‘Democratic’ pants are now in Vogue

Organic cotton underpants went down well at The Economist’s Redesigning Business Summit today. Speaking from the – large -assembled crowd of blue chip companies and design consultancies, sustainable designer Sophie Thomas called San Francisco underwear company Pact, with designs by Yves Behar, ‘compelling and wonderful’.

Pact’s youngish co-founder Jeff Denby had just spellbound the audience with his tale of ’democratic’ pants, featuring artist-designed prints inspired by charity campaigns, printed on responsibly-sourced and manufactured cotton, packaged in baggies made from offcuts and posted out in compostible plastic wallets. Ten per cent of the money from every pair sold goes to the charity it represents.

Pact’s case study embodies the new commercial order of transparency, sustainability, collaboration and innovation being promulgated at the event. Held at The Guardian’s newish building (which features lovely, colourful wayfinding based on its mastheads), Redesigning Business continues tomorrow with presentations from Penguin, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Tom Tom, David Kester and Richard Seymour, among others. Design Week reporter Tom Banks will be there to report on events.

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