INTRIGUING PHOTOS

”A pure hand needs no glove to cover it”.

-NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, The Scarlet Letter

 

 

what is it?

 

 

Photographer Alexander Schippers went to Egypt. Exactly between two revolutions. A hectic time when the country was frequently in the news. One of the wonderful series that Alexander made ​​was revolved around Fathy, a bakery in Cairo. This photo series and the extraordinary story of the Egyptian bakers are now on the internet for everyone to see. There are still plenty of other photo series, sometimes shocking, emotional and confrontational but never fake or put in scene. They give a glimpse into the lives of others without making it more beautiful than it is. Another example is the series of photos which many of us have seen about a women with cancer who decided she wanted to be photographed in her process of dying, her husband was the photographer. And there are many more series.

 

 

Why is it cool? 

These real and raw photo series are cool because they let us see a glimpse of the lives of unknown, sometimes with shocking stories and sometimes of the most normal and daily thing in life which are so recognisable that it becomes beautiful, for example the photo serie of photographer Bieke Depoorter, if you want to take a look in the most personal part of one’s life, sleeping in their house will get you pretty close. Belgian photographer Bieke Depoorter made ​​an intriguing series of photographs of Russian families in their homes and bedrooms. During her trip, she asked Russian families is she could spend the night at their place so she could discover how these people live and capture them in their most intimate moments. Extreme transparency.

 

Why has it future growth potential?

Photo like these got potential to grow because people like looking at ”the real stuff”, it emotionally triggers them, they share it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It’s the opposite of the fake commercials like Tel Sell (extreme example) where fake acting is characteristic and everything is directed, people hate it, it’s a joke! Thats why we love looking at something pure and real.

 

Bronnen: http://www.froot.nl/posttype/froot/in-egypte-bezorgen-bakkers-op-deze-bijzondere-manier-hun-brood/

http://www.vrouwen.nl/view/57032/Kippenvel%3A+vrouw+met+kanker+gefotografeerd+door+haar+man

http://www.nsmbl.nl/deze-fotograaf-overnacht-bij-vreemden-om-intieme-momenten-vast-te-leggen/

 

THE FOODERY

”Our dreams are big, but so are the food problems we intend to solve.”

-John and mike,

What is it?

Two guys named John and Mike wanted to make a difference in the way food is raised in America. They came to the conclusion that the old way on cusuming and raising food isn’t working anymore. America is getting bigger and bigger each day (literally) and so are the environmental problems, so mike and john decided to do something about it. The answer: truly healthy, convenient meals with high quality which are affordable. Normally we have a takeaway when we do not feel like cooking, it’s simple quick but in most occasions not very healthy. And this is the part where The Foodery jumps is, it is healthy! The company delivers meals which are cooked with the products of local farmers and gardeners and they serve their food to nearby costumers.

Why is it cool?

America (and a lot of other countries) are getting fatter each day. We are so busy that we don’t have time to cook and instead of cooking we will get an unhealthy takeaway. But The Foodery has the answer to this problem. It has all the benefits of a takeaway: Quick, cheap, easy and all the benefits of healthy responsible food! If we people are healthy we automatically are enhancing our quality of life, we feel better, happier and more energetic, it has a lot of impact on our quality of life, (Felce and Perry). They are also empowering the small local farmers and because they are nearby the products are fresher and cheaper because there is no brokering.

Why has it future growth potential?

Because of the increasing numbers of obese, the government and also the civilians are insisting on health food. Also healthy is the new sexy, take a look on instagram, more and more people are engaged in a healthy diet for ”the looks” and to enhance their quality of life, (foodstagramming). Also the fact that it is local is interesting for costumers, they crave authenticity and are tired of the fake and commercial. And in a time where we all are so busy that sometimes we don’t have time to cook, there is The Foodery for an really nice meal!

Bronnen: http://fooderyboston.com

                https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/50746479/the-foodery-liberating-truly-healthy-convenient-fo?ref=liv

3×1

What is it?

3×1 is a denim store located in New York. It is known for it’s expensive and good quality denim. Scott Morrison’s denim boutique 3×1 is like nothing else in Soho. The Mercer Street store doubles as a factory where shoppers can watch their jeans being constructed in one of two glass-walled enclosures smack in the middle of the store. All of the merchandise is made in-house, whether it’s ready-to-wear or custom, and Morrison prides himself on the literal transparency of the process. costumers can see the whole making process of the jeans. Everything is carefully chosen and with thought.

