ICU Apparel
Partners interview #2
TEDxICU aims to create three unique spaces through its TEDx events: a platform for expressing ideas, a source of inspiration, and a catalyst for taking new actions. To achieve this, we have received support from numerous corporate sponsors.
In this context, we are pleased to present an interview with the special sponsor of TEDxICU, ICU Apparel.
(Please note that pseudonyms are used for privacy protection.)
ICU Apparelの方々
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TEDxICU スポンサーチーム
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First of all, please introduce yourself!
ICU Apparel is working to help students and people involved in the university feel connected through ICU goods, even though they can't come to campus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the main members, designers, photographers, models, etc. participate in various club activities and different communities and work together.
thank you. There are things like ICU jerseys sold at stores, but was there anything else that inspired you to move on your own instead?
I am currently working under the name of ICU Apparel, but when I first started, I was making class 24 (2024 graduates) hoodies in April. Because there were no more events, I started making class hoodies and making connections.
Well, if you see someone wearing a hoodie, it's 24! I remember that I had a sense of security, and that alone made a big difference in my feelings.
May I ask what the business of ICU Apparel is?
As a rough outline, I was originally working as a 24-year-old student with the idea of creating connections even during the corona crisis, but this time, I want to create a community not only with 24 but also with other people and deepen my relationships. I want to go, so I'm currently making and selling hoodies and sweatpants for all grades.
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thank you. This will connect you to other grades!
I think that by having it, it will be like "Oh, I'm wearing apparel!"
I think it was difficult to have a horizontal connection with 24 because I couldn't come to school due to the corona disaster. In addition, 24 and 25 did not come to school or international students from foreign countries, so I thought that there were few vertical connections. I think there are places where people are divided into 24/25 and 22/23, so I would like to make the connections there bigger.
Next, I would like to ask about ICU Apparel's philosophy and values behind these activities.
ICU Apparel has three major philosophies. The first is “respect for the individual” and “respect for diversity,” and we offer a wide range of gender-free sizes based on the image of true body and sexual diversity.
The second is “initiatives in philanthropic activities.” ICU Apparel does not take profits. All are volunteer groups. I don't intend to take profits from the beginning, and if it does occur, I plan to use it for student groups such as TEDxICU and the community within ICU. I am particularly interested in sustainable development, so I would like to use it to solve social problems.
The third is to “create a sense of unity and a sense of belonging.” Everyone feels a greater sense of unity in the sense that they belong to the ICU community while facing COVID-19. I'm trying to do activities to be able to do it.
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Despite having so much influence and sales power, they are donating without taking any profits.
So, what do you think is the appeal of ICU Apparel?
The clothing design itself is attractive, but the goal is not just to sell clothes, but to create opportunities to connect with people through clothes, and to work with a broad goal of connecting with society. Masu.
Another thing is that we really wanted to convey the message that "we are not isolated" by making it. I felt that people who were separated due to COVID-19 and who did not belong to dormitories or clubs had created their own worlds and lost the community that is unique to ICU. By wearing this hoodie, I think we can make that connection.
I see. By the way, I often wear ICU Apparel hoodies to school.
This is a personal story, but there are many people who wear hoodies to their part-time jobs. I'm very happy because I can tell at a glance, "Oh, I'm an ICU student," and a community can be created from that.
I like the fact that even if you can't start a conversation and just see someone wearing it in the distance, you can feel a sense of security that you are connected. I think there are various students, such as April (students enrolled in April) and Septen (students enrolled in September), but I think there are times when I don't bother to talk to them. Among them, I think one of the charms is that when you wear Apparel clothes, you can feel something that goes beyond the barrier of conversation.
Certainly, even without a conversation, you can feel that you are connected to that person through their clothes.
From here, I would like to ask you about the story related to TEDxICU. First of all, what was your reason for sponsoring TEDxICU?
Originally, apparel members were watching TED videos, and there was a part where I felt inspired. However, I heard about the temporary suspension of activities this time. In the midst of the coronavirus, the handover from seniors to juniors is not going well, and I think that the way everyone is doing their best in a difficult situation is similar to the appearance of apparel, so I want to support them as much as possible. did.
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The support from fellow ICU students is really reassuring. What do you think TEDxICU and ICU Apparel have in common?
I think it's similar to the part of TEDxICU's philosophy of providing a place to connect. Also, I think there are commonalities among diverse values and diversity. I think it's from a different point of view, but I think there are similarities, such as respecting and supporting ICU students.
I see. There are many things in common other than being affiliated with ICU.
The theme of this year's TEDxICU is "Untroubled." How have you been able to face and overcome the difficulties you have faced so far?
I think it's a big thing that you can't read the situation of "corona misfortune". I've been selling class hoodies since I was 17, but I was worried about how to continue that culture during the corona crisis. It's something that will be sold after a long preparation period, and it's something that the whole community will work on, so within Apparel, we were thinking, ``How can we best convey the feelings of apparel and the goodness of our activities during the COVID-19 pandemic?'' Recently, the Omicron stock and measures to prevent the spread of the virus have come out, and I think that the situation has changed in various ways, but it is difficult to catch the wave of this changing situation and think about what to do. I think that's how it was. Also, it was quite difficult to communicate within the team online while working.
When I had other extracurricular work to do, I tried to do all the work I was entrusted with by myself, but in the end I couldn't do it... When I felt like there was nothing I could do about it, I often realized that I was supported by my friends. This activity is not profitable or honorable. That's why I felt the importance of connecting with people and taking care of people from the bottom of my heart. It may be an overused word, but I think it was when I faced the troubles of this corona disaster that I was able to understand that even if I can't overcome it alone, I can overcome it together. Ta.
I agree. Listening to what you said earlier, I wondered if the corona had a big impact on the launch of this organization in the first place. It may be said that the fact that this organization was launched itself overcame Trouble.
Finally, please give a message to students of your age.
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Being excited is important. I used to take a survey of 24 Parker buyers, and the responses were all positive. It's important to be excited about what you're doing, so if I were you, I'd make this a message.
When you're working in a student group, there are times when things don't go well due to COVID-19, and you tend to forget why you're doing what you're doing. is. I think that it is important to review it first because we are doing it as a group. We can't do what we want to do under this corona situation, but I think it's very important to think that "connecting with people is important now that online is normal", and to go back to the basics, so let's all work together. let's do our best! ,, that's what it feels like lol.
I think it's very nice.
This time, I have both domestic and international shipping, and I think that I could not have done it if I had not thought about the university and my friends, because I chose bank transfer for everything. . Even though there are various distances, I think there is value in the fact that everyone has the same thing physically (physically) even if it crosses prefectures and countries as much as possible. With the progress of IT and online, it is attractive to have even one important thing, something shared by everyone, something of value, and important things can be found. Isn't it?
Thank you for sharing your precious story with us today!
thank you very much.
ICU
Aparrel：
ICU Apparel
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a student-led organization was established by the graduating class of 2024 at our university. This group has created and sold apparel products prominently featuring the ICU logo. The profits generated from these sales are then reinvested into various social activities.
その他の企業インタビュー記事 / Other sponsor interviews
日々のモヤモヤと向き合い、見つけた価値観:
株式会社オウルズコンサルティンググループ
2020年5月に設立されたNPOやNGO支援を行うコンサルティング会社の「内側」に迫る。
約束されていない明日を生きる:
PwCコンサルティング合同会社
ICU生も多く勤めるコンサルティング企業。信頼を何よりも重んじる理念に隠された真意とは。
2021 sponsors
