My mother-in-law was a fashion major in college.

I’ve spent the last nearly 20 years watching her carefully crafting her own garments, meticulously weaving her own fabrics out of locally sourced yarns to form one-of-a-kind creations. As she’s seen fashion transform since being in school, she has shared with me these ideas behind the ‘slow fashion’ movement, where everything doesn’t have to be created quickly and at the lowest cost. It’s a philosophy that emphasizes quality over quantity, sustainability over disposability, and fairness over exploitation.

Author Jaime Kurten and Mother-in-Law Nancie

Imagine if we applied the same principles to technology. Would this make technology more desirable?

I couldn’t help but resonate with this as we think about the speed with which technology changes and continues to change. Once we understand one thing, it’s not long before the next is knocking at our doorstep.  It’s understandable that this rapid pace can be both exhausting and intimidating.

Just as slow fashion advocates for better-quality garments that last longer and values fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet, making technology approachable champions the idea of adopting and implementing technology in a manner that is mindful of its impact on users, society, and the environment. It’s about making conscious choices, understanding the processes and resources involved, and prioritizing longevity and value over short-term gains.  All of this, with our clients’ best interests and challenges in mind.

In this article, we’ll explore how the principles of slow fashion are guiding MSA towards creating ‘approachable technology’ for our clients. We’ll delve into how we can make technology more accessible, sustainable, and beneficial for all, drawing parallels between the careful consideration that goes into creating a piece of clothing and the thoughtful implementation of a piece of technology.

Fabric of Technology

Just as every thread, color, and pattern in a garment tells a story, so does every line or object in a model, or data in an analysis tool. In the realm of slow fashion, the focus is on understanding the origin of materials, the process of creation, and the hands that bring a design to life. Similarly, approachable technology encourages us to understand the ‘fabric’ of our digital tools – specifically origin of the information, the data and algorithms behind tools – and the human effort that goes into carefully selecting and connecting the tools and their applications to the achieve the best possible desired outcome.

Quality over Quantity

In slow fashion, the emphasis is on investing in fewer, high-quality pieces that are built to last. This is a stark contrast to the fast fashion trend of buying cheap, disposable items that quickly go out of style. In the tech world, this translates to choosing robust, reliable technologies that meet the needs and requirements to solve a challenge, not necessarily the latest flashy tech, albeit that still might be the right choice. It’s about bringing the value and expertise to solve the challenge, right-sizing technology in a way that you may never even know it was used.  And if you do, you can see the value that was added by using it.

Fairness and Ethics

Slow fashion is not just about the end product; it’s about the journey. It values fair treatment of workers, ethical sourcing of materials, and respect for the environment. When we talk about approachable technology, we’re also talking about fairness and ethics. We believe in walking alongside our clients, understanding their needs, and tailoring our solutions to fit. This approach makes technology more approachable, turning it from a daunting challenge into a collaborative journey.

In slow fashion, every thread tells a story of its journey – from the field where the cotton was grown, to the hands that wove it into fabric, to the artisan who transformed it into a garment. Similarly, in technology implementation, every digital model and visualization, every user interface, and every system integration tells a story of the journey we’ve taken with our clients.

Accessibility and Usability

Just as slow fashion advocates for clothing that is comfortable, functional, and accessible to all, approachable technology pushes for tech solutions that are user-friendly, intuitive, and accessible to everyone, regardless of their tech proficiency. It’s about breaking down the barriers that prevent people from fully utilizing technology and making tech tools as ‘wearable’ and comfortable as a well-loved piece of clothing.

Conclusion

Approachable technology, like slow fashion, is a methodology that MSA’s is committed to — making right-sized technology solutions accessible for all clients. It’s about ensuring technology is equitable and purposely helping to make the communities we serve better places to live. As we continue to weave the fabric of our digital future, let’s assure that it’s woven with care, consideration, and a commitment to quality, fairness, and accessibility.