Trend Craze: response to “Support Louis Vuitton”
April 10th, 2005
At what point do trends get out of hand?
Is it when you start creating crystal iPods or when you belong to the monthly designer bag trade-in club?
Is it when you start creating crystal iPods or when you belong to the monthly designer bag trade-in club?
When does use of a product end and quest for social status start?
What are BMW SUVs really saying about our society and how does one begin to combat the mindset of Fast Food Nation?
Popularity: 6% [?]
April 10th, 2005 at 3:53 pm
I think iPods and cars in general are trends – sure they fulfill needs, like music-listening and transportation, but to say that a trend “begins” when they get crystal-studded or all-terrain capability is ignoring the reality that people buy things, even those that they need, based on trendiness.
April 10th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
In general I’m less worried about these non-society-enriching trends than I was recently; good ol’ capitalism seems to have an evening-out effect. See the recent study in California that attributed billions of dollars of productivity lost to obesity—that will go a long way to encouraging employers to consider health of employees highly. And my bosses drive an Acura and a Prius and gain more market and employee respect than my previous boss rolling around in a Hummer.
In general I think increasing education and available information will serve to combat superficial trends and support ethically, morally, and socially-responsible actions and products.
April 10th, 2005 at 5:04 pm
right on bob, i agree: being environmentally and socially conscious is becoming more and more valued in our society, embraced by the upper-class yoga-goers in addition to all those crazy fun hippies.
in response to jeff~ i don’t think a trend begins with crystal studded ipods, but it is where I, at least, step back and say “how did we get here?” and “what does this say about us?”
February 13th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
So you’re on eBay or down your local street market and you see what is plainly a Louis Vuitton fake bag, tie, pair of shoes, briefcase, scarf, watch, piece of clothing or luggage set. You look at the price and it’s 90 or even 95% lower than the recommended retail price. You look at the Louis Vuitton item again and start to convince yourself that it doesn’t actually look that bad and in a certain light you might even be able to fool your discerning work colleagues and friends. You then tell yourself that buying a counterfeit Louis Vuitton bag won’t really hurt anybody and so what if it impacts Louis Vuitton’s bottom line, they can afford it! Not an unreasonable thought process, most would agree – However…..
…It probably won’t surprise many people to read that counterfeit merchandise, whether in the form of a fake Louis Vuitton bag or a counterfeit Rolex watch or an imitation Burberry scarf or a snide Armani jacket or a copied pair of Gucci shoes or a bent pair of Evisu jeans, is to a large extend orchestrated by violent criminals and terrorists, and isn’t a harmless activity performed by a bunch of loveable rogues as some might have us believe. It’s a documented fact that the vast majority of cash generated though counterfeiting is used to fund heinous crime including Drug proliferation, Human Slave Trade and even International Terrorism. Government and Law Enforcement Agencies across the world are now shifting their attention to the counterfeit trade in an attempt to track down violent crimals and terrorists. It’s becoming more apparent that substantial sums of money are being diverted from the counterfeit trade into the bank accounts of global terror groups — including, ironically, those terror groups opposed to consumerism and Western Ideology.
So perhaps grabbing that ultra-cheap counterfeit Louis Vuitton bag from eBay or down your local street market isn’t so innocuous after all? Ironically, purchasing a copy this icon of Western consumerism might well go to fund a terror group plotting to inflict mass murder in your city. What’s more valuable to you: a fake Louis Vuitton bag or your democratic existence and perhaps even your LIFE?
November 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Or perhaps, justifying a $2,000. purchase when you’re a 40 hour a week working mom with 2 kids, a mortgage, a husband, a car, and any other bill you can think of to pay for, when like every other woman, you just want to look good and feel good….
Guilt us middle america housewives into giving a ridiculously rich fashion designer and his corporation another 2 grand for a bag?.....I live in the real world honey, and it just doesn’t work that way in the real world. Most of my friends here on planet earth (the middle class) would only ever DREAM of spending that much $ on a handbag, so what you’re saying is that luxury, once again, is reserved only for the rich, or the stupid, in debt (credit card debt).....whatever.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I’ll take my chances and opt to be socially/politically ill-informed/incorrect and purchase that designer replica handbag….
until LV perhaps makes their products a bit more affordable, for real people? I understand the quality and craftsmanship, but $2,000 for a little piece of leather, some thread and some brass plated handles? Come off it. (they are pretty but worth nowhere NEAR that price) burns775@hotmail.com
January 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I think 2000 too much for little piece of leather