Material Change shows that there is something going on in design-something powerful. Design can change the world. This new way of thinking is revolutionizing the business of design and the design of business.
Material Change is the story of trained architect and entrepreneur Eve Blossom, who built her design business, Lulan Artisans, on a framework of ecological, economic, social, communal and cultural sustainability.
Lulan Artisans is a for-profit social venture that designs, produces and markets contemporary textiles made by Blossom's collaborators-over 650 weavers, dyers, spinners and finishers in Cambodia, India, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Lulan's mission is to effect systemic social change: to give workers an ample wage and benefits; to bring stability to communities by creating jobs; to preserve artisanal skills; and to provide economic alternatives so that individuals can make better economic choices.
In the book, we follow Eve's process of forming a grassroots, for-profit social venture. She openly shares her story and the thinking behind her vision, in the hope of inspiring others to act and to open-source the model for others to adapt, customize and share. Material Change also brings us the distinct voices of a range of other social entrepreneurs who are working around the world, including Muna AbuSulayman, Patrick Awuah, Shashin Chokshi, Tali Gottlieb, Joi Ito, Dr. Jordan Kassalow, Shaffi Mather, Tobias Rose-Stockwell, Juliana Rotich and Ricardo Terán.
Social entrepreneurship is a movement, and it is growing every day. We don't know when the tipping point will be, but this new approach is here to stay. This is the new sustainable and holistic business model for the twenty-first century.
Eve Blossom is the founder and CEO of Lulan Artisans. An architect by training, Eve lectures worldwide on sustainable integrated design and innovative business methodologies. She is a TED speaker and an Aspen Institute Liberty Fellow. This is her first authored book. This is the ebook edition of Material Change, originally published in print form in October, 2011.