i started this blog for a few reasons – two of which are to help independent designers promote their work and to show my support for indie artists. so i asked a few people why they buy indie and here’s what they said:
1) Buying indie gives you peace of mind.
Buying indie means you know exactly where your goods come from. You don’t have to worry if your purchase contributed to child labor or is just making some millionaire CEO even richer. ~ Mallory www.MissMalaprop.com
2) You’ll make someone’s day.
I love knowing that my purchase may be making someone’s day, someone just like me committing a lot of time and energy into doing what they love most. ~ Katie www.katieeatscake.com
3) Indie products are creative and high-quality.
I feel there is more attention to quality and detail from an independent designer. I also think there is more creativity in their work. And of course, I get great satisfaction, even if I have to pay more – that it goes to someone like me and not some big corporation. ~ Laurie www.claytastic.wordpress.com
4) You’ll show your support for artists.
I buy indie to support my friends and fellow artists. real work. real art. real shit. ~ Greg http://TacticalDiversion.com
5) Indie products are one-of-a-kind.
You get something that is one-of-a-kind that you will never see on anyone else. It lets you be even more uniquely you instead of just a carbon copy. And you’re supporting someone else and their dreams. ~ Sarah http://PunkKitty712.etsy.com
why do you buy indie?
12 Comments
Wonderful post. I tweeted a link to it!
I think #5 is kind of bullshit. “One of a kind?” Come on. Picasso originals are one of a kind….. mass (but small-time) produced t-shirts are not one of a kind.
awesome – thanks nick!
hey critic – you have the right to your opinion, but i think things you find on etsy.com are definitely one of a kind. if i buy a skirt there from an independent designer, he/she might not make that skirt again with the same fabric or same cut, for example. so i guess it depends on how indie you’re buying! thanks for stopping by.
Small-Time mass produced t-shirts might not be one of a kind, but they are limited edition and there’s just as much merit to that as a one of a kind product. If there are only 25 shirts made of a particular design, chances are pretty good that you are buying a shirt that you will never see again on anyone else. Besides, t shirts are just one niche of the indie market, a huge amount of indie designers make one of a kind products.
great post! i will tweet it as well!
I like that most people aren’t wearing the same thing or they don’t have the same jewelery.
Mass market stuff can be nice. But the quality isn’t there, that’s for sure. Cheap tin, cheap metals…
And with clothes, you can ask them to customize it to your body
How awesome is that?
yup – totally agree! i love the uniqueness factor.
LOVE INDIE DESIGNERS!!!
and even if some things are produced in small quantities- the chances of you running into someone wearing the same thing in the same town is almost impossible, if not improbable.
yup – very true! i like your house of dang clothes – thanks for stopping by!