Co-lab is a laboratory for fashion and strategy and was established in 2006. The foundation was an initiative of Guus Beumer and Gert Staal and is supported by the Fonds BKVB and the Mondriaan Institute. Its objective is to help Dutch fashion get to a higher level.
Context
Since the mid-nineties, the fashion business has radically changed and requires new ways of thinking. Because of the globalization of the markets and its democratization, the luxury industry grew from 72 Billion to 170 Billion € with the consequence the sector switched from a product to a financially driven configuration dominated by a few groups.
The operational management of the companies operating in the sector has become very sophisticated and is often using mass-market strategies while at the same time, mass market companies are using luxury icons.
Both evolutions resulted in a blend of strategies that were once used for the two specific and separate markets.
Consequently, in view of this new configuration, independent companies need to be led by great talents but must also enforce a very readable and accurate strategy.
Background
Getting on top of the market requires talent, knowledge and financial back up. Fashion is not art. It is part of the creative industries. Considering the evolution of this industry, it requires a lot of creative strategic thinking and structural means.
Co-lab has promoted that, next to subsidies, should be implemented a fashion fund and a knowledge center. A few weeks ago, the Dutch Government has opened the seed facility to the creative industry. We see this evolution as a great step as the “seed Facility” gives potential private investors great incentives to invest into a fund that will back up financially (and consequently filled up the equity gap) and operationally fashion projects.
We believe this initiative is not just important from an economical point of view but also from a cultural point of view. What would be our world without diversity? How can we expect diversity to express itself outside of the economic canvas we live in? Giving structural means to fashion is not just important for the designers behind the labels but also for us, as consumers and citizens.
