Well, it’s that time of year again–the season of Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays and Buy All This Sh*t You Don’t Need Post-Thanksgiving Days.
Instead of putting on my blinders, I decided to make some art in outright defiance. I present you with my bossy word bouquets. Each bundle represents a facet of Sneakerhead Culture that needs to change.
That’s right. I’m a Sneakerhead who is openly admitting that I’ve been making some pretty big mistakes–and I’m about to pull a U-ie.
- I’m sick of seeing sneaker walls and photos on reddit of people who’ve dedicated entire rooms of their houses to their shoes.
- I’m tired of websites and influencers hyping up products to magically create demand.
- And no, I don’t need that shoe in every colorway. Thanks, but I’m good.
I’m hoping that the next trend in the fashion world will be no trend at all.
We have enough. The items currently sitting in our virtual shopping carts won’t make us happier.
Did you realize that when we buy stuff, we’re fueling consumption-related emissions? And yes, of course we need stuff–but do we really need ALL of the things we hold onto so tightly (and so often forget we even own)?
I’m confident that someone could go into my closet and throw away half of what’s in there, and I wouldn’t notice. Now that’s a problem. Twenty-twenty has been flooded with problems, but unlike many of those, I can fix this one entirely on my own. And you know what, I’m gonna try.
Here’s the game plan:
No. 1
Only Buy What You Need
I don’t have 100s of pairs of sneakers, no do I want that many. I refuse to flood my life with things I don’t actually need.
No. 2
Reject Hype Culture
Just because a sneaker is a limited release doesn’t mean it’s automatically cool. If I like it, I like it. How long I wait in line doesn’t affect that.
No. 3
Wear the Damn Shoes
Don’t allow the never-worn to pile up, collecting dust in a closet. The last thing I need are shoes I don’t even wear.
No. 4
Respect the Well-Worn
Use the bloody hell out of every sneaker. They will get dirty, scuffed, and creased. Get over it. I will love my sneakers as much as they day I bought them.
No. 5
Recycle Old Shoes
When the day comes to retire a pair of beloved sneakers, do so with care. Find a place to recycle them. Do the research.
No. 6
Live Sustainably
Live a green life. I will expect more from the companies I support. I will expect more from myself.
have become ever more important to me, as 2020 rages with fires, floods, dirty air, and a global pandemic.
for the love of nike 
Alright alright alright Ms Bossy Pants! GREAT post, though who can forget the Great Polka Dot Party. Not I. Wear the Damn Shoes and “Wear a Damn Mask” (Jared Polis- Gov. Colorado). 😱😊 And respect your elders (shoes). Mega dittos on the commercialism too. I love stuff, but seriously?! At least this year I didn’t see news shots of people in stores fighting over TV sets and Barbie dolls or whatever. In times of COVID we can indulge ourselves ONLINE, surreptitiously and with great stealth and anonymity. Those Amazon trucks aren’t coming to my house, are they? Must be a mistake. Go sneakerhead! (Conservational-ly.)
Haha, I was thinking how much I missed making things with my hands–and how much I used to do it. (polka dot party included!) Perhaps I should make another that says, “wear a damn mask!”
I was so glad not to see all the fighting over Black Friday sales as well. It can get out of control, can’t it?! It’s much better to do that shopping online–without spreading COVID.
And thank you for the kind words! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 🙂