Passing thoughts, or not so much that they just pass because if they simply just passed then they wouldn’t take up time consuming my thoughts enough for me to take the time to write about them. Get it? Got it. These subjects consume my thoughts even enough for me to be writing about them whilst sitting looking over Barcelona. Watch out creatures, this will be staggering stuff.
Firstly how do I make a difference to the world? I mean a real difference. Woah cliché I know but it’s not something my brain thinks about constantly to be hip and trendy it’s something that as I stated earlier, worries me enough to trake the time to write it down. Firstly it was not just I who enlightened myself to these wise thoughts but also my somewhat slightly cynical father. So after much time being wasted I shall finally attempt to explain what I am getting at.
As much as I love travelling, it is without a doubt, bittersweet. We have on the one sticky sweet hand; the experience of new culture, seeing a place with more history in one building than our country possesses as a whole nation. On the bitter hand there is the carbon miles you leave all over the globe as you jetset a total of 24hours to reach your destination. Seeing the pollution in many of the cities that are called ‘fashion capitals’ aka Milan is an eye- opener. The only pictures ever shown in Vogue are the immaculate streets lined with their famous fashion houses. I don’t feel it necessary to name them. It is necessary that you know them, or at least know of. I am beginning to think that these pictures are in a part of Milan that doesn’t include the smog, poverty and pollution that seem to run this city. Perhaps a computer generated image aka some whiz on photoshop is the more likely and realistic explanation of the source of such pictures. Depressing yes, disappointing no. Infact it worked itsef into quite the eye- opener of trips. It shouldn’t take one haf the globe’s worth of travelling to realize how lucky I am to live in New Zealand. Learn from my mistake. No, let me rephrase that, my example. Trips like these are more holidays than adventures, and if you don’t learn what you do like you certainly learn what you don’t like. I suppose living in a small country that is secluded from the rest of the world for the most part, things like labels and designers seem like a big deal. Living in Christchurch there is one designer store; Louis Vuitton. Nothing like you see the streets lined with in Barcelona like Gucci, Prada, Cartier, Todds, MaxMara, Chanel and well the list goes on, as it always will. Anyway back to Christchurch and its lack there of such labels, there is never anybody EVER in that one designer store that we possess. Quite frankly there is absolutely no point in this shop being there, the only thing one can even entertain the idea of purchasing is perhaps a pen; approximately $200 a pop. Pointless much? Totally. Funny thing kis, I was once in awe of those labels and used to insist that people call them designers rather than labels. There is a difference. Now I have reverted to calling them labels because really that’s all they are. Really how much designing goes into that mini dress that is made in China (yes Gucci I am talking about you.) China! You can’t tell me that Gucci cannot afford to manufacture their clothing where it is designed. Now that Gucci’s clothing is manufactured in china the workers will get sweet eff all (if you mind my French, I tried to make it sound as polite as possible.) So I will try to rephrase that again simply; the workers get nothing (close to), the middle man makes glutonous amounts of money, while the consumers (yes, you and I) pay $2000 at least for one of these high fashion items.
It does make me sad to even use Gucci as an example, god knows I love their designs and advertising campaigns, but on my discovery of their now ‘mad in China’ reputation, I have gone into a revolt against them.
Also, might I add in if I haven’t already (I most probably have) that I am an avid reader of Vogue and as much of a long shot you may think it, I hoped to one day be editor-in-chief. I said that last part in past tense because I am now questioning this ambition and entertaining other ideas. When a good half (I shall find evidence in due time to prove this), is advertising I question what the hell I would really be advertising, oh sorry excuse me, I mean editing. Good question? I think so. Open to answers, because I seem to have a lack of them for that particular question.
So back onto designers in general and indeed to stop picking on Vogue and Gucci, they aren’t all they are cracked up to be. Yes certainly their haute couture is impressive and beautifully made, but their general clothing is much like that of any other chain store. Wearing these labels doesn’t mean you have good taste, it means you have enough money to flaunt the price tag. Congratulations. When you see four Louis Vuitton shops in one airport it doesn’t just make me question whether they are a chain store, it confirms it. You think you can ever have a one off piece? Think again. Money can buy you a lot, and I do believe it can buy you happiness. Just remember that what you pay for isn’t the craftsmanship in the clothing, god knows the real thing and all its copies are made in the same factory in China. What you are paying for is the name that is plastered inside or out.
I won’t lie though, if I had the money I might just buy one of these items, see if it gives me piece of mond to know that What I am wearing could have feed an African family for a year plus. And I am gulty of loving expensive clothing and accessories, I have a not-so-cheap Guess watch. But now I think I shall ake quite the effort to stick to New Zealand designers. While they are expensive at least all the clothing etc is made in New Zealand and suport our economy.
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