INTENTIONAL BUSINESS DESIGN -- In a world of mass consumption where scale and frequency are often prioritized over quality and good design, the Houdini philosophy, of both product and business, becomes something radically different. The Houdini Designers Checklist: • Is it versatile enough? • Will it age with beauty? • Nothing added that isn’t needed, right? • Will it be easy to repair? • Is it durable enough for our rental program? • Do we have an ”end-of-life” solution? The term “sustainability” gets bandied about abusively, with many companies trying to retro-fit it as a core part of their brand story. Arriving late and inauthenticly to the conversation, with nothing new or productive to add to the movement. Houdini Sportswear however, is a strong example of a brand that truly incorporates sustainability concepts -- and more importantly -- sustainability practices into its business model and product creation lifecycle. And it has been doing so since day one. The apparel and outerwear brand got its start in 1993 in Stockholm, Sweden and is a women-led company formed from a shared idea among friends to create clothing that wouldn't harm the planet. >> Living Large With Less << At the end of 2016 Houdini leadership finalized a roadmap for their journey ahead. The final details to the plan, including some big, hairy and audacious goals, were co-created by the Houdini team and a selected few inspiring dreamers, thought-leaders and change-makers in the beautiful nature reserve Nordmarka, just outside Oslo. This roadmap sets its goals against the background of 2066, thinking multi-decade, and multi-generationally. Honorable. Beautiful. Humanistic. You can dive into it here: https://lnkd.in/d-XwdQDV Hats off to Houdini and eva karlsson for matching ambition with action, vision with art and science, business with nature. 🚀
Hannah Bahl
10mo
Max Hirschl you’ll like this example!
Houdini Sportswear AB
10moSurprised and super grateful for your deep dive Katie Dreke and for you words 💚 To give credit where credit is due, our trail map towards 2066 is merely an attempt at incorporating the philosophical movement ‘deep ecology’ into our work and way of life. It was pure serendipity that among the thought leaders and change makers that gathered in Nordmarka was Nils Faarlund, a philosopher, friend and fellow mountaineer. 50 years earlier he together with Arne Næss had formulated a deep ecology declaration while on a climbing trip to Stetind🌱 The wisdom, beauty and direction of the Stetind Declaration was a pivotal moment for me personally. Instead of trying to describe it I’ll share it in the comments. It’s well worth a read and reflection🌎🌱❄️🕊️💚 https://houdinisportswear.com/en-us/journal/nils-faarlund-and-the-stetind-declaration