FULLINSIGHT by it fits!
More than a month ago it fits! started a new blog http://fullinsight.com/
With the blog Full Insight, it fits! presents information on a daily bases about influences affecting the spirit of the times. Every other month it fits! will publish a newsletter outlining influential trends in a synthesis of the daily news combined with it fits! unique long-term views.
Twice a year it fits! plans to develop a Full Insight presentation dealing with the changes in social and economical structures, new technological developments and scientific progress. It fits! contextualizes information in a keynote presentation that can function as the basis for the development of a collection or (brand) strategy.
Do check out our daily updates: http://fullinsight.com/
SO TRUE!
It is not easy to write correctly in any language. My Dutch isn’t without mistakes and my English is far from correct! Dear Grammar, you don’t sound slutty at all and where possible I will use you!
http://www.holidaymatinee.com/ http://www.etsy.com/listing/69766518/dear-people-of-the-world-letterpress
PAYBACK TIME
The spirit of radical change has been “haunting” prosperous Western life for some time now.
Radical change, firstly caused by the financial crisis, followed by a worldwide price increase of raw materials and labor workers demanding decent wages. Since end of January we can add food to this list! All these “events” are causing a chain reaction of revolting people claiming a fair share of global prosperity. The mostly young “rebels” want jobs, decently priced food and to be respected as individuals. The aforementioned in combination with decades of dictatorships and corruption forced the people of Northern Africa and the Middle East to revolt against their oppressors.
Radical thoughts are fed by a combination of displeasure, intelligence and imagination, change is set into motion by information, hope and perseverance. In case of labor workers: China for instance has a growing number of prosperous people and internet access is within reach of more people everyday. Knowing your own miserable situation comparing it with others, more fortunate than yourself, the desire for a decent life is getting stronger and becomes one of the first necessity of life. On the other hand in the Western world, buying low priced t-shirts has become one of our many first necessities of life. This dilemma of exploitation on one side and careless consumption on the other is the basis of the radical change we are experiencing now.
New parameters aiming for a decent life for all are needed in order to avoid revolts! Change is already there, you can call it radical, in case you are on the side of the “have’s”, but is it so radical? It seems simply a matter of restoring balance that brings human dignity for “have not’s” equally. A disturbed equilibrium with a history that goes further than dictatorships of almost half a century: it would be interesting to investigate and value the influence of colonialism on the current situation. It is not a secret that the wealth of the Western world today still finds it origin in the times of exploitation of colonialism and slavery.
Because of the fact that we are rich and “are entitled” to more, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t grant the poor the same. Let’s consider today’s instability payback time.
PRESENTING “ACTION!” IN SAN FRANCISCO
Last November it fits! was in San Francisco together with Andrea Wiegman from Gloed. We were invited by the Dutch consulate, where we presented our latest presentation “Action!” In the following link you can watch the full presentation
AWARENESS: THE NEW AVANT-GARDE?
Is in fact awareness becoming the new avant-garde? Buying meat from the supermarket may be cheap, but does it still have the nutritious values needed to stay healthy? Wearing a t-shirt for the lowest price possible, shouldn’t it bother you that the seamstress works too hard for too little money under circumstances we can’t even imagine in our worst nightmare? Is it necessary to get a new mobile phone with every renewal of your subscription? Of-course it’s nice to have the latest gadget but shouldn’t we claim with the purchase of a new device also that our old one will be completely recycled?
Why not to go for lasting quality? A leather jacket or a Chesterfield “age” nicely … they actually become cherished vintage objects and gain value throughout the years. So where did it all go wrong and why does it take so long to realize that a sustainable lifestyle not only brings more fulfillment in your personal & emotional life, it also is profitable in terms of health, spending less on unnecessary items and making money by selling what you don’t need anymore. Andy Warhol once said: “You have to do stuff that average people don’t understand because those are the only good things.” His views have already proved to be very profitable a number of times. I dare to say: “Awareness is the new avant-garde.” How can not spending generate money? The success of Google is the living proof!
LET’S STOP RE-LIVING THE PAST
Yesss! I love the POP magazine http://thepop.com/ !
