#factory hashtag

[bellamyd]

Torsion Spring

The end of a torsion spring is secured to other components, and as the other components rotate around the center of the spring, the spring pulls them back to their initial position, creating a torque or rotational force.

Torsion springs can store and release angular energy or statically immobilize a device by rotating a force arm around the central axis of the spring body.

Call Us +86 13140118210 Email info@zsmyd.com

[extrahorribledynne]

T minus 2 days to earthspark season 2 pour one out for hashtag i think girliepop is gonna go thru it guys

[luminouslollies]

Sometimes, I imagine a little Mike x Charlie crossover (1971 and 2005), usually as a mini-comic.

Charlie carries Mike on a piggyback (Hi-Yo, Silver!). The 05's are watching from afar. Charlie gives Mike a sidelong glance and Mike mumbles back "No���way" (he's the shortest).

[prurientvampire]

I have gyat to draw more but ooooo it’s so hard it’s so hard and it makes my brain that hasn’t done anything in years start to cry

[yellow4k]

sneak peak to my next artwork sjjsjsjsj [wip don't rt]

here's a lil sketch of what i'm doing for the next artwork, i promise y'all will linke it, but not sure if i'm going to end it soon since i have exams and also i'd like to post this one on a specific day ;w; since it's dedicated to someone so idk man i guess y'all gotta wait xD

so probably i'm finishing it sooner but it'll be posted on 10/12 so stay tuned for that date!! :D

also i'm starting to think if i should post this on twt but i already said here i'll be posting art ;w;

[solxamber]

I wonder how would everyone in twst deal with shapeshifter!reader that shapeshifts according to the emotions they feel, kinda like penny from amazing world of gumball (mouse for fear, Medusa if they are angry, dragon when furious, etc.)

Shapeshifter! Reader shifts according to emotions

hi! thank you for the request, I'm not familiar with amazing world of gumball so if this is not what you wanted, you can let me know <3

Riddle Rosehearts

At first, he’s baffled by your transformations. When he catches you breaking a rule, and you suddenly shrink into a mouse out of fear, he goes redder than his own dorm’s color scheme. “This isn’t in the rule book!” he shouts, trying to keep a straight face while pointing at your tiny, squeaking form. "Get back here! I wasn’t that scary!"

Ace Trappola:

"This is hilarious!" Ace cackles when you transform into a chicken after a jump scare prank he pulls. "Every time you freak out, I’m gonna get free eggs!" He starts carrying around a list of emotions and their potential animal counterparts just to mess with you. He’s particularly fond of when you turn into something inconvenient at the worst moments.

Deuce Spade:

He panics when you become a snake after he accidentally insults you. "W-Wait, I didn’t mean to offend you! I swear I respect you!" Deuce waves his arms frantically, but the snake version of you doesn’t look impressed. Eventually, he ends up apologizing to a tree you slithered up, hoping for forgiveness.

Cater Diamond:

"Oh my Sevens, this is prime Magicam content!" Cater says, snapping pictures every time you transform. “You’re a walking meme factory!” He probably starts a hashtag dedicated to your transformations: #EmoshiftGoals. No matter the situation, he’s there to document your form, even if you’re a giant octopus stuck in a doorway.

Trey Clover:

Trey is unphased, which only makes it worse. "You’re a dragon, huh? Well, would you still like some pastries?" He offers you a cupcake while you’re snarling as a massive fire-breathing lizard. Somehow, his calm demeanor just makes you feel more ridiculous, and you shapeshift back out of sheer embarrassment.

Leona Kingscholar:

He’s absolutely done with it when you shapeshift into something large and ridiculous, like a lion that rivals him in size. "Seriously? That’s how you deal with anger?" he mutters, throwing an arm over his eyes and turning away. “You’re going to destroy the dorm, herbivore. Quit roaring at me before I kick you out.”

Ruggie Bucchi:

Ruggie sees dollar signs whenever you transform. “Yo, if you turn into a rare animal, I can sell tickets!” He’s already plotting ways to exploit your shapeshifting for his own gain, offering to “protect” you in exchange for some madols. You’re too busy struggling not to turn into a weasel from frustration.

Jack Howl:

He respects your ability, but he’s mildly concerned when you shift into a rhino after a workout, clearly overwhelmed by how sore you are. "Hey, I get the effort, but don’t take down the gym equipment with your horns," Jack warns, not knowing how to help while you smash everything in sight. It’s all part of “getting swole,” right?

Azul Ashengrotto:

He’s actually kind of jealous of your ability. When you transform into something like a Medusa during a heated negotiation, Azul’s glasses slip down his nose. “Let’s keep calm, shall we?” he says nervously, trying to maintain his cool. He starts drafting up a contract for your transformation abilities, hoping to exploit your forms to boost the Monstro Lounge’s appeal.

