Fashion advice

Under virtually no circumstances would I attempt to give fashion advice. It seems that trends have now doubled back on themselves in ever decreasing circles that they now exist in a confused but liberated fizz. But that's not what I want to write about today.

I've recently indulged in a few days shopping in London's West End sans enfants, or husband. Being able to mooch through a string of shops without having to justify why I want to enter it, what I am planning on buying or how long I will linger is just bliss. I'm really struck by the sheer volume of cheap (so cheap!) clothing on offer.  You can shop yourself stupid for really not a lot of money, and there is something really quite gross about it.   Tempting as it is, more threads to squeeze into the wardrobe is really the last thing I need.  But shop I did, got some great bargains and enjoyed the guilty pleasure of consumption.  But no more!

What is also curious is the shortening lifespan of today's consumer brand.  When a once quite cool brand starts making iPhone covers you know its all over and no self respecting hipster going to want to be seen dead in it.   Who can keep up?

Probably just as well I'm not allowed to go shopping often, fashion is best left in the too hard basket for me these days.

Crafty

Once the word craft would be very likely to conjure thoughts of macrame pot plant holders and brown glazed mugs for instant coffee.   In fact, I have a friend who in an amusing,  but nevertheless patronising fashion likes to categorise all craft-related pursuits with the a generic term of pottery.  'That's a nice bit  pottery you're weaving on your needlepoint workbench', etc.

But in the last five years or so craft has become the new cool, and suddenly I am swamped with opportunities to purchase  funky quality hand made items at the same or less cost than any mass produced imported department store tat.  Perth Upmarket started small about four years ago and is now a quarterly phenomenon. http://www.perthupmarket.com.au/

This related magazine will give you a good idea of where I'm coming from here.
http://www.tickletheimagination.com.au/

You can't move your elbows at these weekend events held at the local Uni, with hundreds of creative and entrepreneurial folk peddling their wares to a cashed-up crowd who are all gagging for it.  I got down there last Sunday to do some Christmas shopping for our UK family we are soon to visit.  How cute is this felt trivet I bought for my food stylist sister in law:

The joyous observation to make here is that finally people are cottoning on to the value of handmade locally produced goods that are unique and don't have to travel through a complex global supply chain.  Hopefully the creative value intrinsic within these items also means consumers will be able to appreciate the work taken to produce them, and feel less of a need to buy so much.  

Not that I want to be a  smug 'been there done that', but I had my own foray into craft commercialisation about six years ago at the point when this was all just about to go off, with my vintage inspired tea towel business Patsy and Clive.

It was lots of fun, but after a year or so when I tallied up what it had cost me and how much I made back, well, best not go there.  So when I get tempted to feel envious of these creative types standing behind their wares, taking cash hand over fist for a day, I sagely remind myself of the  endless hours and effort and expense that is involved in getting to market in this creative economy.   For the time being I'm loving being a consumer rather than producer.  But who knows, maybe I'll dip a toe in the craft pool again one day.