Fashion Industry Network Rules
The rules hub: philosophy, the two lists, and the final rule
This page was the hub of the Fashion Industry Network's rules - the front door to the two rule lists, the reporting page and the legal notice that together governed the Apparel Search Company's fashion industry community. It is kept as the historical record; the network's closure was announced June 21, 2024.
It opens with a concession to its audience: fashionable people do not typically enjoy following rules, and restrictions tend to cramp creativity. These rules were developed, it argues, in a way that should in no way curtail a member's artistic style - they were meant to help, by keeping the network worth belonging to. The two lists it routes to divide the system: rules that must be followed, carrying bans, and rules that should be followed, carrying membership expectations.
The Rules Family
A Business Network, Not a Social Network
The hub states the network's identity in one line: the Fashion Industry Network is a business network and NOT a social network. Although it is very challenging, the network wished to maintain a very focused group - not interested in a high quantity of members, but in incubating only high quality members. A member felt not to be adequately pulling their weight would be removed.
That philosophy explains the whole rules family. The MUST list banned counterfeits, nudity, SEO abuse and off-industry promotion; the SHOULD list pressed members to build real profiles and take part; the report page asked members to flag those who did not belong; and the Member Conduct terms made each member responsible for everything they posted.
Ban First, Forgiveness Available, Rules Changeable
The policy at the network was to ban first and ask questions later. The hub apologizes if this sounds harsh - such is the way of life, it says - because strictness was the price of maintaining a beneficial network for the existing members: a network of people with similar interests and behaviors, from which those who did not fit the criteria had to be hastily said goodbye to.
Two escape valves complete the page. If you felt you had been banned in error, you could make contact: if the network had made an error, it definitely wished to beg your forgiveness - it might not bring back your old posts, but it would certainly allow you back into the group. And the note that closes the page is the most important rule of all, in its own framing: the rules could be changed at any time, and without notice.
Common Questions
How were the network's rules organized?
By this hub, into two lists - rules that MUST be followed (six bannable rules) and rules that SHOULD be followed (profile and participation expectations) - plus the report page, the Member Conduct terms and the legal notice, all linked from this page.
What was the network's enforcement policy?
Ban first and ask questions later: strict, immediate removal to protect the existing membership, paired with an explicit apology and readmission route for anyone banned in error.
What did the hub call the most important rule?
That the rules could be changed at any time and without notice - the network reserved that right over its own rulebook.