Jade Leech:

Fascinated. When you shift into a giant squid out of excitement for finding a rare mushroom with him, Jade’s eyes gleam with interest. “How intriguing... I wonder if your emotions could inspire even rarer forms.” He offers you “stimulating” experiences to study your shapeshifting, but he’s just looking for an excuse to see your dragon form again.

Floyd Leech:

He’s your biggest fan. Every time you shift into something, Floyd is there, demanding to “see the big one” — aka your dragon form. “Come on, let me fight ya while you’re a dragon! It’ll be fun!” You’d think being a massive fire-breathing lizard would scare him, but nope. He’s more excited.

Kalim Al-Asim:

Kalim finds your ability endlessly fun. “Whoa, you’re a parrot now! That’s amazing!” He just claps and laughs every time you transform, not even fazed when you accidentally turn into a giant elephant during a banquet. “This is the best party ever!” He starts planning parties around your emotions just to see what you turn into next.

Jamil Viper:

Jamil’s patience is tested when you shapeshift into an overly dramatic form every time you get slightly annoyed. You turn into a cobra when he criticizes your cooking, and he sighs, rubbing his temples. "I don’t have time to deal with this. Can’t you at least stay human for five minutes?" You hiss in reply.

Vil Schoenheit:

Vil’s irritation reaches an all-time high when he realizes you can shapeshift into ethereal, otherworldly beings, making even him feel average. The moment you turn into an angelic being, radiating beauty, he stares in stunned silence before murmuring, "I’m not envious... but perhaps you could tone it down? You’re stealing the spotlight."

Rook Hunt:

Obsessed. Rook is utterly captivated by your ability and considers it a masterpiece of emotional expression. "Magnifique!" he exclaims every time you transform, sketchbook in hand. He spends hours praising your forms in flowery French, even when you’re just a tiny bunny hiding in a corner from Vil’s glare.

Epel Felmier:

Epel is torn between awe and jealousy when you become a giant bear in a fit of anger. “Dang it, I wanna be that big!” He tries to rile you up just to see your more fearsome forms, hoping to get some tips on how to be more intimidating. When you become a giant stag beetle, he’s both inspired and a little scared.

Idia Shroud:

Idia’s both fascinated and terrified by your shapeshifting. “You’re basically a walking, talking MMORPG character with transformation hacks,” he mutters, eyes wide as you morph into a Cerberus when angry. He pulls out his tablet, muttering, "Okay, let’s not piss them off anymore, or it’s game over for me."

Ortho Shroud:

Ortho, on the other hand, is super excited about your ability. “Brother! They’ve turned into a griffin! How cool is that?” He scans you with his sensors and starts rattling off facts about your transformations like a walking encyclopedia. He keeps asking for data on each shift, even if you’re currently a three-headed dog chewing through a chair.

Malleus Draconia:

Malleus is unsurprisingly unfazed. “Ah, you’ve become a dragon,” he muses when you turn into a fearsome beast out of fury. "How... nostalgic." He gives you pointers on how to properly roar and fly, treating your transformation as a normal Tuesday. “Let me know if you’d like some pointers on being a more regal dragon.”

Lilia Vanrouge:

Lilia finds it hilarious when you shapeshift uncontrollably. "Ah, such youthful vigor!" he says, clapping as you morph into a bat out of anxiety. He starts comparing your forms to his own transformations, occasionally pranking you just to see what you’ll turn into. When you become a spider, he dangles from the ceiling, poking fun at your eight legs.

Sebek Zigvolt:

Sebek yells in disbelief whenever you turn into anything he deems less than “worthy.” “You turned into a sheep? Preposterous! That’s no form for someone in the presence of Lord Malleus!” But when you shift into a dragon, he practically throws himself at your feet. “At last! A proper transformation!”

Silver:

Silver just... naps through most of your transformations. You could be a raging tiger, and he’d probably sleep through it. When he wakes up and finds you in some new form, he just rubs his eyes and says, “Oh, you’re a phoenix now? That’s cool,” before falling asleep again.

Crowley: "This is a rare magical ability!" Crowley says, trying to use your talents to bolster the school's reputation. He wants you to shapeshift during big events, but every time you’re stressed, you turn into a giant tortoise and refuse to move. He’s not thrilled.

Trein: He lectures you on controlling your emotions to prevent transformations, but even he’s secretly amused when you turn into a kitten after falling asleep in his class. He just sighs and lets you nap on the desk.

Crewel: When you shift into a ferocious wolf during an argument, Crewel just nods approvingly. "Good, good. Use that tenacity!" He’s secretly proud of your feral forms but won’t admit it outright.

Vargas: “A shapeshifter, huh?” Vargas immediately makes you part of every athletic event, hoping you’ll turn into something big and fast. When you become a cheetah, he practically cheers. “That’s what I like to see! Speed and power! Keep it up!" He starts using your transformations as a benchmark for the rest of the class, causing you to shift into an armadillo out of sheer stress from his overenthusiasm.

