Make Seriously | Design and Life

Homeless Chic?

Le Clochard, a company in the Netherlands, is working to solve the homelessness problem there in a unique way: visually representative product design.

What I mean to say, is that they’re selling 144ct. cotton duvets and pillow covers, with 30% of the profits going to help the homeless. The unique part? They’re printed to look like cardboard. While not a practical idea for most people, I think it has a certain appeal to a younger audience (especially college-age dormers) and the activist crowd. It may not gain a lot of attention, but it seems like a great way to solve a problem with creative marketing.

Thinking through it, I must say that at first it seemed a little offensive. Do you really think you can relate to the homeless because your nice, warm blanket looks like a cardboard box? Well, no. But then again, I’m not trying to relate to AIDS victims when I buy product(RED) either. Instead, it gives me a chance to put money toward getting an object I might need anyway while allowing me to contribute to a cause I firmly believe in. I’m personally not going to purchase the duvet because I doubt Kristin wants to share that, but if I were in college it would be a likely buy. Instead I’m going to take some coats and sweaters over to Wheeler Mission in the next couple of weeks. It’s hard for me to call this the best country in the world while people are freezing to death in the streets. That’s not a slam on America. There’s poverty everywhere, but pride in my country comes from each of us trying to help those who need it. Legislation isn’t love.

So, if you have money, want a new duvet, and don’t have a spouse who would look at you crazy, I really recommend doing this. I also would encourage everyone to serve at a soup kitchen or to donate warm clothes. I recognize that a lot of the homeless population chooses to be there, but there are a lot of people who don’t. Here in Indy, Central State turned out all of it’s patients, and that’s become clear on the streets. Le Clochard has a creative way to contribute to the world’s poverty problems.