Locals World Research Magazine

Vol. 01 Insight Translation Book

the bridge between there and here.

2023

The Lost + Found. Our Research Findings

World, Women, Wear

Locals W.

Ode to

Meet your Local, and in this case, Researcher.

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.

Sustainability 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.

I T ' S

T I M E

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

DEAR ARTISANS, a love letter to artisans around the world.

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.

Dear Artisans, S E A R C H

N O

F U R T H E R

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.

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.

DEAR LOCALS, a love letter to artisans around the world.

Dear Locals, W E

U N D E R S T A N D .

We understand. We understand you have dreams.

We understand your values, that you have challenges,

We want to be the bridge, for what's 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.

that you want to be more impactful. That you want

We see a world that is in the invisible. First we want to peel back the layer of darkness in the supply

to be the change you want to see in the world. That

chain and shine a light on those hearts and hands at the very beginning of the supply chain.

you believe in the future of humanity, that you care deeply about the planets overall well-being and your

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.

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

We know this world can be a bit overwhelming. And we're 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,

points from the rest of the world, maybe different

Artisans to Consumers, via storytelling through design. We know the power that energy exchanges,

perspectives. We understand that some of you don't

money, has in this world. We want to channel resources from one place to the other, as we thread

want to be put in a box. That you are so much more than your job title, and the city you live in.

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.

0 7

The bridge "Partners, designers, representatives, who stands in the gap between artisans and locals, we need more people like them."

Define "The bridge" 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.

BRIDGE CONNECT

CREATE IMPACT BECOME

belong

Empathy within Buying + Our Intent Statement 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.

Our Intent Statement 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.

CIRC

Y OM

E C R O A N L U 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

SHAR RING ECO NOMY

The sharing economy is a socio-economic system whereby consumers share in the creation, production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods, and services.

"Local Economy"

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.

Caring Economy

early supply chain UNVEILING THE CURTAIN IN THE SUPLY CHAIN 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.

TRAVEL

SHOP

CONNECT

SUSTAINABLE come-unity BRANDS 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, <OCALS WORLD

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.

RESEARCH INSIGHTS RESEARCH

RESEARCH

PERSPECTIVE

OUR SURVEYS & INTERVIEWS LED US TO THE FRAMEWORK

PERSPECTIVE

COMMUNITY AND BELONGING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR LIVES + THE CONNECTIONS.

BELONGING X COMMUNITY Our vision involves community.

From trade shows and global networks to the artisans and locals personal community on the ground, without community, the individual would not have the support, and not have the global connections required in our modern world to be discovered, let alone be successful. We need to work together and co-create the future we want for our planet together, from all backgrounds, all heritages. Because a sustainable future, requires a greater strength than one. One individual can create a butterfly effect of change, but we must allow connections with others to facilitate the real magic of new world solutions, resources, conversations and activism.

05

DISCOVERY NO.

TO BE A POSITIVE IMPACT MOVING FORWARD WITH INTENTION

04

DISCOVERY NO.

People want to be Impactful As well as, to move forward with intention. People are becoming more conscious of their actions and consequences. It's the classic reduce, reuse, recycle to the next level.

People want to know where their goods are coming from, to make sure people. are being treated fairly, to make sure their dollar is going towards the good of all or many. People want a better world and have the power to do so, depending where they spend their money, or are a consumer.

MiiR x Bean Voyage and the Care Trade Model

CREATIVITY BECOMES UNIQUENESS

WE CAN SEE A CULTURE COME TO LIFE WITHIN THE CREATIVITY THAT LIVES ON IN FURNITURE, DESIGN, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND REALLY ANYTHING WO(MEN)MADE. THROUGH TEXTILES OF DESIGNERS AND ARTISAN ONE-OF-A-KIND CREATIONS, WE SUSTAIN, KEEP AND CLAIM OUR HUMAN NATURE WITH HANDMADE ITEMS AND CREATIVE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON ART AND DESIGN.

For Artisans Maintaining creativity for Artisans is key to why they do what they do.

And perhaps this can be applied in early supply chain through marketing (storytelling) to endconsumer. Giving artisans purpose, energy, joy.

Creative- thinking, creative- output, not only tells stories and preserves a sense of uniqueness that attracts consumers to the product in the first place, a oneof-a-kind, meaningful or memorable piece.

03

DISCOVERY NO.

