Commodity Fetishism In Fashion

Uploading videos every other week on Mondays, this may change depending on how I feel, keep up to date on my Instagram!
Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
3:17 Nike Example
5:20 We are people
7:01 Rep buyers
7:45 Online curation
11:05 Social currency
13:09 You don’t know what you want
16:15 My Exit
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Remember to fill the void!
Patreon: / fashionelitist
Instagram: @fashion.elitist
Beats used/made from:
Hall of the Mountain King by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Gymnopedie No 2 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Gymnopedie No 1 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@ceb0lla904]

I'm into vintage fashion (like very vintage, Edwardian and such) and even though aesthetically I have grown past it I learned a lot about what to value about clothes. 100 years ago it was commonplace for clothes to be made to fit, by hand, by a local tailor. No brand, not even tags. It's very common to see patches, fixes, clothing made smaller or bigger to fit someone else, or to fit a new fashion trend. It was made to be used, and to last. And to look pretty ofc (my fav example is when things were made bigger by adding a strip of lace 🥰). it was a totally different philosophy and you can tell literally by looking at the pieces. Made me appreciate clothes as objects made by someone. To be clear I'm not saying the past was better (it was not) but it gives you perspective. I could go on forever about this xddd anyways loved the video, keep these discussions going

[@67wdz51]

Not reading nun a dat 😭😭😭🤦🏿‍♂️

[@pseudo148]

When he says he’s got a vintage fit, and he pulls up looking like Napoleon 💀, I do respect the commitment tho 💯

[@anidianguystolemyphone9063]

I'm more into the middle age slave look

[@deekay6474]

@@67wdz51 lazzy ass 🤦‍♂

[@blankspace3726]

Why is there such unfunny replies to this, this is a great statement

[@BrocksJellyFilledDoughnuts]

The last part really struck a cord with me. I ask myself a lot whether I want stuff because I genuinely like it, or if I want it because it’s in my face right now. I’ll look at my old online wishlist from time to time and forget why I wanted that particular product so much.

[@keinfame7573]

This is so real. Same here

[@Blaze0647]

Nah fr!

[@garynguyen4253]

Ppppoooooooo is so cringe 😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

[@madeofcastiron]

same here. that’s why i put things i want in my wish list and forget about it for at least a week so that when i revisit the items, i can truly decide which things i really want and which were just added in a spur of the moment.

[@hanslim4031]

I even took notes on this vid lol. Definitely took my last few braincells to comprehend what he was talking about.

[@Sociology_Tube]

As a sociologist -- you did a GREAT -- no, a STUNNING -- job of contextualizing and bringing social theory -- to fashion and our consumption usages of fashion.

[@sleepyfairy998]

Wearing something slightly out of the norm gets you stares,laughed at, and judged. Ngl I do get upset when influencers pretend that they wear strange or slightly different fashion out into the real world.

[@blankspace3726]

Fr

[@joeeeee256]

Boomers always staring and judging me for being male and wearing baggy overalls like its the 90s, feels like I really can't wear anything even slightly different to the norm

[@black-nails]

Ofc influencers make money off that and could not wear it out, but if you truly care about the weirdness and it means something to you, finding other people that care about you & don't judge will give you bravery to wear more different stuff. Quite a lot of my friends have very distinct styles and it creates an atmosphere of acceptance, even if few people could stare :-)

[@fivethousandnine]

Wearing Walter Van Beirendonck in the city really tests my self confidence 😅

[@shamusson]

That's what you are trying to cause when you wear something out of the norm. Why are you angry at something when its all just cause and effect?

[@Iknownothig]

No matter how hard I try, I can't understand how people are wearing certain outfit for only the picture. Like something I love about fashion is the way I can express myself in certain ocasions and locations. And I think that it's also really cool thaat someone can share their outfits with thousands or millions of followers, but in what case would you prefer fake wearing it online that actually using the clothes around people family and friends.

