229. Deformity be reformed! (FFW Loves: Helen Robotham)
From Vice magazine
The buy buy buy buy frenzy of the holiday season seems completely antithetical to love and happiness and life and well-being and the pursuit of meaning–is it even possible to begin to consider equating multinational corporations with any of those terms? I know that probably seems antithetical to this blog (what is a fashion blog if not the ultimate in displaying consumption and materialism?) but what’s particularly egregious is the masquerading of a ‘Buy stuff from us!’ campaign by corporate retailers as a ‘Be warm and giving this Christmas season!’ message. I’ll be sweet to my family and loved ones without your gross and completely transparent exhortations to buy from you, you corporate ninnies! It’s always been more exciting (& touching) for me to give and get gifts on non holiday occasions.
Thank my dripping wet sky for Helen Robotham, a recent winner of the Fashion Fringe prize in accessories for her balloons handbag. I first heard of her from Vice, & below is a very brief interview they conducted with her:
Vice: Hi. Why does your bag look like that?
Helen: It’s from my “They Are What They Aren’t” MA collection and represents the grotesque shape of consumerism in the 21st century. I always try and create new shapes and forms for my bags and I’m obsessed with spheres, which is, I suppose, the ultimate timeless shape.
The bag & other bags in hanging form from Sonnyphotos.typepad.com
That said, I’m off to enjoy my grotesque, spiritually deformed gifts with the greatest of love and pleasure. Just kidding, sort of.
Love, Jenny
I don’t understand why people go shopping the day after Christmas, when many of them already got presents. It’s not enough for them, I guess?
but then again I am a Muslim and I don’t celebrate Christmas, so maybe I just don’t get it.
i don’t think your blog celebrates materialism. it’s more of a celebration of beauty, aesthetics, and style. just my opinion, though.
Hey–thank you very much for your comment. It means a lot a lot to me that you think our blog celebrates beauty, aesthetics, and style! That’s really the highest compliment!