How Many of Us Embrace Diversity?

Baserange

好像我們誰也想過,想要改變一些地方,或是身體某處,想過為何這裡不是長那個樣子,有過各種狐疑。然而大家也是邊走邊慢慢積存成,不那麼輕輕一吹就碎的質地,那些不足會從安放他們的腦海漸漸溜走吧。

世界太多種身影,能包容每一種的,日常又有多少。

「可以放心做自己,即使有時候信心不足,會顯露不安,也是可以的。」
—— Baserange

I suppose everyone of us must have thought of changing at some times in our lives. A change of mentality, a change on our outlook. Wondering why we were not born this or that way. Having all kinds of self-doubts. But I also reckon, we are not that fragile after all. Our experiences can help guide us through our life journey. The doubts and frustrations shall eventually slip away.

We live in a diverse world, but at the end of the day, how many of us embrace diversity?

“It’s about being yourself when you feel confident, but also being able to show your insecurities, and being okay with that.”
—— Baserange

Baserange是一個有機材質衣物品牌,兩位創立人發別來自丹麥與法國,而其中一位長居洛杉磯。要說品牌的國籍會有點不好定義,因團隊小小卻遍佈世界各地。而生產地則多在葡萄牙、南法、土耳其的小工廠裡。穿上他們家衣服的可以是任何類型的女性,不通過試鏡找模特兒拍照,很尋常,如你我般。也不會修圖。「我們不想設計任何改變身體本來模樣的衣服。」

他們使用有機棉、竹纖維、真絲與羊毛等天然或是循環再造物料,再用經認證的無毒染料上色。從內衣擴展到日常基本服,再到一些特別款式,也離不開以打結方法、包裏方式的轉換,讓人穿起來就像件新衣。而因為材質很好,只要根據指示正確清潔,幾乎就能穿上一輩子。

Baserange is an organic clothing brand. The two founders are from Denmark and France, with one of them based in Los Angeles. It’s hard to define where the brand originated from or where it’s based because their staff are spread throughout the world and the production process mainly takes place in small factories in Portugal, France, and Turkey. The brand creates clothing for all types of women. They don’t go through auditions to cast models, nor do they edit photos. “We don’t design things that alter the body.”

Baserange clothing is made of natural or recycled materials, such as organic cotton, bamboo fiber, silk, and wool, and only certified non-toxic dyes are used for coloring. From underwear, everyday-wear to the more unique designs, Baserange presents a line of modern basics that is decorated with knots and ties. The high quality materials used means that their clothing can last for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

品牌從2012年成立,到現在仍然找小工廠或家族經營的工廠生產,不想為了配合大工廠的最低產量而製作過量的產品。物色小工廠大多因緣際會,從一個地方開始,在途上若認識了理念相通的人,因著價值觀的靠近而連繫上更多的彼此。他們會很頻密地到工廠了解工人的工作環境。這種生產過程成本的確無法很低,然而想想,廉價有時正在反映一些事情,譬如工人是否忍受著惡劣的工作條件,尊重是來自環環裡大家的堅持相依。

他們的產品型錄更像一本zine,會專訪令人受啟發的女性,像剛剛的2021夏季號,定點在紐約布魯克林紅鉤區(Red Hook)。紅鉤是個大型公共房屋區,多元且充滿鄰社凝聚力,區內有不少低收入戶,Karen Blondel是有39年年資的紅鉤居民,也是幫助區內家庭建立力量抵抗制度壓迫的重心人物。透過各人的故事便串連起Baserange品牌整個核心價值,一直堅持在做的事,是為了變成更好的人,在這個大環境裡。

Baserange,意指Basic Aesthetic for Sustainable Easywear —— 可持續休閒服裝的基本美學。

Since its establishment in 2012, Baserange has been working exclusively with small, family-run factories. Not working with larger factories means that the brand can avoid overproduction caused by the minimum output requirement of large factories. Finding the right factory to work with is about building friendships and a network of people with similar values to your own. Baserange’s founders started their network from one place, and from there they got to know more factories. They also visit each factory they work with frequently to learn about the working environment of the workers. Understandably, the production cost for Baserange can’t be low. But knowing that lower costs is very much linked to worse conditions for the workers, one can respect and understand Baserange’s philosophy.

Last but not least, Baserange has a product catalog that looks like a zine in which they publish things like interviews with inspirational female figures. For the most recent 2021 Summer issue, they talk about Red Hook, a diverse and close-knit neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York that accommodates a considerable number of low-income families and puts a spotlight on Karen Blondel, a Red Hook resident who has been living in the area for 39 years and also a well-known community activist. Through the stories of figures like Karen Blondel, we see the vision and values of Baserange — to be a better person.

Baserange refers to Basic Aesthetic for Sustainable Easywear.

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