Rollo Flamme:

Rollo: He tries to maintain his usual calm and collected demeanor, but every time you shapeshift into something bizarre like a raven when you’re feeling anxious around him, he gets increasingly frustrated. “This is not an excuse for chaos,” he mutters through gritted teeth. But when you morph into a seraphim in a fit of anger, glowing and majestic, Rollo's attitude shifts to discomfort mixed with awe. “We need... order, not divine intervention.”

Masterlist

[wilwheaton]

Elon Musk has donated to a Trump campaign-affiliated PAC, tossing cash behind a candidate for the first time in the race, per Bloomberg. People familiar with the donation didn’t disclose the amount, but according to Bloomberg, they described it as a “sizeable sum.” Musk, with a net worth of far over $200 billion, has dove headfirst into far-right conspiracy and fascist-adjacent ideology in recent years, pushing strains of the Great Replacement Theory and other anti-immigrant and antisemitic rhetoric on X, formerly Twitter, the platform that he purchased in 2022.

Elon Musk officially weighs in on race, tossing cash at Trump PAC

Dogshit Nazi who owns a Nazi propaganda distribution factory, gives money to another dogshit Nazi, who is doing everything he can to turn America into a Nazi dictatorship.

This is what you support when you use Twitter. Hashtag Brands, I’m looking at you.

[richarlotte]

365 Days from Rot to Hot (Pt. 3).

Find your colors. You could use AI, take a trip to Lowe’s (this is one of the things I did), or actually use a service, but sorting out what colors suit you is essential. A major part of building my blend and creating my personal style was based around finding things that suited me, and I do believe that you shouldn’t start buying clothes or putting a look together unless you know your undertone, have a grasp of your colors and your body type, understand your seasons, and are prepared to experiment with what you’ve learned. Finding your colors should be the first step you take, as it will make the process of creating looks easier and give you a general idea of what things will look good on you.

Search for inspiration and don’t hold yourself back. It’s your life; it’s your fashion; it’s your style. You can be as basic or as eccentric as you want. If you think Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber are goddesses, then take inspiration from them. If you’re a budding Betsey Johnson or a Lisa Frank and want to design your own clothes and make them even brighter, then do that. If you’re obsessed with Bella Hadid’s western era and want to chase your own wild horses, then go ahead. I’d recommend doing what I did and creating a number of Pinterest boards and using Instagram to create polyvore-like style and vision boards.

Set a reasonable budget and stick with it. You cannot spend more than you have, and it’s not wise to get into debt pursuing a lifestyle that you know you can’t afford in the long run. Create a reasonable budget and work with it; don’t try to work around it. I found myself shopping from Walmart, Meijer, Gap, and J. Crew Factory and looking for sales before I bought anything. Don’t jump into the process and waste your money buying everything straight off the racks; utilize stores like TJ Maxx, look for sales, use what you already have, and really make an effort to make your dollar stretch. Another part of working with your budget is not blowing it by shopping at Shein; if you buy something and then have to throw it out and rebuy it after 5 wears, you’re not actually getting any bang for your buck.

Utilize Pinterest and social media to find women that look like you. An integral part of creating your own blend and finding what works for you is seeing it on other women. I followed a number of women that looked like me and didn’t look like me, lived in areas of the world I found fascinating, and had tastes that I wouldn’t describe as mainstream. I used a number of different languages to search for the trends that I liked; I used Twitter and Instagram to look at hashtags; and I took total advantage of the resources I was able to access. I used magazines, went through online archives, and spent time building my ideal image. Was it perfect? No, but as time passed, it became more and more helpful, and it eventually became the Pinterest board that I use now and my main vision board.

Tie it all together and see how things work. I had to experiment with so many different looks, delete and recreate so many vision boards, and try things for myself. Am I a hairstylist? No, but I’m also not a billionaire, so I had to learn how to style my wigs to see what suited me. I went to stores to try things on, experimented with IG to see if certain pieces of jewelry would suit me, and had the time of my life during my experimentation phase. Collecting online images isn’t enough, and it’s very hard to actually get a grasp of what you like if you’re doing everything online. Try your lookout, put things together, adjust it as you please, and tie your loose ends up.

Pt. 4 to come next.

