The WAN WHY, WHO and HOW Some background information about the We Are Numbers project.
One Night Stands.
Fashion companies like Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, Dior and many others used to present their catwalk collections every half year in cities like Paris, Milan, London, etc. If it was up to them our entire wardrobe should change with the seasons: every half year completely new outfits.
Now companies like Zara and H&M are creating collections at an even faster pace. If it’s up to them we should throwaway our wardrobe and buy us an entire new one every six weeks. Or even faster.
Of course I understand their (profitable!) strategy. As I’m a designer myself I recognize the love for innovation and creation of new styles. However as I see fashion industry speeding up and seeing people buying t-shirts for one night, I’m asking myself where it ends. Should we create disposable “one night stand” fashion? With low quality, low costs and low ethics. Or are there more sustainable ways to create innovative fashion without the quick degradation of the product?
Fashion divides us.
At the same time I see people buying expensive branded clothing as a way of showing status. As if one’s identity is solely depending on the possession of these branded goods. Companies are investing largely in their marketing campaigns and many people are blindly buying that. As if they were inferior, without it.
Of course there are many people who can afford this luxury, but there are also many who can’t. Some of these latter ones accept that. But some others force themselves in to massive debts. Why do we do these things to ourselves?
Recreating a new culture.
Why is this fashion system so f4ck3d up? And why are we so stupid to keep following it?
With We Are Numbers I’m trying to investigate how to create an improved fashion culture. Where the company (me) is creating only one (1!) design and tries to keep that innovative and exciting for as long as possible. Furthermore the company should be more humble. It should accept and promote that people are different. That is there no need to create an image. We are all beautiful as we are!
Symbols.
One graphic print means: we are all the equal.
Everyone has a different number: we are all unique.
The number system gives us some idea of how the project evolves and may give us some feeling of being together.
Your picture connected with your link gives everyone an idea of who you are - you may even want to contact each other?
The simple design of the website makes it easy to grasp and quick to moderate.
Who is behind it.
There is no
big company behind We Are Numbers. It’s developed by Twan Verdonck. A dutch
young designer who lives in Antwerp, Belgium. He wears the number one and makes
your tee. More info here:
Money.
Your 25 euros are spend on:
-the t-shirt
-two printing rounds (one of them is done by hand)
-three fixating rounds (so the paint won’t come off with washing)
-an information printout that comes with your tee
-Paypal fees
-website hosting
-a small fee to support other artists that get involved
-a small fee to supply tees for free for people who cannot afford to buy one
-a small fee for me ‘cos I update the site, answer all emails, make, pack and ship your tee
Numbers on request.
You cannot request a specific number. It's a surprise!
Shipment.
The price of the t-shirt is 25 euros. Shipping (worldwide) and packing is 5 euro. So one price for everyone!
U.F.O.
Some (not all!) packages will include an extra "unexpected fancy object". It can be ANYTHING that number one wants to give away. This little object may inspire you to make your We Are Numbers photo or video (???)
Production.
All tees are made in Belgium by number 1. To give you an impression have a look at this Youtube video!
Photos/videos.
All people who buy a We Are Numbers t-shirt should submit a photo or video. It’s a privilege. And also a very important gesture towards other We Are Numbers members.
If you don’t want to send something in, then your number may be reissued again after some point in time. And you cannot claim it back.
Why should I join We Are Numbers?
It’s fun!
Great unique t-shirt.
You may wanna make new friends?
You may want to show your website to others?
You may appear in a book (first 1000 participants)
You are part of an art project!
Or as one satisfied participant wrote:
“Dear
Number 1, here are the pictures...I am gonna to send you more than one...you can
choose the one you think is better! I wanna just to tell you three things:
1) all the girls here loved your t-shirt and they asked me the address of the
website to join in!
2) your t-shirt is bloody lucky! Yesterday I had one of the best days (and
nights...) of my life!
3) your t-shirt makes me big boobs...could I have other four please? ;)))
take care, and have a lot of fun!!
Number 19"
More info.
Email:
Website:
What others say:
www.wearenumbers.com/press-archive.htm
Order.