many stories. We all have multiple denim pieces and there’s no denying that the best denim is the old, worn-in, pre-loved denim Not only is the quality better but there’s sentiment behind it I then put my own love and spin on it to make them one-of-a-kind and pieces that I hope people will keep and pass on, just like artisan/hand-made products
And while I’m not working with artisans in other counties (yet), I’ve met so many amazing designers through the markets I sell at that are artisans themselves or work with artisans globally Selling at these high-end markets are also helping shift consumer behavior because they’re seeing the time/effort/value in investing in hand and artisan made goods There also seems to just be more of a desire to shop at markets like this in a post-covid world after being cooped up and away from human interaction for 2 years
All in all, I really believe there’s a major shift happening in the fashion world and it’s a great time to be in this space I’m also so stoked to meet people like you that care just as much and put effort in, like this project, because no matter how small part, it makes a difference
(Designer KC of Krop Jeans pictured left Bianca of Namai - India Artisinal Jackets designed in NYC pictured right
- Anonymous
"The Women represents a community of people. The framework, is designing something for the Women that's the bridge, to use. "
FRAMEWORK KEY
Core - I feel stimulated
Benefits - I feel connected. I feel expressive. I feel useful. I feel Intentional Features - Imperishable Resources. Innovative Collective. Captivating Spaces. Immersive Experiences.
Attributes - It is welcoming. It is exposure. It is inspirational. It is personal. It is perspective. It is expansive.
Users need to feel stimulated. The center and core of our framework based on our research findings is, "I Feel Stimulated." This is inspired by the New York City trade show aisles communed by areas and regions all around the world, seeing the people, furniture design, and the smell of espresso (for the Italians aisle).
To a more remote outdoor open-air market of 300+ vendors in Upstate New York, but to be transported to these makers stores, or countries based on the natural resources goods (Chaguar Skirt: made of several related species of South American plants sold here) from Northern Argentina, to the aroma of a lit Palo Santo stick emanating sacred cleansing smoke, and the joining of shared cups filled with Yerba Mate tea sipped throughout the day, it doesn't take a plane to feel the heart and soul of the people of Argentina and their country in the regions of Northern Argentina where the Wichí tribal group gathers and spun these natural resources.
Users need to feel connected. The key is to build a connection. There has to be a connection built between the hands of the early supply chain and end-consumer. There has to be a connection between what you are selling, and why someone wants to buy it, i e a meaningful purchase, a purchase evoked through the connection of a story, creating empathy and an invisible connection to this person that made a good. There has to be an interdependent connection between the items being sold, and the person they are sold to. And it's even more beneficial to walk away with connection between the bridge (salesperson, or storyteller), and the consumer (local, or buyer).
In phase two of designing this environment, or a different layer that works hand in hand, is if that person (the local) was traveling to that destination (when the local becomes a traveler) and is now in the environment the goods were made from, out of, i.e. farmland, and connecting now with the land, and people in the communities of artisans face-to-face, you've now given that consumer a full sensory experience on the grounds to feel connected to the bigger picture.
Users want to feel expressed. What we want is for people to feel safe enough and supported enough to express their creativity. As well as, express their voice. To not live in fear, but act out of a place of love. When people feel expressed, they are indeed able to access their highest form of expression. So whether that be an Artisan that is empowered as a woman in her home country to create and design and economically empowered to do so, that woman could be a woman in a state like New York, or a country like Argentina. It could be that the Artisan Community have the resources to express their world (culture, craft, traditions), or the Local end-consumer now dressed in their most expressed self in that moment because "The bridge" facilitated that environment, and buy by being the conduit for that consumer to try something on. It could also be that renowned designer that expresses her art through decorating with these locally sourced goods that invited in her fullest expression. The bottom line is, that all these individuals, feel expressive, and safe to do so
Users want to feel useful When we feel useful, it affirms a sense of purpose, accomplishment, maybe a little responsibility, and holds a sense of positive accountability for others. I think here, we can come back to the quote on our title slide. When The Bridge is given the tools in the framework to use they can feel useful. They are able feel useful, as in, they know their purpose, mission, accountability to communicate and be the face for their culture and community back home When speaking to someone at the fair in New York City - ICFF, from Argentina, they expressed how yes, they understood when suggested to increase their prices for their canvas lunch totes and hampers, but they informed, that $40 for a tote bag, would get them far back home. That it was indeed enough money. With their weekly inflations, in comparison to United States Citizens, they were happy with that sale, and it did make a difference to them. They feel useful when they're able to bring back home to their families, economy, community two twenty dollar bills for a product, nothing more was necessary. They "pull out the rabbits magic hat" when they need to figure things out And I, as the buyer in that situation, regret not making that purchase, because I could have felt useful now reflecting back on this story. But I hope for everyone else that day that reserved a tote bag on that shelf, felt useful too.
Here, we are referring to imperishable natural resources Resources from our natural world Clean water, clean air, fresh healthy soil The use of a manmade fire, the warmth it creates in a kiln to mold and structure clay for a mug used as a gift someone gets to enjoy their hot drink every morning and evening out of We can't afford to be not have our natural resources, and access to these. I think for me as the youngest millennial and oldest Gen Z born in 1996, my greatest fear for the future is wars over natural resources. And are we not already having these wars for oil? Have there not already been deaths of miners mining for precious gems that gave the name to no one wants to be a caged canary, who would be at the mercy and sacrifice as mines carried them down mine tunnels with them and if dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide collected in an area, the birds would decease first?
Are we not already at a global war, a silent war that has been getting louder and louder (thankfully) between indigenous, tribes, and natives to their lands to protect not just forests, but the Amazon rainforest that is the lungs for our breath? We want things that are made to last. We want to sustain our resources to be able to use them for years to come. Unless they are meant to be single-use, then we need innovation to be the guiding hand for end of life-cycle decomposing. One of my greatest lessons has been juicing, and connecting to the vegetables and then taking them into the backyard to decompose. Just look at mushrooms and all the benefits as earths greatest decomposers planted around nuclear plants to extract and break down chemicals.
Imperishable resources - keep natural resources protected, make things last, and decompose what needs to go back to the earth, the cycle of give and receive
The design features it is imperative, that we design these marketplaces online or offline, in real life, these activations experiences consumer touch-points to have these features and attributes, accounted for.
It is personal, from made-to-order items, to foraging for natural resources, to the community we build from this platform. It is expansive, because people are getting out of their heads and into their hearts It is exposure to new people, cultures, identities, beliefs, thoughts and perspectives It is welcoming because when we openly invite each other into our "Worlds", with open arms and embrace inclusion, we create magic.
Itisinspirationalbecausewearebringing ourselvesbacktonature,wearefinding ournatureagain,wearetakingamoment tofeelseeandhearancientwisdom We ourselvesareinspiredtocreate.Usingour owncreativityinourownlivesand supportingothersintheircreativepower Participatinginthesharingeconomy, circulareconomy,localeconomyandfor thefuture,thecaringeconomy simulatenouslyandtogether
To know where things come from Share the same values as those around her and the products she buys Have markets that feature ethically sourced, sustainably sourced, artisan handmade goods Have the insights to find places and destinations that work with local community Connect with a global community of likeminded individuals for broader perspectives and even greater global solutions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Continued access to natural resources
Protection of indigenous/ protected forests , land , etc.
Empowered to create , market and sell.
To be given the opportunity to story tell... through design and given the platform, voice to do so.
Seamstresses in Escuela
Johanna Ortiz/
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Black
Forbeingapartofthisjourneywithus.
Weareactivelyseekingpartnersfrominvestorsto hotels, retreats and local communities on the groundsandateam.-LocalsWorld
