Lots of people dream of becoming fashion designers. For many, this dream is never actualized â€" but as technology changes the way we shop for and buy things, more and more everyday people are having the opportunity to become stars. Naked & Angry is a perfect example of how technology is changing our culture, fashion, and spending habits. This company enables anybody to log onto Naked&Angry.com and submit a design for a fabric pattern with the potential to be turned into a real, wearable product that customers purchase. Naked & Angry submissions are viewed and voted on by other Naked & Angry viewers for 7 days, whereupon a winning design is chosen and produced. Winners receive $500 and their choice of five free Naked & Angry items. The idea behind this enterprise is one that is both unique and inspiring. SkinnyCorp caught onto the idea of personalized fashion design early on, creating the Threadless.com website years ago. Naked & Angry is a high end off shoot of Threadless.com, an online community / tee shirt design competition website where viewers can vote on screenprints for their favorite tee's.

Naked & Angry chooses five patterns each season that get turned into fabric which is then manufactured to make 5 to 15 items including everything from ties to pillows to belts to sweaters. Each Naked & Angry tie is hand made from 100% pure silk. They're created using a weaving process that includes pre-dyed yarn â€" resulting in the finest quality color and fabric. There's a solid black silk lining that adds weight and feel to the tie without making them bunchy or bulky. Since Naked & Angry's top priority is the quality of the pieces they produce, it's not likely you'll be disappointed by your limited edition purchase. And since the best way to store a tie is rolled (not draped over a hanger), Naked & Angry designed a tie storage box to keep your threads in tiptop shape. The hand constructed hardwood tie box was designed with both function and fashion in mind: it's striking simplicity and attention to detail makes it something you'll want to hang on to, while the spring loaded recessed hinge keeps the box closed without a need for a clasp. The box itself is so notable that it was recently showcased at a tradeshow in Las Vegas, and won the best retail packaging award.

Naked & Angry is capitalizing on technology's ability to make mass customization possible. They're creating loyal followers through word of mouth advertising and a unique reality TV style approach to business. By allowing the customers to decide what gets produced and what doesn't, Naked & Angry is able to generate one of a kind products that they know will sell. It looks like boring ties are finally a thing of the past.