Hi, Stephanie; Have you investigated why Free People's prices are high: brand name or cost of doing the right thing? This and other research about how companies are implementing some of the strategies/mindsets mentioned by Thorpe could enhance your blog this week.
Really interesting, I too always look for the best bargain when shopping. In The designer's Atlas of Sustainability Ann Thorpe suggested a way to help the problem of harmful designs being cheaper. Essentially what we could do is place a price on the environment and charge those companies who harm it and use up resources. This extra charge would be reflected in their products making them more expensive than eco-friendly products.
Hi Ashley, Thanks for bringing that up! Companies are not taking into consideration the high price of harming our recourses. I mean, Mother Nature can't send them a bill charging them for their destruction! I agree with you, I think that once we start converting the destruction of the environment into monetary value, consumers will see the real price of buying cheap low quality products. But who do you think should be in charge of pricing the environment? Because if an organization like the WTO does it, the price will be altered to the convenience of the most powerful companies.
I loved reading your blogs every week. I really appreciate your views.
The Designers Atlas to Sustainability, by Thorpe, states "Sustainability carries on indefinitely.." Do you think that these companies have that mindset or is it in our culture to confuse 'sustainability' with 'short termism'?
We have a problem. Sustainability is like a snow ball rolling down a hill. Everyday we use up resources and waste them without thinking of the future consequences. The thing is that day by day we depend on these resources to make products and sustain our life. If we don't start controlling the wasteful actions that we are responsible for soon we are going to be in serious problems.
I think that some companies understand the real concept behind "sustainability" and creating a product that will preserve the environment. But there are others that design products to be sustainable for long enough to claim that it is sustainable. As far as Forever 21, I think that all they care about is profits, high profits and higher profits. And Free People... they are making an effort to bring sustainable products to the market.
Yes!I am a big fan of Free People. The demographic approach they have for the garments they sell is ideal. I love the fact that they target our generation. I don't think it's publicized enough about all the contributions they do.
Great blog! It never crossed my mind as to what the real reasons were behind low priced items. Knowing what I know now about Forever 21 it makes sense now why their clothes never last very long. I've owned items from there and I always seem to have some sore of problem with them after a few washes. Guess it does payoff to pay more when it come to helping sustainability.
This really connects with the aspect of longer lasting products that was discussed in our text. If products, such as apparel, were to be of better quality offering a longer product life then consumers consumption of apparel would lessen due to the quality products already in their closet! I love this! This is definitely an aspect that should be shared when promoting sustainability!
Definitely, but this is only a part of the problem. Think about how many T-shirts we have in our closet and how many we actually need. Like you have discussed in your blog, materialism. It's a huge problem! As consumers we want to have more than what is necessary to live. Think about a Louis Vuitton purse, high quality, will last for along time. But how many people in the world JUST have a LV purse in their closet? I doubt that there are any. If a person can afford a LV purse they expected to own more than one high quality purse.
Hi, Stephanie;
ReplyDeleteHave you investigated why Free People's prices are high: brand name or cost of doing the right thing? This and other research about how companies are implementing some of the strategies/mindsets mentioned by Thorpe could enhance your blog this week.
Really interesting, I too always look for the best bargain when shopping. In The designer's Atlas of Sustainability Ann Thorpe suggested a way to help the problem of harmful designs being cheaper. Essentially what we could do is place a price on the environment and charge those companies who harm it and use up resources. This extra charge would be reflected in their products making them more expensive than eco-friendly products.
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
DeleteThanks for bringing that up! Companies are not taking into consideration the high price of harming our recourses. I mean, Mother Nature can't send them a bill charging them for their destruction!
I agree with you, I think that once we start converting the destruction of the environment into monetary value, consumers will see the real price of buying cheap low quality products.
But who do you think should be in charge of pricing the environment? Because if an organization like the WTO does it, the price will be altered to the convenience of the most powerful companies.
I loved reading your blogs every week. I really appreciate your views.
ReplyDeleteThe Designers Atlas to Sustainability, by Thorpe, states "Sustainability carries on indefinitely.." Do you think that these companies have that mindset or is it in our culture to confuse 'sustainability' with 'short termism'?
Thanks Nicota,
DeleteWe have a problem. Sustainability is like a snow ball rolling down a hill. Everyday we use up resources and waste them without thinking of the future consequences. The thing is that day by day we depend on these resources to make products and sustain our life. If we don't start controlling the wasteful actions that we are responsible for soon we are going to be in serious problems.
I think that some companies understand the real concept behind "sustainability" and creating a product that will preserve the environment. But there are others that design products to be sustainable for long enough to claim that it is sustainable. As far as Forever 21, I think that all they care about is profits, high profits and higher profits. And Free People... they are making an effort to bring sustainable products to the market.
Yes!I am a big fan of Free People. The demographic approach they have for the garments they sell is ideal. I love the fact that they target our generation. I don't think it's publicized enough about all the contributions they do.
DeleteI agree! Maybe if they publicized it more they could attract more customers!
DeleteGreat blog! It never crossed my mind as to what the real reasons were behind low priced items. Knowing what I know now about Forever 21 it makes sense now why their clothes never last very long. I've owned items from there and I always seem to have some sore of problem with them after a few washes. Guess it does payoff to pay more when it come to helping sustainability.
ReplyDeleteExactly! In the long run we are paying more to buy low quality products!
DeleteThis really connects with the aspect of longer lasting products that was discussed in our text. If products, such as apparel, were to be of better quality offering a longer product life then consumers consumption of apparel would lessen due to the quality products already in their closet! I love this! This is definitely an aspect that should be shared when promoting sustainability!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, but this is only a part of the problem. Think about how many T-shirts we have in our closet and how many we actually need. Like you have discussed in your blog, materialism. It's a huge problem! As consumers we want to have more than what is necessary to live. Think about a Louis Vuitton purse, high quality, will last for along time. But how many people in the world JUST have a LV purse in their closet? I doubt that there are any. If a person can afford a LV purse they expected to own more than one high quality purse.
Delete