BESPOKE DESIGNS

SUPPORTING LOCAL (AROUND THE WORLD)

02

DISCOVERY NO. Ecotourism, buying local (food, art, crafts) These are all mediums that weave in and support sustainability. Sustainability shouldn't mean to stop consuming, it should mean start experiencing new ways of doing things, while creating new values. From eco-lodges and hotels to farming, to local artisans sharing their resources and making it into something of value to others, we can always count on the tourism dollar and look out for "made locally" or "made with love" that goes back and supports communities around the world, rather than household big brand names.

Training and Education, Inclusivity.

"The “Escuela Johanna Ortiz” is an onsite training program founded in 2016.

The aim is to develop high-level seamstress & high-end embroidery skills, building local knowledge and technical skills on Haute Couture and JO techniques. Also, to develop life skills and integral training with gender approach for vulnerable women and offer psychosocial support to boost their personal empowerment and improve their quality of life."

Market Opportunities Equally online and IRL

A consciously curated market that highlights people that are doing things in innovative, sustainable ways, just look at biodynamic wine farming in the 80s, reveals wayshowers and pioneers (leaders) before their time that drive solutions forward for others to learn from and create turnkey solutions and new market opportunities for others to be a part of their journey. Giving those a place to share their voice and market opportunities for small hotel chains to individuals strongly impacting their community, is not only doing good, but might inspire more and others to. do the same.

01

SUSTAINABILITY. HUMANS+ OUR NATURAL WORLD.

DISCOVERY NO.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The use of natural resources, the passing of ancient traditions onto next gen., those who know how to work with the land, an equal give and receive, extracting resources and nourishing the sustainability of how much to take from our natural world, that works for quality over quantity, works with the soil, livestock and preserves it, is educated in sustainable practices, the supply chain we know is to please the mass, but the supply chain we want to see involves...

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES = A SUSTAINABLE PRESENT. CONSIDERS ALL STAKEHOLDERS. PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFIT PLANTS, ANIMALS, NATURAL RESOURCES.

MINIMAL FOOTPRINT FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT environmental net positive imprints. We want to have the consumer want this, just as much as the maker. The traveler just as much as the locals and the people putting in the effort for supplying local food, taking care of their natural habitats, resources and land. It's now a non-negotiable.

The veil has been lifted, and people expect others to know better and do better.

Local New York Artisan KC @KropJeans New York 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.

The Framework

"The Women represents a community of people.

The framework, is designing something for the Women that's the bridge, to use."

- Anonymous

It is welcoming. is It

Useful

It is perspective.

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.

It i sp e r s o n a l.

Innovative Collective

Immersive Experiences

Expressive

It is expansive.

I feel Stimulated.

It is inspirational.

Intentional

Captivating Spaces

Connected

. re su po ex

Imperishable Resources

I feel stimulated.

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.

I

d

n o n c ect l e e fe

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.

I

e

p x r e e s l s e i v e f

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.

u s l e e ful e f I 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.

Imp

s rce

ble res a h ou ir s e

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.

ating S v i t p ap

Experience s e ve ctiv

Immer s e si c a 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.

C

Inno v

ve Colle i t a

in

It elcom

ive

spiration n I a g,

ersonal l, P

It is, exposure.

W

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.

pan x E s is

It is inspirational because we are bringing ourselves back to nature, we are finding our nature again, we are taking a moment to feel see and hear ancient wisdom. We ourselves are inspired to create. Using our own creativity in our own lives and supporting others in their creative power.

Participating in the sharing economy, circular economy, local economy and for the future, the caring economy... simulatenously and together.

The Local Buyer + Travelers Ideal Experience

1. To know where things come from 2. Share the same values as those around her and the products she buys 3. Have markets that feature ethically sourced, sustainably sourced, artisan handmade goods 4. Have the insights to find places and destinations that work with local community 5. Connect with a global community of likeminded individuals for broader perspectives and even greater global solutions.

The Local Artisans Ideal Experience

1. Access to Marketplaces (audience reach) 2. Continued access to natural resources 3. Protection of indigenous/ protected forests, land, etc.

4. Empowered to create, market and sell.

5. To be given the opportunity to story tell... through design and given the platform, voice to do so.

Seamstresses in Escuela Johanna Ortiz/

Thank you For being a part of this journey with us.

We are actively seeking partners from investors to hotels, retreats and local communities on the grounds and a team. - Locals World