[wittymumbledon]

been tinkering with this self-indulgent little thing for a lil' while now, but I think it's finally ready to release into the wild - I've seen a few takes on the concept of a Gravity Falls and Jekyll and Hyde crossover already - and with the nature of things there's likely going to be quite a bit of overlap - but nonetheless I wanted to try and make my own take on it. (I will note, though, that I was quite inspired by @maruchanart - especially in regards to Bill's design :])

Now - "The Strange Case of Dr Pines and Mr Cipher" is quite the mouthful (and no doubt quite the painful hashtag) - so from here onwards I will simply refer to this as

The Strange Case AU

I haven't worked out the details yet - and the details that I have are likely to change considering I originally based this off the musical and am now also reading the original novel but- As it stands -

This AU will be loosely based on a combination of the original Robert Louis Stevenson novel and the later Jekyll & Hyde musical. If I end up making any sort of animated content I will likely use the original 1994 recordings (they're gorgeous, can you blame me?), but I am most visually inspired by the 2001 production (the one with David Hasselhoff in it - I've already stolen his ponytail for my Ford lol)

Though the AU features the GF cast (those of them that were around in the 70s and 80s anyway), it will be set back in the early 1800s like the original story. We'll sort out the time anomalies as they arise - I don't want to think about it too hard right now I imagine there might be some shifts to a couple family trees though...

The roles of Jekyll and Hyde will - understandably - be played by Dr. Stanford Pines and Mr. William Lucipher

Stanford's character remains mostly the same - he is still a brilliant scientist, curious about the strange and a workaholic to the core - but he leans more towards the egotistic (there's a lot more of his "Why didn't Rudolph use his red-hot nose to burn his oppressor's workshop to the ground?" side showing through)

The main roles get a lot muddier from here - especially considering some of the character changes between the novel and the musical - but Fiddleford mainly plays a joint role of Lanyon and Emma, with some Utterson thrown in where suitable (and potentially a bit of Lucy too--see I told you it gets muddy real quick). A brilliant mind for mechanics and mathematics, but also a mind prone to paranoia. He is in perpetual conflict over his feelings about Stanford's experiment and his feelings about Stanford himself.

Stanley mostly replaces Utterson from either version of the story, an likely whatever parts of Lanyon that can't taken over by Fidds. After getting disowned - and lacking his twin's much higher social reputation - he ends up working at a factory.

Feel free to ask about more details (might get me to finish the artworks faster lol) or make your own suggestions/speculations! :3

[vintage-london-images]

Following on from my Lesney Products post, here is a film snippet that shows us how Matchbox models were made at their London factory in 1967. Hope you find it interesting.

Please check out other posts with hashtag #video on @vintage-london-images

[the-most-humble-blog]

Fox in the Hen House: Why Male Feminists Are a Myth, but Creeps and Simps Are Everywhere

Ladies, Let’s Get Real: He’s Not Your Ally, He’s Just Waiting for an Opening

Let’s get this out of the way: a straight man calling himself a feminist is as mythical as a unicorn that pays rent on time. It’s a performance, a ploy, and often a poorly disguised ticket to your attention. The louder the performance, the more suspect it is. Ladies, if you’ve ever swooned over a man who proclaims his feminist badge with pride while throwing other men under the bus, buckle up��this truth bomb is about to detonate.

1. Male Feminists: The Red Flag Factory

Men who claim to be feminists aren’t aligning with your empowerment; they’re auditioning for your approval.

The “Raised in a House Full of Women” Trope: Oh, he’s seen it all because he has sisters? Big deal. Growing up around women doesn’t make you an ally; it makes you observant. News flash: even serial killers have mothers.

The “I’ve Seen So Much Misogyny” Line: If his response to witnessing misogyny is to announce it like a knighted hero rather than confronting it in the moment, that’s a 🚩.

The Perfect Husband Myth: “I’ve been happily married for X years.” Translation: “Please ignore my ulterior motives while I use my wife as a moral shield.”

Thought: The louder he yells “toxic masculinity,” the more skeletons are rattling in his closet—and they’re probably holding a copy of his exes restraining order against him.

2. Hardwired for Brotherhood, Not Betrayal

Let’s get anthropological for a second. Men aren’t designed to fight each other for the sake of performative allyship. Hundreds of thousands of years of evolution wired them to protect their tribes, hunt mammoths, and keep the community safe. The guy who starts screaming, “Guys, this toxic mammoth-hunting culture has to stop!” would’ve been banished—or worse.

Back Then: Men who divided the tribe were threats to survival.

Now: Modern male feminists dividing men to gain favor with women? The same energy, minus the spears.

Truth: Men don’t turn on their own without an ulterior motive. Period.

3. The Performance of Passion = Danger

Ever notice how the most theatrical male feminists are also the creepiest?

The Foam-at-the-Mouth Activists: He’s not angry for your rights—he’s angry because he’s trying to prove he’s “different.” The reality? He’s not.

Performative Outrage: Yelling at other men or shaming them doesn’t make him noble; it makes him manipulative. He’s leveraging your emotions to look good.

Real Talk: Men who genuinely respect women don’t need to shout about it. They just act like decent human beings.

4. The Evolution of Simping

Modern society has rebranded the simp as a “male feminist,” but the game hasn’t changed—it’s just wearing new clothes.