[@jeppyjep]

Same here. The reason why i have so many death metal band tshirts is because i love death metal. I want to show support for the band and i want to show who i am; a metalhead. I also have a couple of anime t-shirts and sweatshirts because i love anime too. I dont know how some influences can wear things that they dont want to wear in public. I wear my death metal t-shirts that has designs full of skulls, blood and naked and disembodied human. I dont care what people think because thats who i am.

[@codawithteeth]

i can get it!! it’s like a set piece. a painter strokes their colors because they think it looks nice, and when they’re done, they might be proud and want to post it. does that mean they want to carry it around with them all day? no!!! they’re just proud of their work :> outfits are the same way. in a world where people can get ridiculed for wearing things slightly out of the norm, you are going to have people who still love creating outfits, but don’t want to face that ridicule.

[@dontdoxme1730]

God-damn, I figured this was going to be one of those times when people misuse commodity fetishism, but u actually slightly went into value-theory. not bad

[@dontdoxme1730]

You have got to read Adorno if you haven't yet, you'd def. like 'Dialectic of Enlightenment' or 'Minima Moralia'.

[@yugotrashy]

Reading Adorno is one of the least productive things he could do to get a handle on actual value theory tbh. Actually reading Marx could be a solid start tho

[@earhearthush-up5549]

Fr I saw this pop up in my recommended and was so scared it was gonna be another “CF means when u like stuff” take

[@rentaltoast2201]

right?? i fuckin love this dude

[@fashionelitist]

i did my best to touch on some things but i really didn't go too in depth i just touched the surface of things. Im happy that im at least getting some discussion of different perspectives and maybe having some folks think about these things.

[@Archimeaa]

you know it's gonna be good when the video starts with a karl marx quote.

[@rentaltoast2201]

legendary shit fr

[@Vivacomunismo]

Based

[@RadChannel]

🙄

[@ceoofuzbekistan4025]

“Please, do not attack or harass any of the people mentioned in this video, it has been created for entertainment and thought, not for the purpose of creating a mob to harass others Thank you.” - Karl Marx

[@winstonwithay1980]

@@ceoofuzbekistan4025 My favourite line from 'Critique of the Gotha Programme'

[@freakout3017]

Spawn camping this video

[@cloyboy2493]

the performative curation of one’s life through a lens is like the basis of this whole world, though. it’s ‘everyone is a company’, what do companies do? They lie, they try to come off as good entities, promoting good things, meanwhile behind the scenes it’s just about making money. the system we live in heavily promotes these ideals so we see it everywhere, but the pendulum always swings back.

[@rentaltoast2201]

it’s all just marketing fr

[@shamusson]

All is branding.

[@maran363]

i used to shop by trends and brands, but now i go to thrift stores and buy what i like, what i think is cool, and what suits me best. filling your closet this way is so freeing because you are shopping for yourself and what makes you happy, not for status - because status is always shifting. i really appreciate this video for making a stance against fast fashion and trend chasing, because it’s hopeless and draining. also, i really enjoyed this video. you can def tell he put lots of time, effort, and his personal take and thoughts into it. love when ppl are honest and venerable.

[@renaisekim62]

thank you ezra miller

[@higgs5063]

hey JQ I just wanted to say I've been going through and watching all your videos really liking them. I've been learning a lot thats helped me make more informed choices about my clothes I buy and what I chose to wear for me. Dispite my family saying I look gay, I feel a sense of expression in my clothes that, even if just a small amount, your videos have helped me feel more comfortable in. People be looking at me in school in their H&M hoddies and dunks in FEAR and thats brings me joy no one can take away. Thnx :D

[@pahulg2843]

When he said “society of the spectacle,” I transcended into a class conscious heaven. Y’all need to read “society of the spectacle,” by guy debord y’all, it’s a great book on this topic and this video offered such a great primer on the topic of commodity fetishism.

[@braulioceballosmolina4909]

In the rep community you see a lot of this, people buying head to toes of some specific brands just to project a certain image. Great video JQ ❤️

[@minhemil01]

What's the rep community? I'm unaware.

