Aren’t our portions too big?
Aren’t our portions too big? Given that we only require a certain amount of energy per day, why have our portion sizes continued to increase over time? Portion sizes have been progressively increasing over the past few decades, leading to a surge in obesity rates and other diet-related health issues. While it is easy to fall […]
Buy Less Demand More
“Don’t Buy This Jacket” This was a full-page ad in the New York Times by Patagonia in 2011 on their Black Friday sale to remind consumers what they should be doing! A message to buy less from a producer is quite rare and far from the norm. Usually, when we are browsing for a new […]
Looking at Preowned Goods in a New Light
Looking at Preowned Goods in a New Light We often drift to purchasing something new and shiny, fresh off the shelves, when we think of buying something. Retail and advertising industry techniques are also made to influence us into purchasing “unused” and “unopened” products by offering a perfect, clean look and an unboxing experience tailor-made […]
Rethinking the way we give gifts
Rethinking the way we give gifts Gift-giving has been an age-old practice and has evolved to fit different traditions and cultural norms over time. They were given on special occasions to display one’s affection or as incentives and rewards. But over time, this wholesome practice has turned into a well-oiled machine of consumerism. We, as […]
Why buy when we can borrow?
“You’ll Own Nothing and You’ll Be Happy,” A statement in an essay by Danish MP Ida Auken sparked countless debates about a dystopian future looming on the horizon. Yet we all tend to agree now that there is some truth behind the undeniable trend of accessing things for use without owning them. Be it, lending […]
Convertibles Are the New Black!
Convertibles Are the New Black! A famous saying that outlines the impact of textile and clothing is, “The most sustainable garment is the one that is never made!” With textile and clothing manufacturing generally involving an alarming amount of pollution while the finished garments have few recovery options for post-consumption waste, that statement makes perfect […]
A Product Can Still Be Functional Even Though It Is Imperfect
A Product Can Still Be Functional Even Though It Is Imperfect We dread to have our favorite kettles, toasters, mixers, or irons broke. Not only is it hard to repair them, having to let go of something that we liked and was working perfectly fine is also not an easy thing. What comes on top […]
Matching Does Not Mean Identical
Matching Does Not Mean Identical Dinner sets, tea sets, cutlery, plates, and dishes – You may have received them as a gift or purchased them at your fancy, yet one common thing is that they needed to match, or in other words, be a complete set. “Match” is a tricky word we usually tend to […]