Simp Behavior: Doing everything for validation, hoping it pays off romantically or sexually.

Feminist Facade: Cloaking the same intentions in activism and hashtags.

Relatable to Anyone?: He’s the guy who texts, “You’re so brave to share your story 💜,” followed by, “By the way, you looked amazing in that photo 😘.”

5. Ladies, Stop Humoring This Nonsense

Here’s the truth you don’t want to hear: Even these men have humored a passing thought of entering your “vicious innards.” Yes, even the “perfect husband,” the “activist,” and the “ally.” The more vitriolic his feminist rhetoric, the more dangerous he becomes.

Why It’s Dangerous:

He’s not defending women; he’s positioning himself as a savior.

This kind of behavior undermines genuine conversations about equality by turning it into a dating tactic.

Reality: “I just care so much about women’s rights!” Bro, your browser history says otherwise.

6. Why Men Protect, Not Betray

Good men don’t need to shout “I’m a feminist” from the rooftops. They don’t betray their fellow men for clout. They’re protectors—always have been, always will be. That’s their evolutionary wiring.

Men Who Betray Their Own: These are the foxes in the hen house, dividing men and gaining trust just to exploit it later.

The Modern Tribe: In Western society, these men disrupt unity and weaken the collective strength of men and women.

7. Extrapolating to Modern Society

Let’s bring it back to today. In the U.S., this behavior is rampant. Male feminists use their loud, theatrical “allyship” to mask their true intentions, whether it’s manipulation, access, or validation.

Blunt Truth: If a straight man claims to be a feminist, you should run—not because he supports equality, but because his motives are likely far less pure than he’s letting on.

Important: You don’t want to hear it, but someone had to tell Ya, Dummy...I’ve chosen to do so—more humbly than anyone else ever could. You’re welcome.

Ladies, it’s time to stop humoring the “male feminist” myth. These men aren’t the allies you think they are—they’re just better actors. Good men don’t need to yell from the rooftops or tear other men down to show they care. They act with quiet confidence, respecting women without fanfare.

Love unapologetic truth bombs? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more sharp takes, dark humor, and humble insights you won’t find anywhere else.

[bellamyd]

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[mariacallous]

Earlier this month I complimented a friend on her new Bottega Jodie bag. She had recently got a promotion at work, and is now a senior manager at a respectable record label earning six figures. The bag was a celebratory gift, she told me, only it wasn’t Bottega—it was a dupe.

As someone who has a closet full of designer labels—and who could certainly afford to buy the real thing—her admission surprised me. My face must have given that away. “It’s real Italian leather,” she quickly followed up, “and their website says they manufacture in the same factories as some luxury brands. You couldn’t tell the difference, so why would I spend thousands more for basically the same thing?”

It’s a question many have been asking since dupe culture went supernova over the last few years. A shorthand for duplicate, dupes are cheaper alternatives that are basically the same as the real thing. Think of it as a cousin to counterfeit culture, but instead of being a cheap knock-off that infringes on a brand’s trademark, they’re uncannily similar imitations—promising the same qualities of the product at a fraction of the cost.

It’s not just my friend who loves them either. Roughly one-third of all US adults have intentionally bought a dupe, according to Morning Consult, with that figure rising to almost half for Gen Z shoppers and 44% for millennials. In the UK, research by Mintel shows 47% of consumers are now open to buying luxury lookalikes in 2024, compared to just 12% in 2016.

“The shame of buying these things has gone,” says Alice Sherwood, author of Authenticity: Reclaiming Reality in a Counterfeit Culture. “Luxury prices have skyrocketed while the trend cycle has rapidly accelerated. People no longer want to spend upwards of £4000 on the latest ‘It’ bag that might be out of vogue within a year.”

Add their proliferation on social media into that mix, and the dupe culture has been normalised in ways that “knock-offs” from Canal Street never were, she says.

Just one scroll on TikTok would affirm this. At the time of writing over 260,000 posts have been made under the #dupes hashtag, with the majority featuring creators sharing their best dupe finds across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and homeware. Most of the time they’re from fast fashion retailers like Shein, Amazon and Temu, but more recently, a new crop of companies have been dominating dupe culture by offering quite a different proposition.

Low-Price Luxury

Take my friend’s new favourite brand, Quince. According to their website their mission is “to create products of equal or greater quality than the leading luxury brands at a much lower price”. To do so they’ve sourced factories used by “well-known luxury brands” to manufacture their goods, but by cutting out the middlemen and hefty markup, they can sell them at far more affordable prices.

They’re not the only ones. Leather goods manufacturer Sitoy Group Holdings regularly uploads videos on social media showcasing how the quality of its $100 handbags is almost identical to those sold for upwards of $1000, all the while advertising that they use the same production lines used by Prada, Tumi and Michael Kors. Then there's Chicjoc, one of the largest Chinese fashion apparel brands on Taobao and Tmall, claiming it uses the same fabric manufacturers as those used by the likes of Chanel, Valentino and Louis Vuitton.