[@lichh64]

@@minhemil01 I think its short for replicas

[@martis4951]

@@minhemil01 they buy inauthentic pieces of clothing called replicas

[@nicpencils]

i agree, that community become what it swore to destroy

[@8ddn]

@@minhemil01 r/fashionreps r/qualityreps

[@cseymour97]

When I was first getting into fashion I was definitely one who cared a lot about the peices I had and how it appeared. And after a while of doing that I fell into what felt like a depression due to this facade I was attempting to maintain. When covid lock down hit I essential dumped my wardrobe and only purchased items that had value to me and put together fits that I love and make me feel good. It just so happens to be that many of these items I've acquired from thrifting regularly. I've found that this keeps that desire to consume in check while also being able to curate my style and life based on my individual interests and personality. I don't necessarily care anymore what people think of me or how I dress and I beleive that's really how it should be. Great video and hope this opens up some opportunities for others stuck in the system!

[@kmc672]

thrifting is top tier

[@cseymour97]

@@kmc672 it's truly a game changer when you get after it

[@kmc672]

@@cseymour97 I stopped buying fast fashion years ago when the quality went to shit

[@mauricioparedes9158]

You are definately one of the best content creators I've ever seen, love how transparent you are with everything and also how you dive into the actual society and its dilemmas. (Haha niche influencer good + has an amazing taste of fashion + talks about more things than fashion > tiktok balenciaga hater)

[@aihsur]

b-b-b-but the other tiktoker said balenciaga was demonic and eats babies!

[@gustavomikkelsen2813]

HOLY SHIT, KARL MARX MENTIONED great video man, loved it

[@ulysses-101-]

JQ starting off the vid with Marx ❤️ Great video on bringing up awareness/new perspective

[@rf_archive]

People who enjoyed the part " 13:09 You don’t know what you want " may also enjoy reading René Girard's "Mimetic Theory of desire" !

[@stillfl3]

Your videos are always so spot-on and engaging, in the sense that you dissect trends and dig deeper and we don't see a lot of fashion people talk about them that way. Keep it up

[@xaango]

I love how your videos always leave me with a few things to really think and question about

[@Andreas-wj8lj]

Ever since I started watching you. I have thought a lot more critically about what I am going to buy. I too participated in the whole tiktok clothing culture and wanting every trendy piece of clothing to appear or look a certain way. I will now try to look at items/pieces or whatever I am going to buy for what it is and how it can impact my life. Not because I think that other people think it’s cool. Awesome video man, i’m excited to see what else you put out

[@beachtrooper2061]

Some of the best fashion takes on KZbin fr

[@lichh64]

I am in my reading week rn and so far I have binge watched all your videos, thanks for the upload

[@manuelsobral3923]

I love watching all the adds in your videos to give you money keep posting so i can indirectly give you money through watching all the adds

[@spooki333]

This way of thinking has been a really large reason why I want to make more of my clothes through thrifting things and adjusting them to size or straight up just using a fabric I really like even if I don't like the piece of clothing itself.! I really loved this vid! Knowing I can create and appreciate something I've made is so much more fulfilling than ordering any sweat and sewn item from shein.

[@reeandtee]

Thank you for bringing this topic to a forefront. I honestly had a bit of burnout in my own processing of this subject matter, and I can't even imagine what you went through trying to figure how to explain this in a way that was easy to ingest! Understanding that social currency is becoming a part of people's wealth systems is terrifying. Like the fact that dissociating from social media can result in the feeling of "not being a part of society" or disappearing is..... bonkers. I'm a musician / visual artist and its almost impossible in our era to find large scale success without being on social media, especially since I live in North Carolina. At the same time I see myself disappearing into the void of my own "outfit inspiration" or "music inspiration" tagged folders on instagram, and forgetting how to express myself naturally without looking for some reference to relate it to. I hope more people take the initiative to break from social media, and understand that if IG or twitter broke down, you'd have to learn to live with what is around you.

[@haoxin1793]

having recently been in japan, and shopping quite a bit, i’ve been wondering whether what i’ve bought has been what i actually want. this video definitely helped clear up a lot of my doubts and almost cloudy thoughts. cheers

[@micho3444]

This video made me subscribe, you bring up very important topics. The whole social currency thing is so real.

