Why pre-order?
If you haven't heard the news yet (in which case, we strongly encourage you to follow us on Instagram ), we recently launched our first collection of woven leather bags! This new range, made up of three creations to discover right here, is entirely handmade in Mexico. What we wanted? Timeless models without neglecting our signature braiding, versatile creations that adapt to all situations, and of course, beautiful details because we know how much they make a difference in your eyes.
We quickly considered offering this collection for pre-order initially. This new approach to sales, which is beginning to become more widespread, offers many advantages, and we thought that November was the perfect time to explain it all to you via a new blog post.
Why November in particular? Because it's also the month of Black Friday, symbolizing the slew of bad consumer practices that we know . At Mapache, we want to go against this system in order to imagine a fashion that is more respectful of people and the planet . This year, we have decided to consolidate this approach by joining Make Friday Green Again , a collective initiated by the Faguo brand and aimed at raising awareness of the impact of consumption on the climate.
At the office, we quickly identified with this movement since we regularly invite our community to adopt good habits: more responsible purchases, taking care of the pieces we already own or recycling clothes we no longer wear. We are aware that it is complicated to be irreproachable and it is not our goal, but we always hope to do the best we can .
So this is where pre-ordering comes in: in this article, we will transparently explain the facets of this system and the advantages it presents both for us and for you: our community of #MapacheAddicts!
When we asked you on Instagram, we realized that many of you have never taken the plunge into pre-ordering . Some were unfamiliar with this system, others found it too slow... Indeed, when you pre-order an item, production is carried out after your purchase and you receive the precious sesame a few weeks later. In other words, we are reversing the current model recently accentuated by the frenetic pace of fast-fashion and its new collections put online every week. Here, we only manufacture what we need .
Pre-ordering is shaking up the codes and, above all, our habits. We like to see it as a breath of fresh air in a world where fashion is one of the most polluting industries. It invites us to rethink the scale of time and to redefine our relationship with consumption . Finally, we note that it embodies a beneficial and necessary breaking point in the landscape of tomorrow's brands .
- On the subject of sustainable fashion, we recommend reading this article written by the Pachamama team, a great backpack brand whose values are close to ours.
First of all, because this system is part of our history . Like many companies that have launched in the last ten years, we started the Mapache adventure on the crowdfunding platform Ulule . This allowed us to embody and realize our commitments from the very first days of the brand , in particular by "testing" our shoes with our customers: an excellent way to avoid overproducing if you don't like the product (luckily, you loved our creations!).
We also made this choice because our brand status allows us to be a full player in this industry. We play a decisive role for the future and we want to be on the right side of history. Inviting our customers to consume less but better is certainly a positive act, however we consider that it is above all our duty to start by producing less but better . Without the concrete application of this decision and the exemplary value on the part of the brands, it will be difficult to break this vicious circle.
That's why we're committed to breaking with the trend phenomenon. Thanks to pre-ordering, we're repositioning the value of the product at the center of the purchasing process. Say goodbye to disposable fashion and waste : this system, which forces us to wait for our package for several weeks, also forces us to break away from the pattern imposed by fast fashion. At Mapache, we want to offer you pieces created to last !
A change of perspective. In writing this article, we wanted to share our perspective to help you better understand our motivations. However, we also wanted to put ourselves on your level by questioning our own office purchasing habits. What was only intended to be a blog post quickly turned into a team debate... Yes, pre-ordering tugs at the heartstrings of impatience. Yes, paying in advance can give the fleeting impression of paying into a void. But we promise you, it's worth it!
Generally speaking, when we open the doors to our wardrobe, we can find two types of pieces . There are those that correspond to considered purchases , that we keep for many years and that we treat with the greatest care. Then, there are those that were not planned, fashion whims made on a whim one day when we felt a little less well than usual. Okay, maybe we are exaggerating a little but you get the idea! What we want to express through this example is that pre-ordering allows us to move more towards the first (and best) option: considered purchases.
The first essential step if you want to limit your consumption is to distinguish between momentary desire and real need . Indeed, we have too much of a tendency to take refuge in impulse purchases which, objectively and when made too frequently, become harmful on all levels: the planet, your wallet and your mental health . By slowing down your consumption, you are better able to identify your real needs . The items you pre-order will be made for you , so you think twice before you start.
Related to this last point , pre-ordering also very easily gives you a feeling of rarity, itself so rare today! Most of the time, pieces are produced in limited edition and will not come back in stock for a long time (if ever). It is then the ideal opportunity to increase tenfold the pleasure dimension linked to the purchase: exclusivity, respect for the planet and love of a beautiful piece.
Not quite convinced yet? For those who have been following our bag pre-orders, you must have noticed a small discount on our creations… Another advantageous aspect of pre-orders is that they allow you to benefit from preferential rates . When there are no intermediaries, no dormant stocks and no sales in sight, we are able to guarantee you a fair price for pieces that you will keep for a long time = the recipe for happiness, the real one!
To conclude this article, far be it from us to encourage you to buy only on pre-order or to slap you on the wrist if you fall for a piece in a fast fashion store. As with everything in life , it is above all about finding a balance and, in the continuity of our participation in the Make Friday Green Again movement, to open the way towards healthier consumption and a more sustainable wardrobe.
We hope that these few paragraphs have inspired you as much as the members of the Mapache team and we'll see you in December for a new article with a Christmas carol (or almost) background!
Pssst! While we wait for next month, if by any chance you enjoy sustainable things AND listening to podcasts, we have three gems for you to discover...
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