'Plop' another marble dropped out of the boy's bag. The hole the netting had been there since a few weeks back but the boy did little to fix it. It has only gotten bigger and now, it is gaping. He watched the marble roll away. Down, roll, bounce, down. The marble descended the steps. He has lost so many marbles and was down to his last. What is the point of saving that one that just fell out, you can't play with only 1 more left. As he watch the glass sphere bounce off the steps, he remembered the first time he bought the sack of marbles. He took 2 weeks to save up for that sack and when he finally had the money to buy the marbles,he lost his wallet. Relentlessly, he saved for another 2 weeks before finally buying what he had desired. The sheer joy of finally obtaining what he had planned for continued for days. However as the days grew by, the less he remembered of the marbles. Day by day, until one day, he realised a hole was forming in the netting. Yet, he brushed it aside. The hole grew and grew and the boy started losing marbles. Initially, he'd pick the fallen marbles up and put it in his pocket. But, as time past, the less bothered he was. 'Crack', the boy snapped out of his thoughts. The marble had hit the wall and it broke. He was down to his last marble. The boy got up clutching the marble in his hand and went home to sew the netting. It may be his last marble, but he should never forget what the marble gave him. It gave him hours of fun. He decided that he will save this last marble and cherish it. After all, it stuck with him when the bullies came to steal his lunch money. It helped him past time when everyone avoided him. He swallowed the marble.

GP 2009

Fashion is as much a good thing as a bad thing. To what extent do you agree?

The world of fashion is rather polarising. On one end of the spectrum you have fashion worshippers who would grow pale upon hearing the death of Alexander McQueen. On the other, we have detractors who abhor what fashion perpetrates. Fashion has been slammed for the industry’s use of sweatshop labour, for negatively impacting the image of women. Critics scream vanity when they speak of fashion. It is sad to say this multi-million dollar industry has much negative connotations to it. However, whilst criticising fashion, we must recognise what fashion has brought to society, what it stands for. By the very virtue of being one of the most pervasive players in popular culture, fashion has left quite a mark in the developed world. Fashion is a reflection of individuality; it is a reflection of an individual’s need to have an image. It is inspirational in nature, both to the wearer and designer. It is an industry that has fuelled world-leading economies. Fashion has added colour and life to the developed world, into the cities. It is no wonder why New York, London, Tokyo and Paris are coincidentally both financial and fashion capitals of the world. I for one feel strongly that fashion is as much as a good thing as it bad.

It is easy to say that fashion industry is another capitalist venture to exploit society. The industry has been so diverse that it has created different markets to cater for the different groups of society. Take the Armani group for instance, at the end of the scale we have entry level Armani Exchange and haute couture Armani Prive on top. The clever use of branding and persuasive advertising has allowed many of these fashion firms to exploit both the consumer and the workers. In the shops, fast fashion entry-level retail stocks low quality clothes at a rather heavy price tag. However, the cost in producing that piece of garment is equivalent to that of a sweatshop labourer’s pay. Guess inc. was in fact taken to court for exploiting Mexican workers. This led to groups of activist boycotting the brand. It is an industry that is built upon the backs of the desperation of poor trying to find income and at the same time, it feeds on our consumerist culture in the developed world. However, it is after all a by-product of human’s nature. By nature, we are but self-centred. We would do something in return for benefits as clearly demonstrated by the lack of support from UN member states during the Rwandan or Darfuri genocide. Both areas could offer little in return for the help they would receive and so international aid was if not token, not provided at all. However when Greece was in financial trouble, the European Union acted swiftly in drafting a plan to aid Greece. Likewise, if sweatshop labour did not directly impact the developed world, people will mostly continue with their consumerist habits. However, we must not negate the occasion whereby the fashion industry in itself has remedied the very problems it has caused. Ethical fashion is a relatively new concept in the fashion industry. It aims to develop both sustainable clothing manufacturing by using eco-friendly methods of production and to promote fair trade. The British Fashion Council has in fact given slots to fashion labels that promote fair trade such as People Tree alongside heavy weights such as Burberry during London Fashion week in earlier this year. Also, established names like Burberry have departments set up to ensure ethical trading as part of their corporate responsibility. As the voices of activist increases, we are seeing a trend towards social responsibility by corporations in the fashion industry. Small steps in the direction. Fashion is therefore as much a good thing as it is a bad thing.

