The Uncharted Journey of a Jacket, AI, and Embracing Whimsical Failure
You know, it all began with a bizarre AI image — Elon Musk and The Pope, both rocking a white puffer jacket.
The Elon Inspiration
When Elon shared it on Twitter last March, the internet had fun. Despite the jacket’s goofy appearance — think marshmallow meets luxury with a golden zipper — Elon was all in for it. He even dropped a line about how cool it would be to turn AI-designed fashion into real clothing.
A Kickstarter Saga Begins
Now, my buddy Alex, he was already on a mission. Working on this app that would bring to life AI-generated clothing designs. When Elon’s tweet blew up, a Y Combinator partner nudged Alex about it. They were already in contact with his app idea.
The tweet got Alex thinking — why not make this jacket for Elon and send it over? But hey, why stop there? Why not launch a Kickstarter campaign for the jacket? That’s where I, Alin, hopped on this wild ride. I had just waved goodbye to my cushy IBM job back in Europe to join Alex in Thailand to build this app. Though, when Alex mentioned Kickstarter, I was a bit on the fence. I mean, who’d wear that jacket? But we figured if we’re doing this, it’s gonna be all about the fun, no stiff collars here.
The Rollercoaster Prelaunch
So, I landed in Thailand and we dove headfirst into this Kickstarter saga. Our first jacket samples were, well, less of a fashion statement and more of a laugh. The question started looming — would anyone buy this, even for the giggles? We reached out to crowdfunding agencies and they were all gung-ho about it. But reality hit when we realized we needed a prelaunch to test the waters.
Our prelaunch stage was akin to a rollercoaster ride. In a bid to figure out what would click, we decided to run a little A/B test. On one hand, we put on a serious face, discussing the (nonexistent) benefits and value of the jacket. On the other, we went full goofy, sprinkling a bit of Elon magic for good measure. The outcome? Well, traffic did pick up a bit, but email leads? They were nowhere to be found, regardless of the approach. It was like shouting into the void, waiting for an echo that never came back.
The Black Jacket Gambit
After two failed pre-launches, we were at a crossroad. Thought about crowdfunding our AI fashion design app, but apps and Kickstarter, they’re like oil and water. Then, amidst our jacket samples, we found this black one — it was puffy, serious-looking but had a distinctive, out-there appeal.. So, we thought, why not give this black jacket a shot on Kickstarter, with a straight face this time?
We hustled hard, filmed a Kickstarter video amidst the tropical backdrop of Bangkok (pitching a winter jacket while sweating bullets), took some photos, and made our campaign page. Initially, we were working together with a crowdfunding agency for the white puffer jacket. But when we unveiled the black jacket video, they hit the brakes, a week before the launch. Their cold feet led us to another agency, which, let’s just say, left us high and dry after the campaign had already kicked off.
The Black Jacket campaign turned out to be a flop. We had to pull the plug. And there we were, in the heart of Bangkok, holding a white puffer jacket that looked more like a gag gift than fashion.
Redefining the White Puffer
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Despite our wallets thinning and the reality of going bust breathing down our necks, we saw a silver lining in this white puffer jacket. What if we launch a fun, self-aware Kickstarter campaign, selling it for $15, which is just our cost? Bucking the trend of boasting features, we’d proudly declare this jacket is featureless. It’s the oddball of jackets, and we love it for that.
Alex has a sweet spot for the jacket; he thinks it’s not half bad. Me? I find it hilariously bad. We’re wary of riding the Elon wave too hard, but hey, we’re not pocketing a dime here. (Although, a little tip wouldn’t hurt!)
Through the highs and lows, the laughs and the facepalms, this journey has been nothing short of a learning curve. It’s not just about a jacket or an app, it’s about taking the leap, even when the landing is unclear. We’ve drained our savings, felt lost more times than we can count, but every morning, we get up and push forward. Because at the end of the day, it’s about making something out of the ordinary, and who knows, maybe catching Elon’s eye after all.
So, here we are, with a quirky jacket and a story to tell. We invite you to be part of this playful venture, not for the sake of fashion, but for the sheer joy of turning something unusual into reality.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aiowear/meme-jacket/
And who knows, maybe together, we’ll have the last laugh.
