Product Experience
Problem Space
Problem Statement
How can we make it easy for people to buy, sell, rent, and give away clothes within a community to adopt sustainable fashion?
Problem Background
Fabric waste has been a problem since the 90s. Statistics reveal that over 92 million tonnes of textiles are disposed of each year, and this number is increasing steadily. The environmental ramifications are severe, as synthetic fabrics can take up to 200 years to decompose, emitting harmful chemicals during the process.
Though the world is trying to solve this problem, the rate at which fabric disposals have increased has only exacerbated the issue. According to TRT AFRIKA, the fabric dumping problem has led to pollution, water contamination, health problems, job losses, and economic hardship. Not to mention the amount of water used to make clothes is enormous. A 2017 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that the industry consumes around 2.6 percent of the world’s freshwater, highlighting its significant environmental impact.
While people around the world are concerned about the environment, pollution and wastage, their support for sustainable fashion tends to vary. A KPMG report says that the net support of the concept is at 49 percent in Tokyo, 55 percent in New York, 54 percent in London, and 71 percent in Hong Kong, with Shanghai in the lead at 90 percent. Young people – especially those aged 18-24 – are most supportive of sustainable fashion.
Research Insights
Supporting Data
While conducting my surveys, 3 out of 5 people were supportive of the concept whereas 2 out of 2 people interviewed said that they always think about buying pre-owned clothes but don’t seem to find a safe way to do so.
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Soham Patankar
Co.Lab experience has been a wonderful one for me. I am not from a technical background so getting a chance to be a part of a Product Management cohort is a dream. The way the program is structured forces us to think and design a strategy to develop a product. Though my idea was vague, I learned the process of thinking like a product manager which will help me in the future.
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.