Why is it cool?

Great quality, a cool and raw look and what also is very cool is that every single pair of jeans are made with attention, care and handwork. Every jeans has it’s own number sewed in them and only 5 jeans are made each day. So besides the gorgeous pair of jeans you also have a great experience because you can see everything that is happening ”behind the scenes” and you feel like it’s really your own denim item and not a cheap piece of fabric which is produced in china with 1000 other the same looking items.

Why has it future growth potential?

3×1 has future to grow because people like the experience that is created in concepts. It also makes them feel special. There’s an overkill of commercialism and mass production what makes people want to have something that is honest and made with care. They want to stand out and be unique!

Bron:  http://shaynestephens.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/3×1-denim-nyc/

http://3×1.us

FoodCoop Amsterdam

What is it?

FoodCoop Amsterdam is a durable, culinary Do-It-Yourself supermarket where they do not only purchase all together, but also cook and eat together! they buy, as a group, their food directly from various farmers, growers and other producers – where possible local so they and the costumers know where the food comes from and how it is produced. Sustainable products are ordered from an organic wholesaler. They also make meals which only will cost you 4 euros so you can enjoy your meal and socialise with other people. Food Coop Amsterdam is a non-profit organisation. Being a member means in your own way contributing to Food Coop Amsterdam. Helping with the dishes, bringing plastic to the plastic tray, keeping financial records, liaising with suppliers, placing orders, tracking the website or writing a newsletter so also the costumers know exactly how this supermarket is functioning and everything is transparent.

They charge a one-time membership fee of 35 euros. With this contribution they finance the start-up costs and investments, such as an ATM machine, crockery, printer, cards and (eventually) refrigerators and possibly its own transport van where members than small fee again to make use of.

Why is it cool?

First, most products that you are purchasing are organic and sourced from local farmers. They are trying to skip brokering as much as possible. The benefits are correspondingly: the prices are lower and the food is fresher than fresh – even same day pulled out of the ground in some cases. The short line gives them and the costumers insight into the way that food travels and they can recall the suppliers, they have no “food scandals”. At the same time they pay the producer more than the broker. The result is: they get better value for their money and more money for the producer are true. We do not just want  good food to be rewarded with a fair price they also find it important that good food is affordable for people on low incomes.

Why has it future growth potential?

FoodCoop Amsterdam has future growth potential because nowadays more and more people want to eat biological and healthy. Also they want their food to be ”fair”. Its important for them to know where their products come from and how it is produced. It’s also very cheap to shop here and you get the chance to meet new people.

Bron: http://foodcoopamsterdam.nl/?page_id=127

 

BEHIND THE BRANDS

What is it?

Behind the brands is a campaign by Oxfam Novib. With their global campaign ”Behind the Brands” they reveal the hidden world behind the 10 largest international food companies. And guess what: the 10 largest food companies (the Big Ten) don’t use their influence enough to combat poverty and hunger. They want to ensure that this problem will disappear.

Every day is 1 in 8 people go to bed hungry. While there is enough food in the world. So they want the current food system to be changed.

Quote: ”Together, we must ensure that everyone has enough to eat. So we need to sustainably grow our crops and consuming. Governments and international companies need to take responsibility.”

There is a score-card for these ten international food companies, with these cards they are rated on divers themes. The ”Behind the Brands scorecard” compares and evaluate policies and promises of the largest food companies. This is done on various themes like: land, women, farmers, workers, environment, transparency and water. The card also looks at the requirements on these themes for suppliers and also look at the measures taken to improve lives of small farmers and the (country) workers.

Why is it cool?

This campaign is very cool because society can now clearly see how these big food companies operate and what they take into account and what not. This site ensures that these big brands are more transparent with the aim that they make the world a better place with the power they own. Across the world consumers are looking for information so they can make conscious choices about the food they buy. Oxfam wants to appeal to businesses through Twitter, Facebook and other channels so companies will take responsibility for the world and do more to ensure that every day and everyone have enough to eat.

Why has it future growth potential?

I think initiatives like behind the brands have future growth potential because these days people want to know as much as possible about how big companies function. They want to make sure they make the right choices when buying products. Recently there have been a lot of scandals in the food industry, for example: horse meat and the fact that human hair is used to make bread, this also makes people curious if big brands are honest and transparent enough. If your company isn’t transparent enough the chance it will be successful is small.

Bron: http://www.behindthebrands.org/nl