All otnek&ebanat products are made to order. In this article, we will explain why we make products by made-to-order production.
1: Mass waste and environmental issues
2: Benefits of Made-to-Order Production
3: Disadvantages of made-to-order production and solutions
4: Summary
1: Mass waste and environmental issues
While the fashion industry has the appealing aspect of creating new trends every season, it is said to be the second most polluting industry in the world after the oil industry.
Based on the premise that "fashion items are disposable," brands and manufacturers mass-produce products that match the trends.
It is common for many brands to produce more than they need in order to reduce sales opportunities and manufacturing costs, resulting in a large amount of inventory. This results in a large amount of unsold inventory being discarded at the end of the season.
The cycle of overproduction and mass waste is at the core of the system that supports the modern fashion industry.
Mountains of discarded clothing from around the world. Image source: What does the term "fast fashion" really mean? (price-energy.com)
2: Advantages of made-to-order production
Made-to-order production can solve the problem of overproduction all at once. It is a system that provides "only what is needed, to those who need it," making it possible to produce without excess or shortage. Here are three advantages:
①No overproduction
Made-to-order production produces only what is in demand, eliminating overproduction. This eliminates all the problems of price cuts due to unsold stock and waste due to overproduction.
2) Reducing environmental impact
Overproduction wastes a lot of resources, but it also reduces raw material waste and saves water and energy, which reduces the burden on the environment.
③Customization
Since we manufacture products after receiving an order, individual customization is possible. We offer two customization services: [ otnek By You ] and [Alphabet Engraving Service] . In this way, customers can purchase custom products that match their personality and style.
3: Disadvantages of made-to-order production and solutions
There are also disadvantages to made-to-order production. One is that you can't get the product right away when you want it. Sometimes I feel bad that I can't deliver it to customers who want it right away. However, it's precisely because we live in a modern society where many things are readily available that we want people to think carefully before making a purchase, rather than buying on impulse. We want people to use our products for a long time and cherish them. With this in mind, I want to build a brand that advocates "slow fashion."
Another disadvantage is that, contrary to mass production, which makes manufacturing more efficient and reduces manufacturing costs, it takes extra time and effort to handle individual orders one by one . This increases manufacturing costs, and so does the price of the product. To address this issue, we are trying to optimize prices in two ways.
1. Sell products directly online
As the manufacturer, we sell directly to our customers, without any middlemen, which helps us to adjust for increased manufacturing costs.
Image source: How fulfillment for D2C e-commerce will help you scale fast (frisbo.eu)
②By allowing customers to choose delivery dates, we can streamline production to meet demand
At otnek&ebanat, we offer a range of delivery dates for orders, with different prices for each delivery date. Regular orders are at a fixed price, and by choosing a delivery date that is longer than normal, we can offer the product at a lower price. By allowing more time for production, we can make a certain number of orders at once, which makes production more efficient. Waiting is not only eco-friendly, but it also helps to streamline manufacturing and reduce costs.
For people who are not normally involved in manufacturing, this system may be unfamiliar and difficult to understand, and it is still experimental to see how well it will work from a manufacturing perspective, but this model is an attempt to bring the system of made-to-order production as close as possible to the manufacturing process that is made more efficient through mass production.
4: Summary
First of all, we love fashion. We know that the fun and excitement of impulsive shopping makes people feel happy. However, because it is a huge industry, it has a great influence, and I think that the negative aspects need to be improved in line with the times. "Sustainable" seems to be a buzzword, but I think that brands, material manufacturers, and people in various positions are actually aiming to become a sustainable industry through various measures. And our proposal is this made-to-order system. The spread of made-to-order consumption will reduce the problems of overproduction and mass waste, and also reduce the environmental burden. I am convinced that this will be one of the catalysts for the fashion industry to move closer to a sustainable industry.
We hope that your consumption experience at otnek&ebanat , where prices change depending on delivery date, will help you take a step towards a new world.