It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
There is an undeniable link between capitalistic ideals of exponential growth and the growing inequity that demands Koha Apparels services. We’re fed the idea of trends and the changing of seasons being a legitimate reason to update our wardrobes, trying to stay relevant in a society that is never satisfied. Jiddu Krishnamur once said ‘It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society’ – just because the privileged among us can operate within capitalism doesn’t mean we should. Having the newest thing on the market is not a personality trait and leaves you more detached from the reality that needs your attention.
The rise of ‘influencers’ in the 21st century has seen us pedestal people to new heights. We’ve expanded the definition of celebrity and handed power to people we believe represent our beliefs. The Peter Parker principle states that with great power comes great responsibility, but concerningly, a fictional man dressed in a spider suit is currently showing us up in that department. Influencing and being influenced by people is a natural function of society, the harm is what we’re influencing people to value. We’re pushing people towards individualism – wear this waist trainer, sip on this detox tea, shop for the latest looks, all so you can earn social capital with people who are too self-indulgent to meaningfully validate you.
The further we move away from viewing ourselves as part of a community, the wider the wealth gap will become. Understanding that all our consumer choices have an impact on other people’s lives is essential, we all have the capacity for empathy if we allow ourselves to confront the consequences of our decisions. ‘Influencer’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word, there are countless groups and individuals advocating for sustainable practices and community-based thought – these are the people we should be elevating. Aim to be inspired rather than to emulate, we all have different skills and hold space in different communities, don’t underestimate your ability to make change just because you haven’t got a blue tick beside your name.
We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t critique the systems that are creating our problems. Poverty isn’t an anomaly, which means it can be rectified – the goal isn’t to clothe every single vulnerable person, it’s to drastically reduce the number of people who are vulnerable in the first place. Capitalism is a tower that can be torn down and that’s what we will continue to work towards. Next time the seasons change, think of all the things that can stay the same, grow your character rather than your wardrobe and spend some energy sticking it to the man – we promise both you and the planet will feel better for it.