x - the Collector

Photographer: The Korean Barber Stylist: ChapmanCollects

So much of the time we look through fashion/style magazines and see various photos of beautiful, skinny models in stunning garments and think to ourselves "I wish I had that." It is ridiculous the amount of consumerism in this world, but the ludicrous thing isn't necessarily the amount, but the similarity at which we wear our garments.

All our lives we bleed to be an individual, but when it comes down to the finished product we look like our neighbours. Through my earlier years of high school I was shocked to see the amount of mass production that walked through the doors on a Monday morning. The minute an individual is born  we're seen as a freak or strange and we're, for the most part, harassed until [said] person is back in jeans and an Urban Outfitters tee.

With Joe Fresh, American Apparel, Forever 21, and H&M in every city and village it makes it hard to be an individual in our clothing. We're loosing our ability to dress for ourselves and are solely relying on main stream department stores to do the styling for us. As the year drifts on we're beginning to see a movement in the our young adults, those who are willing to host vintage and value village in their closets, those who are intrigued at the idea of wearing second hand treasures. If you're old enough to do your own laundry you're old enough to shop for yourself. Discover what you like, follow trend reports for ideas and understand the clothing on your back.

So much of the time do we spend ogling and longing for the items in the style magazines, we soon find ourselves crashing the doors of Forever 21 for that seasons "must haves" only to find next season stripes are no longer "in." Style is about self expression, it is always changing and growing. Don't just purchase because it looks cute on the mannequin, it should make sense with who YOU are.

Photographer: The Korean Barber ChapmanCollects

x - the Collector