Fab Labs—Democratizing Manufacturing, Spurring Entrepreneurism


November 30th, 2011 | Filed under: Motiv | No Comments »

While traveling through the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil last week, I often found myself dwelling on the challenges and intricacies of the supply chains of various goods and services in both the densely populated cities and the sparse, remote areas that I visited. As far as emerging markets are concerned, Brazil is one of the most developed, but its infrastructure—though rapidly developing—and its trade policies dictate that goods are often priced at a premium to their perceived fair market value. For years, multinationals have struggled with the challenges confronting distribution in markets such as Brazil, but what about the local entrepreneurs and manufacturers?

I spent two days on Ilha Grande, an island paradise a few kilometers away from the mainland, 45 minutes by high-speed water taxi. Everything anyone could need – tourists and locals alike – had to be brought in by boat. I watched from the pier as crates of food, souvenirs and various widgets were hauled in by hand, one load at a time. Not only are these goods more expensive because of the high costs incurred in transporting them to an island – as Manhattanites can testify – but they also dictate a larger environmental footprint.

"Downtown" Ilha Grande

I was reminded of a recent talk at Digital Capital Week where RTKL architect Kashuo Bennett discussed the concept of “fab labs”, small-scale fabrication laboratories that democratize manufacturing by providing local innovators with access to digital fabrication technology and rapid prototyping.  Fab Labs, which originated in MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms, have opened in dozens of countries around the world, and their potential applications in developing countries and remote regions are particularly interesting. Instead of paying significant premiums to move goods around the world to places such as Ilha Grande, perhaps local entrepreneurs could harness local Fab Labs to design, develop, and manufacture products. Continue Reading»



5 Key Reasons the Fashion Industry Should Go Green


October 13th, 2011 | Filed under: Motiv | 1 Comment »

The fashion industry leaves an immensely destructive trail in its wake, from harmful pesticides used in growing and manipulating fabrics to the leached chemicals from toxic dyes; from the energy required to care for each article of clothing, to the landfill impact of worn-out clothes.  Conventional cotton alone requires a third of a pound of chemicals to make just one t-shirt.  How many t-shirts do you have sitting in your drawers?

The sustainability movement has built momentum over the last decade, but the fashion industry has been especially slow to address such concerns.  The lag can partially be attributed to the fact that the goals of consumption and those of environmentally friendly fashion seem to be fundamentally at odds.  Apparel companies have been profiting hugely from “fast fashion”; that is, selling low-cost garments whose shelf-life is, by design, short-lived.  This business model is economically and environmentally unsustainable, and fashion houses and garment manufacturers in general need to make changes if they want to maintain growth and be successful in the future.

There has to be a better way!

Read on for 5 reasons why apparel companies should be paying closer attention to sustainability: Continue Reading»