As Plato once said: " Empty vessels make the loudest sound."
Ugh, I really hate SO MUCH about the fashion industry and this article that I am going to burn your eyes with, is the cherry on the top of an exploitative insensitive cake!
So those of you that know me, know I live in Italy near one of the quintessential cities assosiated with fashion, Milan. Well, any of you that know me personally know that ain’t my scene. I shun it completely.. Is that Fa-SHUN? Haha. I don’t know about you, but I’m much happier snuffling around a charity shop looking for treasures 😀 Upcycled , recycled, homemade oh yeah. Are you with me?
I’m also not in any danger of setting the latest trends 😀
So as a parent, enjoying that kinda approach, it can get tough and setting the right attitude is really important so your kids don’t feel inadequate in this consumer society.
The reason I shop second-hand is I’d rather give my money to a charity than a fast fashion house. It’s better for the environment. It’s a circular economy. I can also see from the garment, which has already been through the wash a few times, if it’s going to last, despite the tag. See not daft at all.
And apart from that it’s fun. I love the chase, the hunt, finding something random that is quirky or cool.
So since the kids have been small, we’ve been doing that but as they grow here it’s getting harder, if not impossible to carry on, as the culture is not there. I come from Britain where second hand and thrift store is accepted in ALL walks of society. Denmark is one of the best countries for this! Not so here in Italy. There is the idea that if you shop second hand, it has nothing to do with the environment, or circular economies, just the fact that you can’t possibly be able to afford new clothes or why else would you use thrift store goods. So fashion is STATUS!
So that’s been a tough call in our house, especially as the teen years approach, and it meant that we’ve had many conversations about WHY we shop in this way, showing them the enormous fun in the hunt, and the environmental impact of fast fashion, luxury brands and the idiocy of walking around like an advert for Nike without a sponsorship deal. Is it just me? Or do you feel the same here?
Nike Air Jordans anyone?
OK we do buy new shoes, but the price tag has to have a reason, not just a trending look.
There is a kid at my oldest son’s school who talks almost exclusively about what he is wearing. Ah yes, just in case you were unaware , there is NO school uniform in Italy, this is because child uniforms are associated with the era of fascism and Mussolini and are seriously frowned upon. I like the theory, but in practice it makes school into a fashion show..
OK we do buy new shoes, but the price tag has to have a reason, not just a trending look.
There is a kid at my oldest son’s school who talks almost exclusively about what he is wearing. Ah yes, just in case you were unaware, there is NO school uniform in Italy, this is because child uniforms are associated with the era of fascism and Mussolini and are seriously frowned upon. I like the theory, but in practice, it makes school into a fashion show..
It’s tough being a kiddo. I remember mean girls teasing me about my shoes. But I never like to wear what everyone was wearing anyway. Then one day when I had on some cool boots that I liked, that were different from everyone elses, they found out where I got them from and all bought the same! I’m not sure what was worse at the time, being teased or having them copy me. LOL.
So?
So!..So, talking about the vulgarity and vacousness of following fashion like sheep, and consuming without responsibility or consequence…
Here is the news:
The singer Pharrell Williams, known for the song ‘Happy’ among other things is now the creative director of the Louis Vuitton fashion brand and has come up with this genius idea;
A million-dollar bag. The Speedy Bag.
Is that a gold straw? Well, at least it’s not plastic.
Yes, it costs a million dollars. A MILLION. That is quite a lot of money for a bag. Why? Because it’s made of REAL crocodile skin, REAL gold, and REAL diamonds.. And the rest of the price tag is just.. well.. profit…for show.
Oh, and you can’t just go and buy it, you have to be deemed worthy…
Clap along...
When I saw this, it pained me so much I had to write about it. With all the mess that is happening right now, all the poverty and displacement, the rising living costs and the climate disasters, how can anyone think its ‘cool’ to parade such a huge amount of wealth on such a vacuous and fashionable possession?
I put this article in front of my children and asked them what they thought too. Knowing me well, they probably didn’t dare say ‘ Way cool, I want one!” but instead said it was pretty disgusting to waste money on such a silly thing. Kudos to them.
It makes me sad, and angry. And even sadder and angrier when I read how many people think it’s cool too…The desire to SHOW your status. Humans are really sucky sometimes.
Statistics ink: https://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
Here’s the article from The Guardian UK if you would like to read it later, and depress yourself too. Ahh, no don’t do that until you know that there is a little silver lining…
The silver lining.. ?
Well at Louis Vuitton there isn’t one, but this company Elvis and Kresse released a counter proposal, as they too were really disgusted about it all. They have also made a bag, one that costs the same, but with the distinct difference that ensures that the million-dollar price tag makes a REAL difference. You can buy yours here: 😀
This is our response. We are upping the ante. We are releasing, for a limited time, a one-of-a-kind Million Pound bag. But this bag is completely different. It isn't about having a million to spend on a bag, it is about choosing to donate a million pounds. It is about celebrating the work of our long-standing charity partners, The Firefighters Charity and Barefoot College International. Money can't buy this bag, but generosity can
I’d buy one of those! Do they take credit? haha
Clean supply chains, properly paid workers, and ALL the money goes to charity. That is worth talking about, naked or not. Thank f**k for that. Faith in humanity restored…temporarily…
I have a few suggestions myself, actually, now you mention it, for a sustainable fashion industry, in my blog Eco friendly. Very sensible as usual, where I also list some serious links where you can check if a brand you like are being good boys and girls, and LV doesn’t come out so well. Read it here.
News just in!
Louis Vuitton has just announced they are also selling a great range of T-shirts for only $500,000.
Ohh, what fun, I generated that with AI. They’ll probably sue me.
To read more about AI, and all the dangers, and the fun you can have with it, including fun with the kids, see my blog here!
Live well my friends!
Be kind. x
