Is Fashion Important?

Fashion can be art. It is psychology, sociology, history, identity (religion, sexuality, gender), politics, and commerce. It is the material of the everyday and a vehicle for profound human performance; shelter and superfluity. Fashion—garmenture—is, literally, significant. So why is it so hard to talk about?...When your favorite childhood game is dress up and you grow up in a feminist household that sees fashion as capitalist frivolity, when that game follows you, obsessively, into adulthood, a crisis is inevitable; there still exists this notion of being “too smart for fashion.”

We are at a point in cultural history when once disparate mediums and fields of production are collapsing into each other. We look at paintings on screens and print digital photographs onto t-shirts. Film, music, literature, painting, sculpture, photography, along with “new media”—like the blogroll or interactive video, even holograms—are all just avenues, often cofunctioning avenues, used to 1. explore thought, 2. create beauty, and 3. accrue capital. Fashion is part of this network. Think artist collaborations, museum exhibitions, filmic costume design, and the rise of the fashion film. And yet, outside of the academy (where the study of fashion is flourishing), fashion still has trouble with the “explore thought” part. We don’t yet have much in the way of a popular critical discourse on fashion. It’s about time we integrate fashion into our elitist tradition of cultural criticism.

How can we write and think critically about fashion? And can we imagine new ways of looking at it?

-Nafiinu

Derived from: 

http://bullettmedia.com/article/writing-fashion-good/

Clothing is close, but far. Natural, but supernatural. Physical, but spiritual.

There is no dearth of reflection and response from the Christian community on film, music, or food. We have great organizations, institutions, magazines, programs, and conferences that address these issues. We are well attuned to the fact that we should be mindful of the things that we set before our eyes, what we introduce to our ears, and we grant to our mouth and stomach.

Yet something is missing. Something fundamental.

That which is close to us, can often be far. That which is natural for us to think and talk about, can become supernatural. That which is physical for us, can be spiritual if we paid attention.

Clothing is close, but far. Natural, but supernatural. Physical, but spiritual.

Putting on clothing ranks as one of the most routine, mundane, unreflective practices we engage in. The only time we really consider it is in light of the weather or the occasion. At least that gets us thinking about it. But, like all the other practices we engage in—eating breakfast or driving to work—we should be thinking carefully and consistently about it. How should a Christian think about the fabric they put on their back?

What we wear on our bodies enables and conditions our experience of space and time. But perhaps more importantly, what we wear on our bodies can be an obedient and worshipful response to these experiences of space and time and who we encounter in these experiences. Fashion, in the narrowest sense of the word, can be an act of worship.

Fashion implies covering, but it certainly cannot be reduced to it. Covering yourself can be done subconsciously, unintentionally, impulsively, quickly. You cover yourself to get on with other more significant and meaningful tasks. You cover yourself to avoid incarceration. Covering yourself is an exercise in utilitarianism. Most Christians cover themselves.

Fashion, on the other hand, is an exercise in virtue. Fashion requires consciousness, intentionality, meditation, and time. Fashion assumes awareness and deliberation. It assumes the category of beauty and the discipline of aesthetics. It assumes that others are intentional about what they wear and why they wear it. It assumes the possibility and importance of style. It understands the concept of adornment. Few Christians fashion themselves.

There are biological, social, economic, and political issues that inform when, how, and to what degree Christians can and should fashion themselves. But this shouldn’t give us incentive to brush fashion aside as if its superfluous or peripheral to the Christian life. Truth be told, God cares about what we wear—have you read Leviticus? True, God caresthat we wear. But he also cares about what we wear.

God could have covered Adam and Eve with fig leaves. Instead, he fashioned them with animal skin.

How we cover and adorn our bodies is linked with our life of worship. What we wear is reflective of our perception of God’s presence and action in the world. If we don’t think God is redeeming this world, we won’t have any incentive to consider what we should wear here-and-now. Likewise, if we don’t think God cares about how we present ourselves before him and others through our material goods, we won’t have any incentive to acquire or develop these goods for our own purposes or market and produce them for others.

We experience God’s goodness and glory in this theatre of creation so that we may respond back in gratitude and worship with the gifts we have been given. We are invited to participate in adorning God’s creation, as he has already done, through our lyrics, paintbrushes, screenplays, choreography, and fabrics. Adorning our bodies is on par with adorning our museums, churches, homes, schools, and the like.

It’s time for a little more ration for fashion. Fashion, too, is and can be an exercise in Christian obedience and worship.

I think the purpose of everything is doing things with purpose and conviction. What do you think?

-Nafiinu 

Information Derived  from:

http://www.cardus.ca/blog/2012/02/a-little-more-ration-for-fashion

Does nature need humans?

If Rainforest Spoke. What would it say?

Does nature need humans?



Humans, humans, humans, humans... watch the video on this link, just to have an idea what nature would say.

RAINFOREST VIDEO 







-Nafiinu 

Mother Nature

If nature spoke with words, what do you think it would say?

I came across this video recently. Please take a look. Its a very powerful video. God gave us free will and gave everything to us, but we can't continue abusing it. 