This shift towards high-quality dupes puts luxury brands in a difficult position. For decades, they’ve justified their high prices with the promise of superior craftsmanship and materials. They've even poked fun at these imitations. But when brands are offering near-identical goods allegedly manufactured in the same factory as luxury brands for much, much less, that justification starts to crumble.

Another brand that has gained significant traction online this year is Los Angeles-based premium basics brand, Italic, with many consumers on Reddit expressing their satisfaction with the quality of the products. “Most of our products take 5–10 sample runs and 6–18 months, sometimes even longer,” says Italic CEO Jeremy Cai. “Our sourcing process involves rigorous vetting and ongoing quality controls, including factory certifications, samples, and production quality.”

This meticulous approach stands in stark contrast to what many might expect. Italic contacts 20-30 potential suppliers, evaluates 5-7 factories, and ultimately works with just 1-2 of them for any given product category, visiting each factory on-site.

The key difference between Italic and the high-profile brands using the same factories, Cai explains, is in the pricing: “Most of our factories' clients sell for 2-4x more than our SRPs (Suggested Retail Prices), often much higher.” By cutting out the markup typically associated with luxury goods, Italic offers high-quality products at a more accessible price point.

Cai is quick to point out that Italic does not market itself as a “dupe” brand. However, that hasn’t stopped consumers from drawing comparisons to more expensive luxury labels. In contrast, competitor Quince leans into dupe culture, positioning itself more overtly as a challenger to high-end brands. On Quince's website, woven intrecciato handbags, which resemble Bottega Veneta's iconic designs, are showcased alongside price comparisons to their luxury counterparts.

Quince also frequently analyses luxury competitors’ best-selling items to identify opportunities for replication. “Data collection is crucial in our product development process,” says a Quince spokesperson. “Our team uses a variety of sources, including Google Trends, social media, and customer feedback, to understand the market and ensure we’re delivering what people want.”

Quince’s strategy is built on the belief that luxury can—and should—be more accessible. “Our founding team, with years of experience in luxury and DTC (direct-to-consumer) retail, knew that competitors add a 40–60% markup on similar products,” continues the spokesperson. “As costs in the luxury market become more transparent, consumers are less willing to accept these inflated prices.”

To that end, Quince works globally to source manufacturing partners that share their commitment to transparency, while innovating to keep costs down. Every product page on their site includes detailed information about materials, country of origin, and certifications for working conditions along the supply chain.

Luxury brands, on the other hand, have traditionally kept their manufacturing processes shrouded in secrecy. William Lasry, founder of Glass Factory, is working to change that.

Lasry travels the globe, visiting and spotlighting factories with superior craftsmanship and ethical practices across his social media platforms. While not all brands are doing their very best, he is sceptical about some companies' supposed connections to luxury factories, pointing out that these dupe brands frequently exploit this ambiguity for marketing purposes.

“There are many instances where a factory will produce a sample for a luxury brand,” Lasry explains. “Luxury brands often request samples from hundreds of factories, but in many cases, nothing materialises beyond the sample stage. The factory might then turn around and claim, ‘We’ve made samples for Gucci,’ even though no production deal was ever finalised.”

Petros Analytis, head of research at Glass Factory, agrees that it’s hard to draw the line. “Unless they let us come into the factories and see for ourselves, it’s hard to ascertain.”

Premium Tax

While transparency might be slowly improving, one thing the luxury market has always clung onto is its appeal. Conglomerates like LVMH and Kering built empires on the foundation of an alluring narrative—one that combines centuries of heritage with modern-day prestige. By blending Old World craftsmanship with the new-age glamour of celebrity culture, they made handbags, shoes, and clothing a gateway to an elite, exclusive world.

For a long time consumers were happy to pay big bucks to belong in this world. Perhaps unknowingly, they were buying not just a product but an experience. The true value of a designer label wasn't simply measured by the stitching or material, but by the feeling it evoked—the confidence boost, the social status, the feeling of exclusivity. “It’s a real skill to make a handbag into an object desired by millions of women, one that has so much meaning and can do so much for your self-confidence,” notes Sherwood.

Yet, behind the curtain of glamour, the reality of some products was very different. While consumers believed they were buying the pinnacle of luxury, what they were often getting was a product only marginally superior to midrange alternatives—and occasionally no better at all. The excessively high margins were less a reflection of quality and more a tax on the brands' appeal.

“They are the architects of their own problems,” continues Sherwood. “By making so much of their products not about the tangible product, but about the intangible aspects of the brands - those sexy ads, the celebs who carry your products, the stores, the glossy ads, the slogans, the heritage backstory, all that stuff that isn’t actually the product itself.”