[@elijahlee6797]

You should make a video maybe talking about how this affects designers, I remember the y2k hoodie plague and now there are none, so many brands pop up and they seem to be lacking a uniqueness just the same types of clothes with diff branding

[@marekjager4664]

You´re truly a one in one hundred. Great video, you definetly help me develop my style for the better. Thank you

[@povilasl5383]

damn man, amazing video, I can't wait for you to grow a lot more! you really deserve it! I also really love your style because im trying to create something similar to that!

[@marcquees5312]

"They're truly gaining a lot from just posting this video instead of just ignoring Balenciaga on their own" can go even deeper on top of how good this video already is. A little over a year ago I took a break from social media because I needed to rethink my life over, work on personal development and figure out how I was going to move about once I did so. And Ive been thinking about social media. I started and still do began to think about my social media presence for when I get back on. " Is the perception I want of myself on social media for others to see or will it reflect real life and align how I actually live and move?" Even though Im not quite where I want to be personally I do believe that when I return to social it media will reflect my real life. I do think you should have a good social media presence if you do decide to be on there just for the simple fact that you want to look presentable as you would in real life but you also have ask yourself at some point "Am I only doing this just get validation?".

[@karigrandii]

Dont go back. I noticed I dont even want to go back after I took a long enough break. I wasted so much time scrolling ig thinking its inspo but really its nog

[@TLDCProducoes]

You won a subscriber and a comment with this video. You're very well-spoken and your choice of content is very thoughtful and honestly admirable. Keep going strong king 👑

[@backsidefifty]

Even with the most happening fashion trends it seems like people want to look more of the same as ever before, it feels like it has all turned us into impersonable, mindless beings who just look cool to look cool and not to be themselves, which is such a shame

[@serot0nergic]

One of my favourite things about where I live is that I can put all the thought in the world into my outfit and no one will ever know or understand what it is I'm wearing. It allows me to genuinely consider what it is I want to wear because in my community, nothing is gained by wearing ridiculously expensive clothing. Your social standing here is based on the kind of car you drive or the house you live in. Most people in my community are years behind when it comes to fashion trends and are just now being turned on to brands like Supreme. It's nice because there isn't some large community of influencers here parading around in $6,000 off-white outfits. This sort of fashion vacuum has really allowed me to consider the relationship I have with my clothing, and I honestly feel much better off for it.

[@bradysylvester4371]

sick video mate - you be doing the most

[@MyGamefreak0]

there are so many clothes i like that happen to be trending right now, like i enjoy rick shoes because it has a different proportion to most shoes and i’ve searched high and fucking low for high top shoes bc i think its the same as girls wearing calf high or thigh high boots/shoes and i’d like to recreate that specific look. Would i have ever wanted rick if it wasn’t trending? honestly i cant tell. But in many ways im thankful for it because its expanded my taste not for whats poppin rn but for what makes something stand out even if its in the slightest way possible and makes me want to explore that in different brands. Like if the jordan 1 model happened to have a style that is a couple inches higher than the regular shoe i would honestly buy those for that reason alone no matter the cost. Like this is my perspective on how and why i like certain things and while it may be trendy, if i had an alternative i would definitely look forward into attaining that item

[@rod8366]

I always love hearing your takes

[@user-ou8zd6fm9d]

A lot of interesting points. Loved it, thank you for sharing.

[@labombay1375]

Thanks for this video, loved your input to this (almost muted) discussion!

[@GreatBlack]

“ i want you to stare at the clothing rack”😂mans got the Cartoon Network closet💀 glad you know you’re style and what looks good on you man. One day I’ll have the Cartoon Network closet too. 🙏 3:03 btw

[@lonemaruatona7582]

great video, really opens up ur eyes to consumerism & influence in our world today!

