What does it look like to exist in this world?
I’ve been assailed by a mountain of ads telling me about 11:11 sales, and I should seize this opportunity to buy more. Some YouTube videos were highlighting the end of the Uniqlo U era, as Christophe Lemaire comes to the end of the 10 year contract, and how the time is nigh to cop some pieces.
The trouble is I don’t have any more space because of how well made the Uniqlo U things are. They work well, and maybe they work as how clothing was meant to used. Almost a statement in itself, for the consumer to actually be at work, wearing the clothing appropriately.
I broke my glass dip pen a couple of weeks ago, and my sister passed me a replacement. I am glad I was using the pen, and I am glad I am using the inks I have. And I see the use of my items as proof of my existence.
I don’t think the purchase of an item proves my existence, but the use and destruction of it shows evidence of a (clumsy) human. It shows I was here, and I did it. I lived life.
We have limited time, we have limited choices of what we do. I don’t enjoy having to manage my oversized wardrobe, and I’m in deep need of a KonMari day. I spend too long thinking, and I’d rather have less clothes and use them all up, than for my excess to be the mess my mind to filter through.
I exist by using, not by buying. I need to live out the “own less, do more” mantra of Tom Sachs, and whoever he quoted from. I will do a lot more, and by way of breaking and usage, own less. Proving, I exist.