Products, Principles and Paying the Rent
I sell clothing, but not just any clothing—it’s print to order. To me, this is more than just business. It's a desire to make my art more accessible, more wearable. Rather than a static piece on a wall, it’s something that becomes a part of someone's daily aesthetic, sparking conversations and turning heads. But amidst the charm of this endeavor, I feel the need for raw transparency. I'm neck-deep in the system I often critique. Many of my designs live only in the virtual ether; I’ve not even touched physical versions of designs many due to financial constraints. Despite the narrative it paints, the reality is far from a lucrative dream on might get sold by a Youtube hustle-grindset bro. I haven't made much, marking it firmly as a passion project.
There's a phrase that often echoes in discussions: “No ethical consumption under capitalism.” While it might be a refuge for some, for me, it’s a constant introspection. My consumption is minimal, not out of some grand philosophical stance, but perhaps due to my upbringing. Maybe it’s my class background talking, but my everyday choices reflect this. My footwear? Same old white vans that have seen better days. Phone? A $60 Android bought second-hand. Computer? A used Thinkpad T430, my tech companion since my high school days in 2014, that has survived countless near failures. Part of it is pride, part of it is principle and part of it is the financial reality.
Maybe it's my class background speaking, but there's a pinch of skepticism when I look at certain leftists, living large in LA, funded by well-intentioned donations. Growing up in a single-wide mobile home has given me a perspective that’s a tad removed from the glitzy LA lifestyle. Still, while principles are noble, they don't pay the rent. There's an undeniable pull towards bettering my circumstances, leaving behind my single-window, drafty hole-in-the-floor "apartment" for something more comfortable. Wouldn’t it be great to turn this passion into a full-time venture and ditch the call center routine? But what's the real price tag attached to those dreams? That is the great irony, to emerge from the mud, one must wallow in it.
There's a growing discomfort in spreading my leftist values while promoting my merchandise. Take for example the most common T-shirt blank I use, the Gildan 5000s, these are manufactured in places like Bangladesh. Having educated myself about the global fashion industry, I can't help but be acutely aware of the labor conditions in such regions—long hours, insufficient pay, and sometimes, perilous working environments. Girls that should be in school instead working in these cruel conditions. It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially when I aim to advocate for a more equitable world. Even closer to home, when it comes to the printing process, questions arise. While my designs are printed in the U.S., I often find myself reflecting on the operational ethics of Printful, the company that brings my art to life on fabric. Are their working conditions good? Do they pay well? I do not know. Are they unionized? No. But neither are any local print shops.
Yet, it's essential to see the broader picture. The fashion industry is awash with mass-produced items, contributing to environmental degradation and excessive waste. Here, I genuinely believe my print-on-demand methodology provides a more sustainable alternative. Unlike fast fashion giants, I don't have warehouses brimming with unsold stock. There are no stacks of shirts gathering dust, destined to become landfill fodder. Every shirt I sell is, in essence, a unique creation, manifesting only when someone sees value in it, ensuring that each piece has purpose.
This path I've chosen is undeniably riddled with contradictions and gray areas. Every step is a negotiation between my ideals, the realities of the world we live in, and the undeniable human desire for betterment. It's a tightrope walk, balancing passion, pragmatism, and deeply-held principles. Am I succeeding in this endeavor? It's debatable. But one thing remains certain: at the core of it all is a relentless pursuit to create with conscience, even in a world that often seems determined to make that an impossible task.