Look at the Video Here --> Nature is Speaking(Mother Nature)


I hope you enjoy the video.

Blessings,


-Nafiinu 

How many planets does it take to support your lifestyle?

Your impact on this planet

Go to this HERE to get a better understanding of how YOU are making an impact. 

You will choose from your diet, transportation, services, to utilities. This website will also help you take measures to decrease your impact. 

You still have time to take measures.

Blessings,

Nafiinu

http://footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/

Global Warming : Social Effects

Social Effects of Global Warming 

The sensitivity of human society to climate change varies. Sectors sensitive to climate change include water resources, coastal zones, human settlements, and human health. 

"We can observe this happening in real time in many places. Ice is melting in both polar ice caps and mountain glaciers. Lakes around the world, including Lake Superior, are warming rapidly – in some cases faster than the surrounding environment. Animals are changing migration patterns and plants are changing the dates of activity(Livescience).
One of the most immediate and obvious effects of global warming is the increase in temperatures around the world. 

Global sea levels have risen about 8 inches since 1870, according to the EPA, and the rate of increase is expected to accelerate in the coming years. If current trends continue, many coastal areas, where roughly half of the Earth's human population lives, will be inundated.

Since the Industrial Revolution began in the early 1700s, the acidity of the oceans has increased about 25 percent, according to the EPA. "This is a problem in the oceans in large part because many marine organisms make shells out of calcium carbonate (think corals, oysters), and their shells dissolve in acid solution." 

As dramatic as the effects of climate change are expected to be on the natural world, the projected changes to human society may be even more devastating.

Agricultural systems will likely be dealt a crippling blow. Though growing seasons in some areas will expand, the combined impacts of drought, severe weather, lack of snowmelt, greater number and diversity of pests, lower groundwater tables and a loss of arable land could cause severe crop failures and livestock shortages worldwide.

North Carolina State University also notes that carbon dioxide is affecting plant growth. Though CO₂ can increase the growth of plants, the plants may become less nutritious.

In addition to less nutritious food, the effect of global warming on human health is also expected to be serious. The American Medical Association has reported an increase in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, as well as a rise in cases of chronic conditions like asthma, are already occurring, most likely as a direct result of global warming.

This loss of food security may, in turn, create havoc in international food markets and could spark famines, food riots, political instability and civil unrest worldwide, according to a number of analyses from sources as diverse as the U.S Department of Defense, the Center for American Progress and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Many of these expected effects are the result of exhaustive scientific research and climate models, and the fact that most of them are already being observed gives additional credibility to the projected effects of global warming and climate change.

We cannot be waiting for other people to start taking action. It is in our hands to take the first step, we are the people. There is power in the people. 

May God help you to be motivated.

-Nafiinu

To read more of this information go to:

http://www.livescience.com/37057-global-warming-effects.html

Ethical fashion

Ethical fashion WHAT?

Ethical fashion can be defined as the production of textile items with a conscience. With the concept of social responsibility gaining ground, corporates all over the world are recognizing the importance of environment protection and ethical business. Fashion houses are no exception. More and more fashion designers and textile producers are striving to produce goods that do not harm the environment and are cruelty-free. Ethical issues in fashion are emerging.

Ethical fashion WHEN?

The concept of ethical fashion is old; however, it is gaining more and more popularity in the modern times. As awareness about environment conservation, cruelty to animals and ethical issues in business is rising, fashion brands are also increasingly adopting ethical means. Customers are also becoming more and more aware of ethical fashion and the demand for ethically produced fashion products is on the rise.

Ethical fashion WHY?

Why should textile producers and customers adopt ethical fashion? Animal and human rights activists as well as environment protection activists have brought up ethical issues related to the fashion industry time and time again. Some of the major ethical issues that have come up are:

The production of cotton entails the use of a large amount of pesticides, which is harmful to the environment and to people. Figures indicate that nearly 2 billion USD worth of pesticides are used annually, of which pesticides worth about 819 million USD have been declared toxic as per the guidelines of the WHO. The health of the workers spraying pesticides in cotton fields and the people living around these fields are adversely affected. Pesticide poisoning can lead to symptoms such as headaches, tremors, nausea, depression, seizures, loss of consciousness, and, in some extreme cases, death. Empty pesticide containers are sometimes reused, which again leads to serious ill effects on the health of the people using such containers. The use of toxic pesticides leads to air, water and soil pollution. Apart from the pests, pesticides also cause the death of other small animals and birds consuming them inadvertently.

The chemical dyes that are used in the production of garments also lead to skin problems. Problems such as eczema, rashes and skin irritation have been noted among people on account of dangerous toxins in the clothes worn by them.

Human rights activists have also pointed out the various ethical issues behind the preparation of a fashion product. Extremely low wages and long hours, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions, exhaustion, sexual harassment and mental stress are some of these issues. 

I believe that by thrifting and vintage shopping you are engaging in decreasing negative impacts on communities and environment. You are also able to support small businesses instead of corporations. 

-Nafiinu