Just People: It’s not just swag, it’s our mission
Several decades ago the faculty of a public (read: state) school in Upstate New York was polarised about how to best serve the students in their care in the wake of new curriculum policies and budget cuts. Gossip flew and tempers flared. People lost perspective that people were just people, not villains, and otherness abounded.
One teacher, in an act of creative generosity, spent a weekend making badges that read “Just…people”, which she gave to her colleagues the following week. It was an inspired act that began to turn the tide and help people realise their shared intent to serve the young people of their community, to help them thrive. That teacher was the beloved Auntie of one of our founders. Aunt Sig is no longer with us, yet that story of her creative superpower to offer perspective and bridge peace, reached Heather for the first time, quite unexpectedly, in a business meeting last year.
Together Culture makes space to create, and to become more creative...and 'Just People' is a reminder of our community's intent to help reveal the creative superpowers lurking in each and every one of us to build a more inclusive Cambridge.
Together Culture's Just People collection is a collab between me, Heather, Auntie Sig and each person who joins our community. It’s not just swag, it’s our mission.
My very own Just People tshirt dropped through my postbox yesterday. My wardrobe had long been crying out for a simple white tee to keep me cool - so this morning, when it hit 19 degrees celsius at 9.30am, I decided to embody Together Culture’s third value (EXPERIMENT), and play around with some outfit options. Here’s a week’s worth of ideas, and if you haven’t got yours yet, get to shoppin’.
P.S. Our Just People collection is all printed to order to reduce waste, and it’s also designed to be sent back to TeeMill and remade when you’re ready to say goodbye to it, so that it never ends up in landfill.
Monday: Channelling some Rupert Bear energy
Hear me out - cartoon characters as style icons. Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus is an occasional reference but for most days, Rupert Bear feels just right.
Tuesday: The Tourist
Am I a local or am I taking a long weekend away in this buzzy little city? When I’m wearing this outfit, no one knows and that’s just how I like it.
Wednesday: Under a slip or dungarees
Blame it on the contrarian in me, but I enjoy the way the design just peeks out under these outfits. Finger puppet optional but encouraged.
Thursday: Old school Hollywood
What is it with 1950s male movie stars and white t-shirts? Anyway, easy peasy lemon squeezy, pair your classic white tee with some vintage jeans. My pin up of choice is Paul Newman but others are available.
Friday: Suited
I have a growing collection of suits and let me tell you EVERY SINGLE ONE looks great with this Just People tee.
Saturday: Hats and co-ords
Maybe one for the autumn, but I couldn’t resist giving the Just People tee a spin with this co-ord. I can’t help it - give me two items of matching clothing and I’ll wear them to death. It’s always a bit stressful identifying a top to go with it though, so our Just People white tee is just the ticket.
Sunday: Colour blocking
When I wear pink, I like to wear all the pink I can find. Extra points if your phone case matches too.
End of the week reflections
The thing is, getting dressed is an act of creativity we all undertake. It’s a great illustration of the fact that every single one of us is creative, even if we don’t often see ourselves through that lens.
That’s why Together Culture exists - we’re making space to create and to become more creative. At the moment, we need to raise £50,000 to open our first Citizen Studio.
All proceeds from our shop go towards opening our first Citizen Studio in October, where we'll engage the broader community in design thinking around the question: 'If in 10 years time Cambridge was known as one of the most inclusive and ecological cities in the world, what would be different?' We'll also be providing much needed creative working space for artists and social entrepreneurs.
The next step after that? Developing our systems change incubator to put ideas into action and scaling up our facilities and programmes in a permanent space.
Making affordable, permanent space to create and to be more creative starts here!
