FASHION
PHOEBE'S HOT TAKES: 02
Words by
PHOEBE HED
Published
June 21, 2024
Phoebe's manifesto

In an era of “Quiet Luxury” and perfectly-candid-social-media-humble-brag-post-hysteria, I have found relief in something I call “Loud Makeshift.” As we are flooded with aesthetics, styles and trends carefully rebranded under new names and taglines, I hope the randomness of ordinary-everyday-objects has a chance to be romanticised under the name “Loud Makeshift.”

LOUD MAKESHIFT is… • a keychain used to fix a broken necklace • visible mending • a watering can being used as a lightbulb holder because I need a moveable light source. Loud Makeshift is pairing your mismatched single socks instead of throwing them away, then making a great outfit with your mismatched socks on. It’s finding your childhood dress-up jewellery and integrating it into your adult accessory closet. Pony beads and silver chains do great together!
Loud Makeshift is a middle finger to the completely irrational pressure, stress and damage to the environment (and our wallets) that today’s trend cycle turnover rate is causing.
We have everything we need… and more… in our own homes. Within the old we can find new. If we know HOW to look. We can look anyWHERE for newness, if we know how to see it. It begins with challenging the intended use of everyday objects, and seeing them for their properties and functions.

A keychain is a connector. A missing link. A watering can is a container for water… or lightbulbs. A hole in your t-shirt is a cool design feature. Not an eyesore that makes your garment obsolete. Once we begin to see everyday objects, clothes, accessories, etc. as puzzle pieces, looking to connect with each other, there is infinite newness in what we already have. Newness isn’t limited to something being flawless, untouched or perfect. Newness can be an unexpected combination, or a new hole in your shirt. Newness can be in the makeshift solutions we use to extend the lifetime of our material possessions.

A keychain is a connector. A missing link. A watering can is a container for water… or lightbulbs. A hole in your t-shirt is a cool design feature. Not an eyesore that makes your garment obsolete. Once we begin to see everyday objects, clothes, accessories, etc. as puzzle pieces, looking to connect with each other, there is infinite newness in what we already have. Newness isn’t limited to something being flawless, untouched or perfect. Newness can be an unexpected combination, or a new hole in your shirt. Newness can be in the makeshift solutions we use to extend the lifetime of our material possessions.

Loud Makeshift is a celebration of fixing, customising, mishap and mismatch. Makeshift loudly. Wear it proudly.

PHOEBE’S HOT TAKES: a series of short manifestos about the fashion industry, sustainability, and reflections on navigating this field as a young designer. As creatives we can get lost in our own critical thinking and forget to actually say something, which is why writing it down might help us learn to make bolder statements. All you need is an A4 paper, a marker and an opinion (which you might disagree with next week, but then it’s time to write a new Hot Take)!

Loud Makeshift is a celebration of fixing, customising, mishap and mismatch. Makeshift loudly. Wear it proudly.

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