S[c]ale, at Any Cost
De-capitalization in Madison Square Park
What does “dupe culture,” a traumatic section on how croc are killed for handbags, and localization have in common?
They were topics covered at our latest Sustainable Style Club! During the month of July our community read “The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion” by Tansy E. Hoskins. We met up a few Thursdays ago to discuss in Madison Sq Park.
This book covers A LOT.
From racism in fashion modeling to the media’s compliance in all of the industry’s harmful activities, and a brutally detailed section on how crocodiles are killed for their skin to make bags we aspire to own. TBH, I skipped that part, I couldn’t stomach it; but when that section was discussed, it was agreed that we were shocked this was still happening, ya know?
It was also agreed that despite the vast scope of topics covered, the book was not only written well, but well researched and thought through. I described this book as a book of essays - you can open up the book and start reading from any sub-topic and/or curate your own reading list based on its topics. Open up to any page find the nearest subheading (no more than 2-3 pages away) and you can start there. Nonetheless, when reading in a more linear style, it flows perfectly too!
August book of the month is Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press! We’ll be meeting at another park in NYC (location announced this Thursday) on August 29th from 6-8p. Hope you can join!
So let’s get into it.
The following are topics discussed, resources, insights, and opinions. You’ll find solutions at the end.
Dupe Culture reinforces the human nature of wanting to fit in.
Capitalism thrives off trends and “need it” marketing; the model is based of the idea of scarcity, influence, and more.
Great book on this and more: Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas
This article about The Olsen twins’ The Row touches on Dupe Culture as well
With information at our fingertips, there is no excuse to believe antiquated and incorrect justifications for a capitalistic system
for example, “They’re luck to have a job” is BS
In this book, Hoskins dives into the facts, anecdotes, and lobbying that make this often sited excuse so wrong.
A little background: Fashion brands chase after the cheapest labor for a variety of reasons but one being: sweatshops are easy to create and just as easy to leave
This is call The Race to the Bottom in economics.
Often these brands will justify cheap and harmful work with “These people are lucky to have a job”
Just, NO. That’s so wrong - for a few reasons
1. These jobs are rarely less than 40/week and the workers still can’t afford basics.
2. Loopholes propel only a few toward upward mobility
3. The working conditions and exploitations are unfit for any pay rate.
SO despite all this, brands will still prop up these harmful, low-wage, and exploitative jobs as being a positive impact on the local, regional, and macro economy.
BUT WILL ACTIVELY LOBBY AGAINST RAISING WAGES AND/OR IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS
Therefore, no, these people are not lucky to have a job that is dangerous, keeps them in a cycle of poverty, without support for their economic development from the companies that put them there in the first place.
More on this below - was a big part of our discussion
Overproduction is just as problematic as overconsumption, but for reasons unknown, discussed less.
Why isn’t there more discussion around overproduction?
From fast fashion to luxury, overproduction is a problem, but for the latter, it’s effecting quality.
Remember when the designer label used to mean something?
Enough is enough: This Dior bag cost $57 to make, but sold for around $2,000?!
Vestiaire Collective does make vintage luxury accessible!
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