In turn they’ve created an enormous gap between what consumers are actually paying for and the real value of the product. As these companies have increasingly pursued the ultra-wealthy, they’ve left a gap in the market that other brands, eager to capitalise, are starting to fill. “They know that the prices at the very top of luxury are too high to reflect the actual value,” Sherwood says. “But have turned these notable silhouettes and styles into desirable items that a dupe brand can free ride off of.”

Then, recently, the veneer began to crack even further. In March, Italian luxury brand Loro Piana became embroiled in scandal after an investigation revealed the material behind their $9,000 sweaters was sourced by low-paid workers in Peru. Just a few months later, in July, Italian prosecutors alleged sweatshop-like conditions in factories supplying certain products for high-end labels such as Dior and Armani. The revelations triggered outrage among consumers, many of whom had long trusted these brands to uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship and ethics.

Across online forums like the r/handbag subreddit, once-loyal customers voiced their disillusionment. For many, these scandals revealed that the luxury brands they idolised were not living up to their promises. Both Loro Piana and Dior have denied the allegations. However, The Business of Fashion revealed that Milan's public prosecutor said in a court document that they had found “an illegal practice so entrenched and proven [that it could] be considered part of a broader business policy exclusively aimed at increasing profit.” Neither company has been charged in relation to the probe.

Such reputational damage couldn’t have come at a worse time for luxury brands. Coupled with the rise of dupe culture, these scandals are forcing consumers to rethink their relationship with high-end goods. If craftsmanship is no longer exceptional, and ethical practices are called into question, what exactly are people paying for when they buy luxury?

Rebuilding the Dream

Recent sales figures underline just how far demand for luxury mega-brands has fallen from its post-pandemic highs. In July, some of the industry’s biggest players reported disappointing revenues for the second consecutive quarter. LVMH, the world’s leading luxury conglomerate, missed sales estimates, while Gucci’s parent company Kering, experienced a decline of 11%. Other major brands like Richemont and Burberry also reported disappointing figures, with first-quarter sales plummeting by a staggering 20%.

At the heart of luxury’s current struggles is the erosion of the very dream that once propelled the industry. The disconnect between the marketing mythology and the reality of production has left consumers feeling disillusioned, meaning the days of blindly paying a premium for a logo may be at risk.

The democratisation of information and consumer power through social media has played a huge part in this. Platforms like TikTok and Reddit are filled with conversations that challenge the industry's value proposition, which has made it so much harder for luxury brands to control their narrative.

To regain their position, Brittany Steiger, principal analyst of retail & eCommerce at Mintel says they will need to focus on what once made them so desirable—authenticity, superior craftsmanship, and a narrative of prestige that feels both aspirational and attainable. Some experts suggest that embracing more transparent practices and truly living up to their ethical and quality promises could also be the way forward. Brands that fail to do so, may find themselves increasingly irrelevant in a world where high-quality dupes continue to gain ground.

It’s clear that the old model of luxury has been disrupted, and it’s no longer just about price anymore. In the battle between heritage and value, consumers are asking more questions—and luxury brands must have better answers. And if they don’t, there’s a whole industry on the sidelines who do.

[cityof2morrow]

Anno2070-to-Sims2: Eco Production Buildings

Published: 2-4-2025 | Updated: N/A SUMMARY This is a collection of hood deco - eco production buildings from Anno 2070 (Ubisoft, 2011), including 40+ factories, farms, fields, and seasonal crops. I’ve edited them to work better with my desert landscape, but they should be suitable for all neighborhood types. Several crops change based on the season – I like to think of this “crop rotation” as an eco-friendly detail. Find more anno-to-sims2 content under the #co2anno hashtag.

DETAILS Requires all EPs/SPs (may work w/ only 1-2 EPs). §0 | Hood Deco > Effects/Misc Buildings light up partially in night/hood view. There are some texture quirks since these are not meant for larger meshes. Also, these buildings are not repo’d/compressed. Some building footprints are OFFSET because they are meant to be placed over sunken ground. Use “modifyneighborhoodterrain on/off” cheats to lower the terrain. Then, place the offset structure over the hole. ITEMS -crops range from 25 to 1584 poly across seasons; except the rice-soy is higher at 2640 poly -poly count ranges below apply to all other buildings Bakery/Pasta (2965), Basalt (965-1194), Biopolymer (2260), Cogeneration/Thermal Power (3914), Communicator/Electronics (2249), Corn (1450-1496), Dairy (1023-2384), Flour Mill (7483, HIGH), Fruit (2569-2608), Glassworks (1755), Grain (941-1636), Health Drink/Food (2703-3598), Hologram Projector (4275), Rice-Soy (1307-2189), Robot (5094), Solar (1276-3200), Tea (2884-3092), Tree (2196), Vegetable (1432-1444), Windparks (1848-1937). DOWNLOAD (choose one) from SFS | from MEGA COMPATIBILITY -Some buildings/crops have a few unused resources in the package files. I left these in since I’ll be using them as templates for other projects. -As I build up my neighborhood, I may re-size some buildings. If so, I’ll consider offering alt downloads as I did with residence buildings. neighborhood views...

pics from LOT VIEW with deco/neighbors turned on...

