Before I tell you the main purpose behind this article, I’d
like you all to take into account that I believe, fashion, like all other
industries, is not evil. And if any of you disagrees, before you read this article,
I beg you to stop peeping through a keyhole and look at this “issue” with an
open mind.
A few months ago, I’d posted an article, a rebuttal
actually, against a Guardian contributor - Tanya Gold’s article on why she
hates fashion. And now, she has again managed to agitate me with her routine of
looking at the world with blinders. In her article, she says that the Beckhams
– David and Victoria - have failed miserably in being parents simply because
they let their child model for Burberry.
 |
| I think he's having the time of his life. And he's adorable. |
I do not know how to even begin correcting this gruesome
thought. First of all, I think the root problem to these kinds of notions is that
people believe that fashion is wholly sinful. This, to be very frank, is beyond
me. I do not understand why fashion is considered so evil? Do you not wear
clothes? Do you not groom yourself before going for an interview? Do you not
like to feel and look good? Fashion is in everything. You may not realize it,
but it plays an important role in your everyday life. People think that wearing
Jimmy Choo shoes and carrying Tod’s bags is fashion but actually, it’s not
that. There is more to fashion than just labels. I’m not saying labels are
extraneous, but they’re not the only thing. You can shop at thrift stores and
still be fashionable. Basically, fashion is not exempt from your life. Now speaking about the people in the industry, who Tanya
very conveniently calls frivolous, are real people. They have real dreams,
hopes, wishes. They enjoy what they do. They love what the do. They’re happy.
Live and let live.
Fashion is like any other industry. For example, if the
Brangelina couple let one of their kids star in a movie, would that also be “to
validate their own barmy choices”?
If Beyonce and Jay-z someday let their daughter sing and
record an album, would that also be “a poor Christmas gift for a child”?
What about phone companies whose use child artists for
advertising? By Tanya’s logic, she should be saying it’s like "selling your own
child" for your own benefit. But no, it’s not. Because it’s a phone
company, not a Burberry trench coat.
What about Tavi Gevinson? She’s 17 and running an online
magazine! Her passion is exorbitant and so refreshing. What about her dreams?
Why are they considered frivolous? Just because they comprise of fashion and
not history or science?
Also, I’d also like to ask Tanya and the others who agree
with her, how they know that the Beckhams’ son Romeo did not want to do it?
Maybe he’s following his mother’s footsteps, and in no universe is that a
problem. Maybe he likes it. Maybe he enjoyed it. Maybe he wants to do it again. You’re actually
calling a 10 year old’s dreams materialistic? What about being yourself at that
age? What about exploring? What about not going by society’s standards? Just
let the kid be. A couple of comments I strongly agree with and would like you
guys to read –
“I am already losing
the will to live. Even an article about the 300 uses of sprouts would be more
entertaining. Some people just can't live and let live. The Beckham's might not
be the brightest apples in the box but they seem to love their kids and have a
decent family life.” – Amen to whoever wrote that.
“Having never
believed that Posh/Becks would last more than a year, it is by now pretty
apparent that theirs is a stronger relationship than was at first apparent, and
probably stronger than any Ms Gold has enjoyed. I suspect that they are
therefore rather better parents than Ms Gold insinuates and that, very
probably, Beckham Jnr has not been 'sold' like a slave, but is actually up for
doing this.
Maybe this article is supposed to be humorous but it comes
across as the work of a very sour person indeed.”
Finally, I’d like to point out that if given the
opportunity, would you not let your child model for a big fashion house if
she/he wanted to? Or if she/he got a role in a movie or a song recording or
even a play in school? Probably not, right?
I'm going to conclude by quoting Lagerfeld, another legend Tanya lives to hate, "I do my job like I breathe." - He loves what he does, not because he's materialistic but because he's passionate.
