This project is now being developed by the Industrial and Graphic Design School at Universidad de Las Américas in Quito (Ecuador) along with two government institutions.

At the University, all projects engaged with local communities are aimed to seek real solutions for social and economic problems with the application of academic knowledge. In this particular project the School is working with a group of 20 textile manufacturers that have small business in Quito but lack a methodological design among their process. Most of them don’t have a logo, packaging, proper stamps, web pages and, specially, products that stand out from the competition. Most of them work as maquilas, making less than $8 a day. Others have designed clothes but their design has been stolen by other people because they don’t incorporate any label on them. Finally, they have lost money investing in some products that cannot compete with all the clothes that come from China, India, Pakistan, etc.

Therefore, this project has established to develop six results: brand book, new design products according with what the textile manufacturers have done in the past, packaging, photos, web page and a final one-day business round table with top company executives who may be interested in buying their products. We have finished the first five results with excellent outcomes. The method has been connecting one student with one manufacturer in five different subjects along 18 months. Now is the time for the business round table.

We would like to start with a fashion show followed by the round table where all the guests will be invited to talk with our 20 textile manufacturers and, hopefully, close a deal. The work has not always being easy, and it is hard to resume all our meetings and results in one statement.

We invite you to visit our blog; even though is in Spanish, you will be able to see some of our work: