Author: Mengting Wang

My mentor Cynthia recommended a platform for me as I put the box into the medieval bazaar.

https://www.indigo-uk.com/collections/chinese-furniture

This is an ancient platform for selling Chinese antique furniture to Europe.

unit4：about vintage pop up

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  Through the cooperation with influencer, I communicated with the person in charge of the nursing home, but it did not work, because it was a complicated communication process, they could not offer me the opportunity to have substantive communication with the elderly, for fear that it would affect the health of the elderly and other influences, so it was shelved for the time being. However, through the product model of lush, Every one of their handmade soaps has a story from every old creator. If I had the opportunity, I would re-do this intervention, and if I went back to China, I think it might be relatively easy.
  
• This still gave us inspiration for the establishment of the market. Through the promotion of influencer in the vintage market in Wuhan, this three-day market brought us an opportunity. Our online, online and offline stores introduced everyone’s stories and objects to you.

I contacted the vintage market in Wuhan and put my grandmother’s dowry into it. It was a box, but it was very beautiful.

Because according to the initial idea, I contacted the sanatorium, but to avoid trouble, there are few bills of cooperation intention, so I started from the side and put my grandmother’s dowry into the market. The planner of this market is a medieval enthusiast and also an Internet celebrity.

After three days of the market, the box was bought by a female customer, I told her about my grandmother’s marriage, the box has been in her home, and the story of grandma and grandpa. Giving the box a story, which was my original intention, turned it into a very beautiful coffee table in the buyer’s home.

The buyer likes my grandmother’s box very much, and she said that she hoped her feelings could be as long as my grandmother’s, because in our current era, many things are thrown away when they are broken, unlike my grandmother’s era, when they were broken, they would be repaired, which is probably the reason why she wants this box, and she has carried out quite a beautiful transformation, which undoubtedly touched me. Reminds me of a Chinese poem, before the horse is very slow, life is only enough to love one person.

This intervention ended in the summer vacation, I think to some extent the flight has been effective. Though, I found that people might not like a simple old object, but if it is endowed with the story of others, it is equivalent to a kind of inheritance and has some effects.

I also conducted other research, including changes in online app data.

This trend is mainly driven by several factors:

1. Consumption upgrade and concept change: China’s middle class and younger generation pay more attention to quality and environmental awareness, they gradually accept second-hand products and recognize the value of second-hand goods. This change in concept promoted the rise of the medieval market.
2. Popularization and development of e-commerce platforms: China’s e-commerce platforms (such as Xianyu, Zaoqiao, Jingdong second-hand) provide a convenient trading platform for consumers to buy and sell second-hand goods.

3.Government policy support: The government encourages the development of circular economy and sustainable consumption, and the second-hand market is in line with this direction, so it has the policy support of the government.

However, the Chinese market also faces some challenges, such as concerns about the authenticity of goods, after-sales protection and other issues. Consumers need more protection and trust to further promote the healthy development of the Chinese market.

This intervention ended in the summer vacation, and I think it did not work very well. In the end, I found that people might not like a simple old object, but if it is endowed with the story of others, it is equivalent to a kind of inheritance and has some effects. What I can do next is actually I do not have a big idea. Therefore, in the last course, I talked about our intention to build a brand, which may be called new vintage according to the current concept. My next step will be to take these finished products to the London market for experiment and give brand ideas. However, the Chinese market also faces some challenges, such as concerns about the authenticity of goods, after-sales protection and other issues. Consumers need more protection and trust to further promote the healthy development of the Chinese market.

with Siyi Wang

I was talking to a medieval jewelry collector, Wang Siyi, who’s been doing this for eight years, and he was talking to me about Askew London, which is a very popular type of jewelry in the Middle Ages right now.

He told me that the Middle Ages itself originated in Europe, and in China there is only the concept of antiques,So he made a medieval shop in Changsha, China, to share his own collection.

From the communication with him, I realized that in our generation, the idea of sustainable and usable is constantly improving. He said that the current market development makes him feel confident to make China’s medieval market equal to Europe.

This increased my commitment to the research project.

Through my undergraduate study and working experience, I found that vintage is a new and underdeveloped industry in China. Customers can only select or purchase via specific methods or at a small number of stores. And the goods are mainly imported from the West. Compared with abundant vintage multi-brand boutiques and markets, China’s vintage industry is still in its infancy.

The retro Chinese fad has become a hot topic in short video platforms. For example, China’s domestic vintage brands such as Warrior and Swallow are striving to restore their popularity. Many social media platforms and online celebrities also interpret Chinese retro fashion as they understand it. And the methods are not limited to retro snaps at old markets, customized retro clothing in tailor shop, customized styling in an old hair salon, etc.

Therefore, influenced by the current trend in China, I was inspired I can create soil for vintage with unique Chinese culture in China in a market pursuing pure Western style.

Project Description

Combining my research on the content of retro Chinese fad on social media, I think ancient clothes can be endowed with real and touching stories. And this narrative can be achieved by cooperation with the elderly in the community. Sorting the clothes, telling stories about the old people and clothes, popularizing Chinese clothing trends at that time, it can extend clothes from objects to mini carriers of local culture. These mini profiles can turn people keen on retro Chinese fad into potential consumers, creating a better cultural environment for spreading Chinese vintage culture.