[@blu4111]

very good video! you managed to make me reflect more than usual today

[@spilledmonster]

This is my favorite video of yours so far! :3

[@levi3186]

The way you actually went in to how the value of products/commodities are determined, and applied to modern fashion was very surprising to me. I certainly didn’t expect a quote from “Das Kapital” when I clicked on this video. And

[@beastbike4570]

This is some good insight. I’ll keep it in mind!

[@fionaseoh367]

13:20 you came for my whole life 👌🏼top notch questions👌🏼top notch content

[@munashekahonde3457]

It's kinda scary how right Debord was about the spectacularization of commodities

[@mojit27]

Yo bro! I’ve seen your hair care video and I learned a lot about my hair, thank you. I have some questions about the products you use because I have also thick hair. Are you still using redken? If yes, have you tried redken all soft mega because it’s more moisturizing and nourishing than the all soft.

[@jacarandav]

this video is so necessary, probably the most based video on fashion i’ve ever seen! you show very clearly just how much marx’s beliefs are still so relevant in today’s society

[@mbmaline]

Very interesting video, I am trying to learn about fashion and I love the way you view it

[@Behindtheseams1]

Love your channel man

[@dheonix2.0]

nice take man. i love the approach

[@izaaksavett9269]

I really wish you would’ve expanded on that part from like 6:40 to 7:00. It felt like you really cut it short when you were just getting into the groove of explaining what was in your head. What you said in just that 20 seconds was by far the most interesting to me.

[@Jacob98376]

Honestly, really good video. I struggle with the same thoughts.

[@urtemor992]

Love that you referenced Guy Debord’s in this

[@solace4660]

great vid i been thinking about how society definitely affects what i buy no matter how much i say i don’t care what people think it’s more like i always think i got some shit that nobody else does but i’m not special yk

[@dimlight.]

Really great video, thank you for this

[@l4webdesign186]

This is the content that humanity deserves

[@victorledezma6652]

Hey bro real question. Can you make a video on how you wash and maintain your clothes? It’s a shame to spend so much on clothes but then not properly care for discoloration and such. Maybe even recs on caring for different fabrics and colors

[@alexcarrillo6804]

This is your best video. It's a banger.

[@lorenzvergho8942]

Nice Video you got a New subscriber

[@kyleturek3298]

Good video, really well done.

[@jonathanvierbaum]

I study fashion and that was actually like the best fashion video I watched in a long time. I was having a conversation with a friend about that topic when I wanted to get Rick owens shoes and he was like: do you actually like them or do you think you like them because of their symbolic value? I ended up not getting them because it was too much money for me and I couldn't be sure if I actually liked them. What I'm trying to say is even as designers you are participating in this capitalistic society and it's hard to take yourself out and think of what people actually need. And then you're faced with the question: will people buy things that they actually need or will they just get things with more symbolic status? Can I make money of things which are really well made but don't look special? I love Martin Margiela for that because he made elaborate clothing and besides those 4 stitches which could easily be overlooked there was no branding or logo visible to serve as a social status symbol. He let the clothing and the quality speak for itself and that's outstanding to me.

[@lhysm]

one of the best videos i’ve seen in a while

[@madeofcastiron]

this video hits home. not fashion, but with electronic devices. i recently changed from android to apple because of the status and “prestige” it came with, but now that i’ve used it for a year, i just wanna go back to android. but i won’t do that just yet because my iphone still works perfectly fine, and with that big ass price tag, i fully intend to use it till it disintegrates into carbon powder.

[@atlxs]

this video literally made step back & think abt everything like dis shit resonated wit me on a crazy level

[@angelhost9]

Great content that allows for critical reflection. Personally, as someone who could never comfortably afford the fashion/luxury items I specifically want, I've nurtured a good relationship with upcycling clothes or sewing them by hand. I don't sell them either. Once you fall in love with the production process, especially when it becomes a personal catharsis for every social hurdle you're faced with, I find you develop a deep love for the things you find pleasant, beautiful, and intimate, including yourself. Though, affording all the material to constantly create pieces instead of simply buying things is a privilege of itself.

[@triptip00]

Yes! A new video!

[@loudornelles]

Thank you for this video

[@almpangels9911]

What a great vid, thank u c:

[@michaelmcdaniel2742]

this entire video felt like a mic drop. wow!