There are also those who claim that fashion has impacted the way we see our bodies rather negatively. They say that fashion has perpetuated gender stereotypes and to bombard us with images of unattainable beauty. Anorexia has been one of the main arguments put forth. Ever since Twiggy, there has been a slew of size zero models walking down the runway. Kate Moss, one of the leading icons on the runway, has been criticised for her weight. In fact, she once said that nothing tastes better than being skinny. It has created an image of what women should be - skinny and frail looking. A perpetuation of gender stereotypes. It does not help that the advertisements carry such subliminal messages along with depicting women as sexual objects. Tom Ford’s advertisements show women naked ironing trousers whilst the male reads the papers. In fact, leading photographer Terry Richardson, a person endorsed by the queen of the fashion world, editor of Vogue, Anna Wintour, is famed for taking shots of women in degrading positions. He has been, on accounts, accused by models of sexual harassment. However, fashion is after an industry. It is, by basic economics, controlled by the demand of the people. If society did no endorse such activities, then slowly, the fashion industry would respond and in fact, it has. Many labels have jumped on the bandwagon of discouraging anorexic models. Prada used plus sized models for the 2010 Fall collection. Fashion blogger Tavi criticised Terry Richardson and it garnered strong support. We are seeing a shift in the fashion world as people begin to take greater interest in what they are buying. It is consumer’s awareness and consumer’s power that plays a pivotal role in encouraging the industry to become more socially responsible. Then again, fashion has proven to becoming progressively, as much a good thing as it is bad.

In fact, despite opinions that fashion dictates your dressing, I would like to think that fashion breeds individuality. The assumption that an individual has no ability to decide for himself and merely accept what is thrown at him is simply flawed and derogatory. There are a plethora of choices in fashion and that choice gives one the ability to decide what goes and what does not. Fashion has in that aspect played a central role in defining cultures today. The British mod culture is very much defined by the look they have. The clothing choice of Dr Martens has been one of the main characteristics of mod culture. Fashion has thus added to the vibrancy of city life. One of Paris largest exports is fashion. Japan’s population is rather fashion obsessed and China’s rising middle class has only made the industry larger that it was before. There is a strong correlation between fashion and city life. Fashion gives a person that chance to be individual and creative with his image. That in itself has created the many trends on the street which adds on to the vibrancy and culture of a country.

Ethnic groups have also inspired fashion and it is often heavily reflected in runway pieces. Dries Van Noten, a Belgian designer, is know to use ethnic patterns inspired by the middle east in his designs and many a times, pieces are inspired by very personal events. Alexander McQueen’s latest collection was inspired by his English roots and carried this sense of Victorian England. His pieces often reflect his mood and individuality. Often, this is the case with most designers. US acclaimed designers of Proenza and Schouler used their mother’s names when deciding on the label. Fashion therefore has this human touch, this personal connection between the wearer and his clothes, the designer and his work. Often this personal connection is a reflection of social movements. During the 70s, the clothing choice of the Hippies has objects like the peace sign and shirts that said make peace not war. These were results of social movements such as the post world war anti-war sentiments or abolitionist movements. The idea was simple, have a message that is ingrained in society’s culture to choose peace over violence. Fashion thus played an important medium to reach out to the youths.

A person can reflect his individual through his clothes. In case you think that fashion then breeds vanity, then I question why we shun the attainment of beauty? It has long been innate within humans to be vain. The Queen of Switzerland did not bathe herself in blood if she did not believe it would renew her youth. The choice to find individuality in clothes gives you that sense of beauty. It helps you find your place and those like you in society. Looking good does help you feel good and having self-esteem is something intangible. No one should blame fashion for it’s discriminating nature. Society will always discriminate should there be differences and thus if a person’s ego is hurt due to his sartorial choices, one should not be the blame it on fashion but rather the person’s ability to handle criticism.

Therefore, in a nutshell, whilst fashion has her shortcomings, it is unfair to say that it is more of a bad thing than a good thing as fashion is and has been slowly evolving with society. After all, if fashion were really that bad, then I’d say we might as well be nudists.

Defy gravity.

One day I will fly and when I do, no one is going to hold me down.

Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man

Yellow sky.

As I went for my evening run I notice how unusually yellow the sky was. The neighbourhood washed in sepia. As I came to the field I noticed how beautiful the flyover looked. Instead of the dull lifeless granite gray, it was bronzed like old train tracks. It's funny how nature has her own take on design at times. My pace gathered and I was soon at 3 roadside tree. It is nearing the monsoon season and most of the flowers have withered; save for a few resilient yet undesired flowers for the bees have yet to pollinate them so that they may bear fruit. I noticed little specks that shuttled furiously between the leaves. Dragonflies. They swarm and fly all around. Some may find it revolting however, I for one, found it appealing. It felt magical. It felt for once that you mattered in the world. To the tiny dragonflies, we are but giants. They can only fly around and marvel at our size whilst we may so choose to kill them if we feel irritated by their presence. One dragonfly flew in front of my and straight up towards the sky. As my eyes trailed him, I caught sight of the clouds. The darkening clouds rolling in. In the patches where the ominous clouds have yet to reach, the sun's rays filtered through. It did seem like a little patch of heaven and there was a bright lining in the clouds. I guess, in every storm, there is a silver lining.