CREDITS Thanks: Simming, Blender, Github, and Anno Fan communities. Sources: Beyno (Korn via BBFonts), EA/Maxis, Offuturistic Infographic (Freepik), Anno 2070 (Ubisoft, 2011), Anno 2070 Buildings, Anno 2070 Wiki, Sangwiss (2014).

[sl3epy-c0rvid]

☆|| corvid's intro post!! ||☆

constantly being edited smh

greetings and salutations! my name is corvid/glibble/ryu---whichever you wanna call me---and i welcome you to my silly little blog! here, you will find miscellaneous content, varying from art, nonhumanity, fandoms i indulge in, and just random, silly things!

as of now i am transmasc, genderfaun, and omnisexual, as well as nonhuman! i go by he/they/it pronouns, and i have a preference for masculine individuals. i do have a partner however!! this may or may not change in the future, but that is what i am in the present

☆my main content, hashtag key (which i will likely forget!), credits, and extra info below the cut!☆

thats a lotta boxes whoops

actually im not sorry im a hoarder

☆ my main content!

the things i usually post are inconsistent, of course, and are usually drowned in reblogs lmao, but they typically include things such as:

art, whether it be my own or others, cool things i own or find, fandom content, nonhuman content (art, thoughts, experiences, etc.), and the occasional silly little post!

also LOVEE interacting with people, so feel free to send me asks about anything at all! i dont bite x3

☆ hashtag key!

sometimes i will forget to use these, but this is for when i do use them

☆ #yap factory - silly comments and words!

☆ #corvids scribbles - my art!

☆ #mrow! - reblogs!

☆ #plucked from the inbox - answered asks from my ask box!

☆ #finished demands requests - finished requests from my ask box!

☆ #corvids moots :3 - any interaction with my mutuals :3

☆ #ruffled feathers! - for whenever i end up sharing outfits!

☆ #flappy wings! - happy rants!

☆ #purr~ - some soft words of affirmation and comfort :3

☆ #paw print - nonhuman content

☆ #corvids shiniess - cool stuffs i own!

☆ #☆ [name] - oc content!

☆ #wife mentioned? - whenever i mention/talk about my partner :3

☆ #corvid whines - vents or generally shitty posts

☆ #corvid loves [yada yada] - special interests!!!

(more keys likely will be added in the future!)

☆ extra info!

☆ my commissions and art trades are open! click here for more info! (carrd is currently under some editing!)

☆ my 'type doodle requests are still open! feel free to send in an ask to request a doodle :3

☆ DNI: homo/transphobes, zionists, nazis, pedo/zoophiles, radqueers, ableists, racists, sexists, misogynists, and just generally gross or hateful people, please and thank you :3

☆ i try my best to welcome and accept anyone and everyone, but i will not hesitate to block or report anyone who gives me a reason to, thanks

☆ credits!

lost a few, sorry!

☆ checkered divider - @saradika

☆ protect our seas - @cheezitofthevalley

☆ i love you guys :) - @faviconuploader

☆ this user is nonhuman, i do all sorts of stupid and gay shit - @engravedlives

☆ pluto is a planet! (fuck you) - @virulentinanity

☆ this user hasnt learned how to be as human as you are yet - @songuserbox

☆ this user loves bugs - @xxx-ang3l-w1th-a-sh0tgun-xxx

☆ this user finds comfort in cats, this user is too eepy, this user bites you - @sweetpeauserboxes

☆ this user is a liddol guy - @scungledfiles

☆ this user is so fucking tired - @adhdoofenshmirtz

☆ this user is a little kitty cat - @burntoutuserboxes

☆ omnisexual and transgender dividers - @aquazero

☆ dni banner - @pixxiecup

[catcherinwhitebread]

sometimes i feel like a hipster cunt (derogatory) when i see people only liking mainstream things while beating down others with unique tastes or these endless debates over whether or not it’s pretentious to not like a certain things

i know i’m not special for liking stuff that has over 1k posts on a hashtag but those types of people have this country-club mindset, where if you don’t fit in you don’t get in

and i’m of the belief that all art has intent and something to learn, but there’s so much crap that’s just being churned out of get-famous-quick factories and everyone just defends it because they believe they could be next

you have to be a little strange to be good, faux vulnerability makes songs and books read like a middle schoolers attempt of Shakespeare. clothes shouldn’t feel like plastic, books shouldn’t just be torture porn for sad middle aged women, art shouldn’t be ai, and content shouldn’t be 1 min videos of horrible takes.