In todays multi-layered world there is no place for retro fashion. It’s fine to be inspired by great style from the past, but let’s stop copying. The Pop magazine shows a contemporary vision on the recent fifties wave, forcing the reader to ask themselves: “Isn’t it time we should start shaping the future instead of re-living the past?”
“MADMEN FASHION”: NOTHING WRONG WITH FEMININITY
(Picture: Vogue July 2010)
The editorial in the Dutch Elle of September 2010 written by editor in chief Cécile Narinx described the thoughts and feelings I had for a long time regarding Madmen written by Matthew Weiner.
I like the series because it is well acted, beautiful settings and costumes … but …!
I also do love the fall collections of Prada and Louis Vuitton showing the same kind of feminine beauty and hunger for the security of the past … But let’s get real here! Isn’t it time that we start fixing the problems we are currently facing, rather than looking back! The situation in the sixties so well portrait in Madmen was horrendous! Pedantic guys telling women – way smarter than themselves – how to behave and what to do!
By watching the series closer, lifting the curtain of beauty and perfection you’ll see the “real fairy tale”: with adultery, mountains of cigarettes and lot’s of alcohol.
In the article of this month Dutch Elle a meeting on the “Madmen issue” is described where all editors in chief of the world realized that in the Western world the situation has changed for the good, while in some places where religion dominates public and private spaces the position of women haven’t changed in the meantime. Not to mention that a rich and emancipated country like the Netherlands still has a political – Christian – party that doesn’t allow women to join the party.
I was happy to read that Cécile Narinx shared my ambiguous feelings about the boost of femininity on the catwalks: nothing wrong with femininity, but let’s fight for a better position for women less fortunate than us.
IN HONOR OF THE SELBY
Todd Selby is a portrait, interiors, and fashion photographer and illustrator. His project The Selby offers an insider’s view of creative individuals in their personal spaces with an artist’s eye for detail. The Selby began in June 2008 as a website, http://www.theselby.com, where Todd posted photo shoots he did of his friends in their homes. Requests quickly began coming in daily from viewers all over the world who wanted their homes to be featured on the site. The Selby’s website became so popular—with up to 35,000 unique visitors daily—that within months, top companies from around the world began asking to collaborate.
I just received a twitter feed from the selby showing store windows inspired by his work. Congratulations Todd! Your work is fantastic! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=210851&id=16329660681&ref=mf
VOTE FOR LOST VALUES – DO THE GREEN THING
Elena Corchero and her “Lost Values” are on the shortlist for “Do the green thing”
You can see part of her work in this youtube film:
Do also check her website: http://www.lostvalues.com/ and of course don’t forget to check the site of “Do the green thing” (very nice!) http://www.dothegreenthing.com/
In the following link you can vote http://apps.facebook.com/sustainabilitycomp/entry/3/
Let’s help talented, sustainable entrepreneurs!!!
It is almost two years ago since the first collapse of the global financial and economical system. Slowly it seems that economy is picking up although on the other hand some people believe the “double dip” is very near. Since awhile I have been very interested in the insights chaos theory can bring us. While serving the net I come across an interview with Mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot and author Nassim Taleb of “The Black Swan”.
In my last post you can see some footage of a BBC documentary about Mandelbrot’s achievements: http://itfits4freshviews.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/letting-go-linear-thinking/
And in this Youtube film you see another interesting visualization of the Mandelbrot set:
It is extremely interesting to see that everything is interconnected: complex on the outside and very simple when you finally understand what it is about.
Let’s go to today! We are in the middle of a financial, ecological and socio-political crisis. I spoke about it in former posts, our leaders and other decision makers are square and linear thinkers. They are too traditional to understand that complexity and simplicity are so close to each-other that it is better not always to trust on “the experience of the past”! There are more roads that lead us to Rome.
Nassim Taleb with his book “The Black Swan” tried to warn politicians and bankers of the risks they were taking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Nicholas_Taleb
It appears Mandelbrot is like a mentor for Taleb. In the following youtube film you’ll see an interview with the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot and the writer and former practitioner of mathematical finance Nassim Taleb.
For me it is clearer than ever before that pointless economical thinking of never ending growth has too be revised! We need a global discussion between scientist, economists, politicians and creative thinkers to set the change into movement so desperately pleated for by President Obama.
Let’s face it: one charismatic leader is not enough to open the door to a fairer world!
