SDS Small Business Enterprise: DEED

This hands on course will explore how to bring to market, products designed by Parson's Deed Project in collaboration with two artisanal rural groups in Guatemala: Ajkem’a Loy’a and Barco. The course will present different options of bringing to market handmade products from the developing world, addressing issues such as branding, marketing, quality control, production, wholesale versus retail, margins, inventories, customs, labels, shipping, etc. Principles of cultural, social and environmental responsibility will be at the core of the course. These subjects will be presented by leading industry experts who will share their first hand experiences with the class. Field trips to Soho and Brooklyn, will explore possible contexts and trends. The course will address the importance of small, slow, artisanal based enterprises as valid option in a world of fast fashion and extreme consumption.