My inspiration comes from brilliant design ideas on the packaging of Lush. Every product they sell will have a photo and name of the producer, which strengthens the connection between the product and its manual maker and emphasizes the manual attribute of the product. Vintage clothing, likewise, has a story from the previous owner, which can be about a personal experience, cultural background or local culture. And this narrative adds lustre to them.

And this narrative has been tried in different brands. Taking “The museum of broken relationships” in Shanghai as an example, stories of broken hearts are displayed by object display. Some are heart-warming, some are sad, and some are funny. In this way, the viewers can share emotions with the owner of the objects while watching the exhibition. This also makes me realize that the elderly in different regional communities are the exporters of stories. While developing ancient Chinese culture, we can cooperate closely with them. I can make sure that each piece of clothing has a unique and moving story by collecting clothes and recording their stories.

We commute to work or school by subway every day. Before I came to Britain, I didn’t have the habit of taking the subway for a long time. However, in London, this is very common, because here, the subway is one of the most convenient transportation, and if I can see that the subway environment brings substantial changes, i think it will have great influence and change on our mood every day, so I choose this very practical problem. It may not sound technological or advanced enough, but I think change starts from the most practical and most needed place, which is real and changeable.Will a pleasant and comfortable commute make our study life easier.

About stakeholders

This project is aimed at all the citizens, the people who use the subway, who are my stakeholders.I’m going to start with interviews with passengers and staff, which is the most intuitive and first-hand source of information.

The dirtiness of London Underground is mainly influenced by the following factors: 

High usage: The London Underground is one of the busiest trains in the world, carrying millions of passengers every day. Due to the high frequency of use, the cleaning task of subway stations and carriages is very heavy and needs to be completed in a short time. 

Old equipment: Some of the equipment and facilities of London Underground have been used for decades. Due to long time of use and wear, these equipment and facilities will inevitably have problems, such as water leakage, wall falling off, etc., which is difficult to repair in time. 

Lack of cleaning resources: Due to the large number of London Underground stations and carriages, cleaning work requires a lot of manpower and material investment.However, due to a lack of cleaning budget, London Underground has fewer cleaning staff to clean stations and carriages in time. 

Uneven quality of passengers: When using the subway, passengers may produce garbage or carve characters on the wall, which will increase the difficulty of cleaning and aggravate the dirty and messy problem of the subway. 

According to the London Metropolitan Government, air quality in subway stations and carriages is affected by particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from braking and tire wear on trains, which can be harmful to human health.

To sum up, the dirty and messy problem of London Underground is caused by multiple factors. Although the authorities have been trying to improve the problem, due to historical and budgetary reasons, it is still difficult to completely solve.

To change

the following measures can be taken:

1. Increase cleaning efforts: Increase the frequency of cleaning and the number of cleaning staff to ensure that the stations and carriages are kept clean.
2. Increase facility investment: Increase the number and placement of facilities, such as rubbish bins and toilets, to make it more convenient for passengers to dispose of rubbish and maintain personal hygiene.
3. Introduce new technology: Introduce advanced cleaning technology and equipment, such as automatic cleaning equipment and ultraviolet disinfection devices, to improve cleaning efficiency and quality.
4. Strengthen management: Strengthen management by implementing stricter cleaning and hygiene regulations, increasing supervision and education of passenger behavior, and encouraging passengers to comply with hygiene rules.
5. Increase publicity: Increase publicity to raise public awareness of the importance of cleaning and hygiene management, and to encourage greater social responsibility for maintaining a clean and hygienic environment.
6. Some new technologies, such as the use of ultraviolet lamps to kill microorganisms in the air and the use of nanotechnology to make antibacterial coatings, are being applied to more effectively control the spread of viruses and bacteria

Through the comprehensive application of these improvement measures, the hygiene of the London Underground can be effectively improved, and the overall quality and service level of the underground can be enhanced, providing passengers with a more comfortable, safe, and clean travel environment.

Hardship

Writing here, I find the difficulty of the problem, maybe the change I hope will increase the already expensive transportation cost, while the current sound subway line may be repaired, which will undoubtedly increase the time cost, so this is the source of questions I need to continue thinking about.

I looked up the literature and found that the government spends a lot of money on transportation every year. Why hasn’t the subway environment on the old line been improved? I need to look into it, too. However, it involves government departments.

Reference list:

1. Khan, M., & Roberts, J. (2016). The dirty commute: Investigating the relationship between public transportation use and the hygiene of touch-surfaces in London. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 121(3), 771-780.
2. London Assembly Health Committee. (2019). Keeping London moving: The impact of air pollution on transport users.
3. Transport for London. (2019). Improving the customer experience on the London Underground.
4. Rassia, S. T., & Azari, A. (2019). Public transportation hygiene in the city of London: An overview of the current situation and future directions. Urban Science, 3(3), 89.
5. Gobbetti, T., Munz, G., & Leclercq, L. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on public transportation: Observations on cleanliness and hygiene in London, Milan and Paris. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, 123821.
6. Bick, M., Kim, B., & Jones, T. (2016). Improving public health outcomes in the London Underground: A study in virus and bacterial monitoring and control methods. Environmental Research, 148, 211-226. 

