Not COOL in 2023
Originally published on Instagram 7th November, my comments below have been the subject of dinner party discussion since and were included in the Guardian feature. People will speed read these days, so to clarify, I'm not saying people shouldn't spend their hard earned cash on expensive items if they feel they must. I'm simply saying choose who you spend it with.
Chose a small British company who has a relationship with their suppliers, pays their workers not just a living wage but a well-being wage. And definitely don't spend on enviro-exploitative resources.
Thats why I promoted the story of Elvis and Kresse who are doing amazing work with recycled materials and artisanal craft. If you want unique and enviro-humble...and you like to splash the cash with all money going to charity... well...
Instagram post begins.
So what if Pharrell’s Millionaire Speedy bag - a one-of-a-kind bright yellowy-gold thing, completely handmade by one of Louis Vuitton’s experimental exotic leather ateliers has diamond augmentation and is an insight into the future levels of luxury that we can expect under this Art Director’s tenure. That’s NOT COOL in 2023.
Acquisition and desire for luxury fashion and accessories may be incentivised by our need to project status and uniqueness: these drives underpinned by our overblown insensitivity in the Global North, to proudly and loudly display our privilege but…in a world where humans don’t have enough to eat - Stop it. This rampant narcissism and media hype attention seeking is not impressive.
Want a yellow bag that donates all its proceeds to charity? Check out the latest story from @elvisandkresse who rescue materials from landfill and transform them via world class craftsmanship into ethically handcrafted sustainable luxury accessories. So you get uniqueness and the luxury of knowing you have used your money to help others. You can carry your STUFF and feel darn good about your COOL choice. Now THAT’S impressive.
Pic 1. Conspicuous consumption and madness. Pic 2. Kindness, pro-social entrepreneurship, and SANITY. LV image: Epic Brain/Hypebeast photographed on my laptop while reading feature by Hypebeast. Charity bag image from @elvisandkresse instagram page