whomadeyourpants? a brand new business in Southampton is looking for some designs and patterns. Would YOU like to help empower marginalised women AND get a new business off the ground?
whomadeyourpants? will be a worker co-operative, empowering marginalised women by providing flexible employment, education and a social and community space. It will do this by manufacturing low impact pants, for women, men, and, eventually, children. It aims to show that sweatshops and the conditions they allow are not the only way to make great underwear, and to show people that they can have traceability in clothes as well as food. As a worker co-op, the workers will own and manage the business democratically - this is not just about providing jobs but about real empowerment. Initial funding has been received, but now there is a rush to get designs so we can get patterns, and then start training the women who will be making YOUR pants!
Right now, the project is looking for two categories of designs/patterns - women's and men's. In all cases, we are looking for something simple and quite basic - easily replicable, to form our house style.
In women's, we're after a short, a thong, and a brief, in sizes 6 - 20.
In men's we're after a jersey short, a loose boxer short and a brief. Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL. XXL.
In all cases we would be looking for both the design and the ability to turn it into a pattern at our premises so we can get cracking on cutting out pieces as soon as we have material!
There can be NO cash or other payment for the designs BUT no matter how many other styles join the range later on, these three initial shapes will form the base items that are always in use by the co-op (barring massive shape shifts in the UK population, of course) and the designer will be credited permanently and will be named as a 'without the generosity of this person the co-op would not have happened' person. Their name will be in all the press to do with the launch, and they will be credited on the website and in the company story and anywhere else it fits. A contract will be put in place to honour and manage this.
It is anticipated that one designer will be picked for each category, to make sure there is a coherent feel to the garments. Entrants are free to enter one or both categories and may enter as many times as they like.
Designs must be submitted by email to [email protected] by midnight of 28th February. By entering this competition you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of it, which can be found here
Download the competition entry form here.
Proud to be a workers co-op empowering marginalised women by providing employment, education, social and community space.