The True Cost: A Fashion Documentary

Coming from a third-world country, watching the documentary The True Cost is enlightening and traumatic. Imagine that. We all must have noticed that probably most of our clothes or much of what we use — everything — are imported from China or other developing country. We just don't pay attention to it.

The documentary The True Cost, directed by Andrew Morgan and co-produced by Livia Firth, is a look at the outcomes of fast fashion, the trend these days set by giant clothing companies. It is a documentary that is shocking at so many levels.


It tackles the effects of trends to the workers from poor countries, consumer mentality and the environment; and all of them aren't pretty. Like most documentaries where big issues are compacted for viewing purposes, The True Cost is still another simplified presentation of a big issue. The economics involved are complex and cannot be covered by even a two-hour video.

Ethical issues covered included harsh labor conditions, consumer behavior, farmer suicides and environmental hazards. It does not put the blame on a single entity or industry, but looked at the whole system, as it should be.

This made me feel guilty. It made me sad and angry. Toward the end, the video montage of American shoppers and video bloggers talking about their shopping haul, juxtaposed to victims of chromium poisoning in India, violent riots in Cambodia and suffering laborers in Bangladesh, makes an ending for this harrowing film climactic. It makes you feel bad for buying clothes.

*****

Now looking for sustainable clothes will be tough. Like the zippers, buttons and even the very thread used for most clothes comes from developing countries. Even if we try looking for good sources. It is difficult. I guess the only thing we can do is just wear clothes we like, and not treat them as disposables.

Just Watch Anna Wintour be Funny on Late Night with Seth Meyers

Like the documentary "September Issue," on this sketch with Seth Meyers, Anna Wintour is acting like her "known" brutal cold self.

She can be funny. If not funny, we can admit she is amusing.

* * *

Then you can watch what she thinks of the people at the recent Met ball.




There should have been pictures of the three almost naked women, but I guess she's nice now.

Anna Wintour is a shrewd businesswoman. She knows how to capitalize on her brand. If not for Meryl Streep, she would have only been a scary figure in the fashion industry. She should have dinner with Lauren Weisberger and thank her. As powerful as she is, the writer did make her a household name.

Some Met Gala pictures

The Metropolitan Museum in New York is on my checklist of places to go to when in New York, if I'll ever go to New York. They have this gala annually, organized by the iconic Anna Wintour. So we expect it to be this fashionable event.

Until you see the people who attended.

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

Won't they feel cold? I am all in for sexy women in sexy clothes, but they look like honeymoon wear.  Expensive but something you should not wear on a formal event. OR why not just wear glitters and pasties, then hang a curtain on them. Rather than have famous designers paid, give more money to charity or something.

This is a scary trend though. If people go out to formal events wearing these in 2015, what would our daughters wear  to the prom in 2030?

We shudder.

There are some interesting looks out there. Some really good ones that are unfortunately overshadowed by a few attention-grabbing personalities. It almost made us think that the Met gala is tacky.

Speaking of attention whores, Justin Bieber looked good in that embroidered dragon jacket that I want so badly to snatch.

View image | gettyimages.com

It was on-theme, "China: Through the Looking Glass," which so many people did not follow. It was refreshing and cool. We hate the person, but we're starting to like him until three days ago. No, we still don't like him. We like what he has on.

There are people who made an impression, not by how they look, but who they are with.

View image | gettyimages.com

Versace Rip Off Kesh?

The Versace rip-off accusation is making it rounds on the Internet. Kesh accuses The house of Versace of ripping off a t-shirt she designed for American Apparel. 

On her Instagram account she says, "Versace rip off. Sold out in three sizes. What is this madness?  From huge designer labels to small boutiques, to giant pop stars, to fame-hungry former friends. What is this? Why can't these companies, these brands, these people create their own work? What happened? Why do these people think that everything that they lay their eyes on instantly belongs to them?" 

She even brutally goes on to say, "At least make it better than the $30 original" and "This looks like a first draft."

Left: Kesh; Right: Versace 

To be fair, Versace's design isn't that bad. There is completion on there, but the better version would be a matter of preference.

