I think one of the most inspiring elements of our world for me is fashion.
I believe I have my wife to thank for this increased appreciation for fashion design. In fact, not only do I appreciate it more but I dress better too (she picks out my wardrobe and buys me clothes).
That’s why I have a couple of fashion blogs in my RSS reader that seriously inspire me and why current fashion websites and new ones, like Fashion Stake, really excite me, especially if they combine some technological edge…
Even though Fashion Stake isn’t even launched yet I’m already pretty pumped about the concept. Launching September 1st, the service will allow customers to decide which fashions go from sample into actual retail.
Designers can post photo samples and users then support the lines by purchasing a $50 dollar stake. Make enough and they go into production.
That’s pretty freaking neat if you ask me. As one review calls it, it’s “crowd-funding.” I like that concept. I bet the Church could learn a thing or two from this type of online engagement.
What if we we’re to be able to use the power of the crowds and our networks to be proving grounds for new ministries, organizations, and even church plants? Radical concept? I think so.
Does fashion inspire you? What’s your take?
Eric Frisch says
Showbread just did this… they announced that their next record would be self-released and basically asked their fans to fund it in advance. Said they needed to raise $13,000 in 90 days and they did it in 8! Talk about crowd funding!
Adam Lehman says
My thoughts: great idea. won’t work.
Fashion is one of those areas that people have opinions about, but they don’t want to be the authority making decisions. They want an “expert” to tell them what to do, wear, prefer, and enjoy.
There are several other environments where this is true: apple products, cars, medical decisions, theology.
oschurch says
Cool. Just another way “open source culture” is changing the way we live life and do business.
While I agree with Adam that right now the culture is full of people that just want good marketing to tell them what to do, I believe the next generation (at least a large minority) will be different in that they will search for more uniqueness and technology will help them (unlike prior cultures) accomplish it. They will be able to not just vote on designs from others, but actually put together their own designs. This way they can customize things to fit their taste and also know that no one else has the exact same thing. They will search for uniqueness and open source culture and new economics will allow them to find it in many places that were impossible before now.
Kevin
http://opensourcechurch.com