Atelier Padonma
Atelier to bootstrap the Padonma Network.
The extremely decentralized design of the Padonma Network does mean that not all functions of a traditional CMO as satisfied. In particular there still needs to be authenticators of quality. Anyone can join the Network, so there is no quality control organization at the core off network because that would grant too much power to the confederation’s bureaucracy. So, the quality control functionality is farmed out to entities within the Padonma Network, the prototype of which is Atelier Padonma.
Within the context of the Padonma Network we have launched Atelier Podonma, a boutique fashion workshop which produces an extremely limited number of garments made of lotus fiber. Those garments are specifically based on traditional Burmese garment styles. Focusing on this niche focus keeps Atelier Padonma from competing with real fashion houses which will use lotus fiber and pays homage to the culture that invented lotus fiber.
The primary goal of Atelier Padonma is to function as an example of how the Padonma Network is intended to work. Profit is not the main goal of Atelier Padonma; garments are produced with the main goal of getting artists in the luxury fashion world to have their first hands-on experiences with lotus fiber fashion. If Atelier Padonma finds an audience within the haute couture world, that will be a nice bonus serving to motivate the real lotus fiber suppliers.
The Padonma Atelier makes only apparel
Many of these lotus farms and artisans create all manner of lotus products: teas, from the seeds they make the “Cajun peanut” and bracelets, flower prints, the leaves are used as food wraps, etc. This is excellent, responsible, optimal natural resource usage and should be encouraged, but selling those under the same brand as the apparel is not the way to the ateliers of the haute couture world :)
Earlier
As can be seen from the logo, Atelier Padonma is leading into the rMQR Codes as part of the brand identity, as there is an rMQR in the stem of the lotus. We also want to do this on some of the clothing. The band should be discretely visible to the observer. On skirts, the band runs along the inside of the outer edge of the fabric. The code can be seen peeking out as someone walks, or they can intentionally flip over that bit of the fabric to show the code to others. On scarfs the band is visible along one of the edges.
The Atelier serves primarily as a connector of small lotus fiber producers with the serious atelier’s of the global fashion capitals. Curiously it is the Big Four (Paris, Milan, London, and New York) that need more educating than the newer Asian markets such as Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong which seemingly have a slightly more elevated awareness of how luxurious and exclusive lotus fiber is.
So, yes, Atelier Padonma does indeed produce lotus fiber apparel but with the intent of getting the fabric touched by artisans at true ateliers. After photoshoots showing off the few garments that Atelier Padonma actually produces, the products end up in the hands of customers who want the garments but realize that what the reason they are paying haute couture prices is that they are actually funding the bootstrapping of the Padonma Network.
Or at least that is the plan; if things work out well perhaps Atelier Padonma becomes an real brand sourcing lotus fabric from suppliers at some scale to crank out garments. Notice that Atelier Padonma focuses on resort attire based on design that are historically Burmese. In this way we stay out of sectors which true fashion houses service while still having a focused theme to the atelier’s product line.
Business goal: connector and bootstrapper
It may well be that Atelier Padonma becomes a brand known for putting its name on excellent lotus fiber apparel sourced from various artisans, with the brand name serving as a proxy for quality, while simultaneously anyone is free to join the Padonma Network without any quality controls and no association or profit sharing with Atelier Padonma.
Further, there is nothing about the technology developed for the Padonma Network that is specific to lotus fiber. Any textile artisan who can handweave a QR code (which the Padonma Network has endevoured to make as easy as possible to adopt) can get on the network and asvertise their goods no matter what fiber they are made of. Atelier Padonma started on the lotus fiber part because its intense manual labor causing natural scarcity and novelty make it an excellent candidate for selling into the haute couture world.
Aesthetic goal: Burmese inspired but not folkloric
Quoting Jan-Jan Van Essche, ~“Build a pattern language based in the cultural roots but then without making it folkloric”
So, for example, the above Chinese style lotus jacket is quite a good looking piece but is simply something Padonma is not going to touch with a ten foot pole. Plus, Why Chinese netizens hate the Adidas Chinese jacket/.
(as amazing as the textile culture of Southeast Asian is some of it is simply too wildly folkloric to sell well to customers outside the region, except successful members of the diapora wishing to maintain a connection with their roots).