Not Just Old Clothes
January 13, 2010 | by Leah | Comment
By the end of the Second World War, the mass-production of clothing had been honed into almost the same machine it is today. Over the next 20 years, fashions in stores became more and more alike and people began turning to thrift stores and yard sales to find what they really wanted. The first vintage clothing stores opened in the 1970s. From then on, used clothing has become completely commodified, blurring the line between a garment that is “authentic vintage” and one that is just plain used.
Today’s vintage market perfectly juxtaposes old clothing with modern commercialism. That vintage sweater from Screaming Mimi’s or Nasty Gal wasn’t always cleaned and styled and packaged up so nicely for you. It didn’t carry a $100 price tag either. No; after its first life in the 80s or 90s, it was pulled, crumpled and damp, from a bail of clothing in a rag house, worth only pennies.
A rag house is a used clothing retailer: unsold thrift stock is compacted into bails and shipped into their warehouse. They can receive bails of apparel, shoes, belts, bags, fabric remnants, etc.
The warehouse of EMR, or Environmental Material Recovery, in Los Angeles Read more
Christmas List Catch 22
December 15, 2009 | by Dylan | 2 Comments
Today is December 15th and my mom continues to remind me that she needs me to write down a list of things I want for Christmas. I am like you. I like things. Many things are valuable to me and some things, I’m sure, are necessary for living. Somewhere along the line, long before I was born, thing-makers decided to make shitty-things – either that or we decided on (or were tricked into) liking shitty-things - I’m not really sure. I’ve heard of many scholars researching these ideas and finding valid whos, whens and whys on our acceptance of shitty-things but for me, it’s simply a matter of common sense. I don’t want any more shitty-things[period] I told my mom that this is the reason I have trouble making a list of things I want – I simply don’t know if the things I want exist. Maybe only cheap replicas of the things I want exist. Let it be known – there are manufacturers that still believe in the quality of their product; that still “make ‘em like they used to.” BillyKirk is really great example… that’s why I wanted to share this video.
[foot note]
There exists a dilemma, however.
Most people can’t afford nice things (or even healthy food for that matter) The things that are accessible to people like me tend only to be industrial replicas of nice things that once-upon-a-time actually held value and were passed down generations. The realization that the only things I ‘legitimately want’ are either used and impossible to find or hand made and too expensive makes the annual Christmas List quite a challenge for me to create, if not a ‘catch 22′ in itself. Sorry Ma’ just get me a box of Ferrero Rocher – I’ll love you either way.
Apoca-potpourri
December 4, 2009 | by Maxwell | Comment
Yet another indicator of the looming apocalypse.
Just in time for Christmas!
December 2, 2009 | by Maxwell | 1 Comment
The well-informed Annie Leonard simplifies the big ideas of today in her on-going video series. In this short, Annie gives a light and friendly presentation of the dark and terrifying blender that is, consumer culture. Find more of Annie’s short films here.
RECAP: Buy Nothing Day 2009
November 29, 2009 | by Dylan | 2 Comments
We held the first ever Kensington Park Neighborhood Exchange on Friday in celebration of Buy Nothing Day 2009 – Basically it was a small scale swap meet where everyone & anyone was invited to bring things with value to trade for other things of value – We traded with food, tools, clothes and music and most importantly not with money. Now with all due respect, I must apologize because it was thrown together a bit last minute but I was really excited by the turn out. It was a blast and we got to hang out with some new friends. It was such a nice day to relax outside in the park – Keegan cooked some killer potatoes and we got a little frisbee in too. My vote for the best trade of the day is tied between, Kevin trading the Ken Cinema a Jeff Buckley CD for a tray of popcorn and the three-way trade that involved an IggyPop record, Hard Ticket to Hawaii VHS, and a Budweiser track jacket.
