Ukraine. Russia. World. War. Sanctions. Protests. Fashion.
First post - a try to find sense in this idea of a personal media, a diary I had never had before. An introduction I wrote waiting for my flight at Istanbul airport. On my way to unknown.
I wish I could find a way to put those words in the title into an appropriate sentence, but they stand on their own. Like after the long run you stop and try to slow down your breath. You want to say something but only disconnected words come out of your mouth.
I have been on the mind race since 22nd of February 2022, and now, after 6 days, I am trying to gather my thoughts together. It’s too early to share anything other than emotions and general statements that come to mind.
So here we are. My opening words for my subscribers. I planned it for so long. It should have been about overconsumption. It should have been issued in the middle of fashion weeks between Milan and Paris. But how can you discuss climate and social issues when there’s war at your doors? I can’t. And I might have no time and opportunity to write about it after sanctions were introduced. It’s possible I won’t reach my audience, my followers on Instagram, my friends. By sanctions I mean not just those against Russia, my native country, my home, but also the Russian response that will lead to partial cut off Russians from social networks, messengers, “wrong” native media and foreign as well. I hope this subscription will substitute my own Instagram feed: https://instagram.com/zakharova_kaetano.
Here should be a turn to the actual story or at least to the analytics connected to the announced subjects. But it’s just lines I write in a mental hurry, because there's so much to say and I write, then rewrite, then cut, delete my words. I read them and understand that it’s a too painful subject right now and people are radicalized. So only the title line stays not just as a thesis of the least week but as a visual of the breath interrupted by heart beating not even in the chest but in the head - behind the forehead. With dots where oxygen went off.
I know you can easily connect the first word into a pretty clear logical chain. Those are strong images. But fashion? That feels like an awkward combination, doesn’t it? Such a light matter… But those of you who follow fashion blogs, media and news I’m sure couldn’t ignore the weirdness of war news in Europe and glamourous content in their social media feeds. That’s the contrast! You are after new shirt or boots, bag and bam!.. ordinary people next to their little poor houses, crying, standing on the window glass and dust inside what used to be a living room…
Gucci&Adidas, Prada, parties, all usual fashion weeks stuff was mixed with the yellow-blue squares, bombed buildings, protesters slogans. Fashion industry tried to react but not hard enough. It’s just too complicated, too serious, too negative. Couple posts with #nowar #stopputin #saveukraine was thought to be enough. Because what comes first in fashion? Trends and habits.
Speaking about overconsumption - we over consume visuals, social content, mind gum. That makes us, good people in soul, superficial and easily distracted from the major stuff. We easily get tired of serious stuff. We feel depressed, useful, and sometimes lose our sense of everyday positivity. We even feel offended that someone instead of entertainment feeds us sad or patriotic or humanitarian stories. It’s too much. Life is difficult enough.
“Why do you post politics?! You are about beauty, so post art, fashion. Not death!”
I was so surprised how easily we get radicalized. So much anger is hidden behind those fashion, nature, art related images! And yet those people posing on the Red carpet are so awfully inadequate to the fear Europe feels. Only truly separated from normal reality posh and rich can continue drinking, dancing, having fun between discussion of the “brave Ukraine”, “more sanctions for Russia” and gossips about their Russian and Ukrainian friends.
28.02.2022. Istanbul airport.
P.S. The Diesel FW 22/23 show (by Glenn Martins) that I had watched that day made me question the reality we are living in. When did pornography become the common language of fashion? How had I missed the moment?