Folk politics wrongly simplifies the complex modern world.
As a result, civil politics’ reliance on local, individual actions and personal emotions severely limits its effectiveness, but another problem is that it focuses on immediate, self-satisfying goals at the expense of lasting, long-term change. For example, civil politics might celebrate a company delaying the construction of an oil pipeline, not realizing that the company is just waiting for people to look away so it can move forward with the project.

In this case, the problem is not that civil politics is local, but that it considers local action sufficient in itself, rather than a necessary element in a long-term vision.

Neoliberalism has evolved from a fringe theory to the dominant socioeconomic approach of our time.
To better understand the limits of folk politics – and the contemporary left in general – just consider what the other side can achieve. Although civil politics failed to bring lasting change, political opposition was able to transform society through neoliberalism.

This political ideology can be summed up as a firm belief in free-market capitalism. However, because classical liberalism is about free markets and opposition to government regulation, it is ironic that neoliberalism relies heavily on state influence to defend property rights, enforce antitrust laws, and generally maintain the neoliberal world order.

In this book, authors Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams attempt to answer an important question: How to create a better future under the current capitalist system? They believe that a universal basic income is a very promising scheme.

A universal basic income is a policy in which the government provides a basic financial subsidy to all citizens, without strings attached. Such subsidies can replace all other forms of social welfare, including unemployment benefits, health insurance and pensions. With a universal basic income, everyone can earn enough to support their most basic needs.

The authors argue that a universal basic income has several benefits. First, it can eliminate poverty and inequality. Since everyone could earn enough income, it was no longer necessary for anyone to live below the poverty line. Secondly, it can stimulate creativity and innovation. If people were no longer forced to work for a living, they could pursue more meaningful activities such as study, art and socializing. Finally, it could bring greater stability to the global economy. Since everyone has some financial security, the impact of unemployment and depression will be reduced.

However, implementing a universal basic income will not be easy. The authors suggest a number of strategies for achieving a universal basic income, including raising taxes, reducing unnecessary spending and reallocating resources. They also suggested political strategies such as a coalition government and global coordination.

Overall, the book Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work offers a very promising idea, but it also faces some challenges. Some may worry that a universal basic income would lead to economic turmoil and social division. However, the authors of this book offer some good solutions to mitigate the impact of these problems. In any case, a universal basic income is an idea well worth exploring, and this book offers a groundbreaking approach to some of the challenges facing the current capitalist system.

Yvonne’s. Interview

About Becky Chen

“I was studied MA Innovative Fashion Production at the University of the Arts London, with a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design.

I have two years of fashion luxury boutique experience in China. I manage the shop’s self-published media operation and regularly publish and broadcast content. I can detect the current fashion trends and hot spots. Also, I have experience in matching outfits for VIPs and have my own views on fashion and aesthetics. I have my own opinion on fashion and aesthetics.

Our team made the fashion show at the rose manor for 600 people in May last year. I was a curator of this show. I also designed the invitation, collected the customers’ list, and contacted PR, KOL, runway models, DJs, photographers, and camera operators.”

1. Do you have any complaints or suggestions about our current work situation?

I am now in London, so sometimes I have doubts about my work, now I working remotely, and my participation in domestic work is not high, so there is no more technological and efficient way to better solve the current problems. Although the informtion in the current society is i more transparent, I cannot experience the fabric and cloth without being on site

We have always been looking for brands, in fact, brands also need to find us, what links between this to make us connect, links. This will actually reduces our stress in all aspects. 

2. What is your ideal work status? 

In order to enjoy the work, more freedom, more personalization, more dedicated, more professional and more united team, is to work together to do a good job, which is what  I want to achieve now. 

3. If 10 years, 100 years, 1000 years later, what kind of environment 

do you want to work in? 

Lifestyle-based service for high-end customers, a too far state I can not form, if my future selection can be through holograms, through technology to make me experience the touch and wearing feeling of the fabric, the current rapid fashion changes, to win with speed, from spring, summer, autumn and winter, evolved into early spring, early autumn… I hope that one day in the future, clothing can no longer be a fast consumable, can be experienced before purchased, can be truly sustainable, similar to the row now, tetome to do small and refined, to only serve some people. 

4. What do you hope your job brings you? 

The meaning of life and the contribution to society, different industries have different expectations, for my work is equivalent to being in the fashion industry, with a small part of the power to achieve recyclable waste and sustainable use, so that my customers have life improvement, spiritual satisfaction.

5 Do you think people can not work? 

I think not, I think people must find something to do, and not working will make people bored. When you don’t have to work and study, my life seems to lose meaning, I don’t mean to work to survive, but to experience, many people in the UK have achieved financial freedom, but some people still choose to open Uber, and so on a series of things, these are similar to work but not work for work.