(Photo Credit: Bart Huzinga)

Where to start this one… As many reflect on their lives and rampant consumerism (not necessarily complimentary), I like many have had to re-assess my relationship with products. Perhaps a catalyst brought on by reading The Dalai Lama’s book on happiness, or an overly strong de-sensitisation to products via Hypebeast… I felt uncomfortable in regards to my position and my reasoning for acquiring product. Many will find it ironic that the managing editor behind a site who’s main component (the blog) is a glorified buyer’s guide is stating the need to revisit your relationship with product. I’d like to think this isn’t some self-serving post that hopes to justify my job either haha. But the pace at which we have been consuming for some time (except the Mainland Chinese, they are too busy saving to put their kids through school to get an education) is simply unsustainable and detrimental to one’s personal growth and happiness.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not shunning product, I’m simply asking people to revisit products purpose in your life or at least what connection it serves. If you see it as personal expression and evokes happiness that’s fine. It’s no different than a connection or interest you see with industrial design as an art form.

When I realized that I wasn’t able to wear a pair of shoes more than once, it became a serious reality check as to whether this product served me any real purpose. I am probably trying to sound like a quasi-intellect, but if something can’t pique your interest enough to be used or worn multiple times (and hopefully into the ground), than its ownership is truly questionable.

When we place happiness in tangible product, it becomes a perpetual battle to be happy. What makes you happy on Monday may not get the job done next week. However I do feel genuinely good and meaningful product exists. It’s up to you to determine its individual weighting within your personal life.

The ultimate goal would be ultra hippie to rid ourselves of all product, but even that I find is a great extreme. You need to figure out the proper utilization of product and the things you consume, that’s all.

-Eugene