Looking closely at Kesh's original drawings, we could easily conclude it was a rip-off. It had the same color scheme, similar concept and the details especially in the eyes is striking.

But however, as much as we would like to be on Kesh's side, art ownership and inspiration has a fine line. There are still differences.

Geometric design has already been in use by many ethnic cultures around the world and us a staple in contemporary art since the early 20th century.

The most that Kesh could do is tarnish the reputation of the billion-dollar company, which they're doing a good job of.

That said, I wouldn't buy the Versace shirt. Too expensive, IMO. Versace is selling it for $650. That's more than 200% what Kesh did.

D&G and the Attack on Modern Family

D&G, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, are in hot water after some controversial statements on gay families and IVF babies. Dolce and Gabbana are gay and were a former couple, so people were surprised of the unsupportive comment against gay families or modern ways of having children. Words used were a bit harsh: "synthetic babies," "rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog," and

Comments can be disastrous. John Galliano is still remembered for his anti-Jewish comments in Paris, and still suffers from it today. He seems to have repented, but D&G seems to be firm about it.

I was watching CNN earlier and saw a short interview.

"Every people [has] freedom for choosing what they want. This for me is democracy. I respect you because you choose what you want. I respect me because I choose what I want... This just my point of private view,"

That is a valid point, methinks. And the Internet is angry. I learned about it from Courtney Love. She's going to burn some clothes. Elton John started a boycott campaign. He was offended, stating, "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'syntethic'."

The Rise of the Smartwatch

The most anticipated wearable gadget of geekdom, the Apple Watch, is coming out soon. It will most likely big. With the success of the Pebble watch, being the most successful funding campaign in Kickstarter of all time, it is safe to say smartwatches will be big.

Slated  for an April 24 release date, people are curious. Surely, people  are reserving their watches. It comes in different specialized functions, prices and sizes, costing between USD 350 to USD 10,000, if you choose the ones with the 18K gold case.

We definitely can see its conveniences, like not going through your phone when you're in a hurry, and there will surely be apps to track our health and fitness. But would it be necessary.

I might pick  a smartwatch when the time comes that it is unavoidable, when the world deems it necessary to go through life with smartwatches. It is kind of scary. Maybe it's from watching too many sci-fi thrillers.

But do we need it now? Are watches doomed to be mere pretty accessories, obsolete and unimportant. And how will it affect watch makers around the world who have crafted fine time pieces for centuries? 

The Apple watch is still expensive, but so are luxury brand watches that does very little but tell time. If I get an Apple watch, I will probably wear it every day to maximize cost per wear; and if that happens, there's no turning back after starting that kind of lifestyle.

And is it going to be a good investment, to buy a watch that, like most gadgets, go outdated in a couple of years. Good quality watches stand the test of time, you could even pass it on to kids. Smartwatches will unlikely be that. Technology zooms in and out.

And why should you buy a smartphone with an 18K gold case that you would only use for a couple of years?

The Apple Watch, I want to like it, but I can't. I am curious too, but I have no intention to own it yet.

 Unless someone gifts me.

Zoolander in Valentino

The Internet was abuzz when Ben Stiller walked Paris Fashion Week as Derek Zoolander, the eponymous model he portrayed more than a decade ago, along with Owen Wilson who channeled Hansel, Zoolander's rival.

It was such exciting news. It overshadowed the actual show, which was really beautiful by the way. It's magnificent and everything looked really expensive. 

I could imagine people palpitating in awe at the beautiful clothes, then on to a climax with the surprise appearance of Zoolander and Hansel.

People stood up, the Internet was sharing images and videos, announcing the upcoming movie. Zoolander was a ridiculously silly but highly amusing  struggle of a male model. It was satirical, and I think the industry understood how ridiculous it can get sometimes.

How they will  pull it off, we don't know. It was about an aging model, now Zoolander should be really old, way too old by what I understand of the modeling industry. The first movie was in 2001. Maybe they should write about the changes in the industry, the death of the old greats and the rise of the hordes of silly fashion bloggers.