Hello,
What a disastrous week it has been! Toronto got an estimated 36 cm of snow, a volcano erupted in Tonga, Russia is looking to invade Ukaraine (why even?) and I recently learned that Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post (huh?). I’m not spiraling, yet.
Last week, I was listening to Vox’s Today Explained, The high cost of cheap clothes, and they discussed the ethical consumption of fast fashion. These brands include: H&M, Zara and Uniqlo. Then the arrival of ultra fast fashion brands like Shein, Boohoo and ROMWE came to dominate and succeed in a new landscape of production and consumption. While you can differentiate between fast fashion and ultra fast fashion by the amount of garments being produced between the hundreds, if not thousands between them, they’re ultimately not that different in that they are both harmful to the environment and the garment workers.
The revelation is that the growth of these fast fashion brands are attributed to middle class and upper middle class consumers who have the financial means to perpetually purchase multiple new wardrobes often, and quickly. Henceforth, don’t blame poor people.
Growing up, every paycheck I received went to brands like American Eagle, H&M and Bluenotes. (Editor’s note: Um, I was very cool then.) With no overhead costs like rent and bills, the notion of saving wasn’t urgent at that time. Then I moved to Toronto in 2012 and quickly realized how much of my net income went to said overhead costs. I quickly had to adjust my finances and purchasing clothes was the first item to be cut. Somewhere between 2012 and 2016, I developed the Five Item Rule.
What the fuck is the Five Item Rule, you ask?
Every season, spring/summer and fall/winter, I allow myself to purchase five garments. This calculates to a total of 10 garments a year. Which, honestly, 10 garments already feels like too much. The exception is socks, underwear and thrifted pieces. Even with this rule, there are seasons where I don’t buy anything because I don’t need anything. The last garment I purchased was a Uniqlo sweater vest for summer 2021. I will probably be skipping winter shopping because of the lockdown. The notion behind this rule is that every garment purchase should be carefully considered.
This rule works in my favour because I have already curated my wardrobe staples. All new garments are to compliment what I already own. It also helps that I hate shopping for clothes with the irony that I also love clothes.
Homosexual Agenda
Dagmara Dominczyk Burns Bright in ‘Succession’ for The New York Times. I just finished season two of Succession and Dominczyk’s character just kept saying fuck multiple times in the last episode and I could not stop laughing.
Which leads me to ask, is Succession a comedy and/or drama? If you let me know your position in the comments, I will share mine!
Priya Krishna’s new show, On the Job, highlights the humanity of people in the food industry. And the fact that they are one of the most hard working people today. The first episode, How To Run a TikTok-Famous Bodega, takes you to Red Hook, Brooklyn where Rahim Mohamed, will make you whatever sandwich you so desire.
I can’t wait for Inventing Anna. I love Julia Garner. The trailer looks cheap, but I am already in too deep. I read, My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress, therefore I am fully committed to the brand.
A whole dragonfruit. I sometimes think about its carbon footprint.
A whole bag of PC Organics Vegan Cheddar Puffs. It’s bulking season.
Degrassi is coming to HBO Max and I can’t help but think that Degrassi: The Next Generation hit so hard when I was in high school. Also feel patriotically Canadian. I even bought Cassie Steele’s album, How Much for Happy.
Never Too Small goes to the Upper West Side. White, bright and herringbone floors. The space needs outdoor space and I will bring it from a 7 to a 9. Why do people prefer a standing shower over a bathtub? Bathtub > standing shower.
If I were to transition to wireless earbuds, I would 100% purchase these ones from Nothing in white that I discovered on SSENSE from their Everything Else section.
How Hard Candy Is Made for WIRED. Conditioned to only seeing mass produced candy, this intimate and scientific process on how to make candy is deeply therapeutic.
Tempers new single Unfamiliar. They are coming to Toronto in April and please, please let concerts resume!
How I Quit Prime and Survived for The New York Times. She lived to write about it!
This tweet is triggering:
Euphoria S2 EP2 one sentence review: don’t fuck with Maddy.
Obituary: André Leon Talley
See yah next week!
Perry
This candy video changed my life :o
Interesting - Maybe the fact that it doesn’t fit into a genre is why it appeals to so many people!! And how is yellowjackets? I was eyeing it 👀 let’s talk this w/e over wine 🍷