[@ImVengance_]

im just leaving a comment here to make the video do better :)

[@yoyoguyman1]

Awesome analysis!

[@iljapershin7961]

Great video! Could you by any chance provide the sources you've used because I'd like to write my seminar paper about this but i can't find much information about this.

[@blank2819]

Good put together video

[@Sweet4chokoreeto]

I'm happy you have your manslut glasses back ✨🌸 it took me in a rabbit hole about what means been a manslut, definition, trends, meaning of glasses, it gave me a whole day of fun, specially because I live in a south American country and manslut was a term I've never heard before. Thank you 💖

[@lichh64]

Weird how someone can sexualise something as simple as glasses

[@Sweet4chokoreeto]

@@lichh64 I'm alt and once I was on the bus stop near my house wearing something similar to an e-girl's outfit and a guy casually asked me about my only fans. He assumed I had one. I don't.

[@ssrecords4229]

@@Sweet4chokoreeto get the help u need.

[@MatheusHenrique-cc5tf]

This video was such a slap in my face

[@MingusDynastyy]

I always wonder if Jjoe wears those crazy layers outside pics

[@Hlecktro]

My favorite thing is thrifting all sorts of total cheap gaudy crap no one in their right mind wants, and putting bits and pieces together into personal hodge-podge outfits. It makes a style ( somewhat ) unique to me. I actually took up photography and often take photos of my fits, because I want to showcase them in a creative way. I still go outside dressed like a crazy person... Used to a lot more in my 20s but these days I need some kind of event to go to. It takes a long time to get ready and I got tired of doing it just to go... pump gas in my car or something. Only thing that's pretty much impossible to thrift is aesthetic pairs of shoes. Any good looking 2nd hand footwear is going to immediately be bought the second it's put on the shelf. I find the best bet there is to get well used pairs of common sneakers like vans or chucks online. They come in lots of colors and are easy to match to outfits.

[@ringotheflamingo6900]

great job explaining marx and debord 👍

[@servidig483]

A spectacle isn't a problem, it's a natural human behaviour, but everything in moderation, like with everything else.(moderation levels are different from person to person)

[@aliensandwich2290]

Great video !

[@haroldk.7473]

great video very informative👍

[@davidc4946]

This sorta fashion is so niche though. I wish you’d make a video why people dress formal and why it’s the default when presenting yourself in a space.

[@mateogarcia1207]

This is a pretty cool channel

[@enhaworld]

no matter how deep i get into fashion i could never imagine buying an outfit just to wear for social media. if i buy something, it actually means i plan to wear it out and tbh a lot of the clothes i buy are in mind of what i want to wear out. my clothes are really big part of my self expression more so now than it has ever been and i would never go against that by buying something for a picture. i also don’t understand buying what’s on trend, just buy what you like because that’s all that should matter to you.

[@maxbermo]

Good video, nice takeaway

[@robinbauer1975]

tbh that arc tyrx grey rain jacket a black cargo/parashoot pants would be fire, then some white sambas or the slver gel keyano with gold is fire

[@ALMM.andallopez]

Thank you for dropping wisdom and sharing this. 🥷🏾🖤

[@arko9151]

Another banger from Fashion Elitist #anticapitalismgang

[@patrickna2402]

parasocials relations gonna kill us

[@adanalvarez1723]

i never comment on videos but this was fucking incredible, like just enthralling the whole way through

[@BlakeVakili]

nice vid!

[@thereisaplaceineastmelbourne]

gotta love a marxist disection of the fashion landscape.

[@plunderman9001]

So I'm a high schooler and I love the Yohji Yamamoto style of all black and stuff that you seem to be very into. Can you do a video on how to get into this genre for cheaper because Yohji, Rick, and CDG are all very expensive for me right now? Please give some good brands with good quality, and stay true to the style. Thanks

[@fashionelitist]

Might be a good video to make showing how i get my stuff for 50-160 mostly

[@djd_1two3]

I really like this video but I think it's important to make a follow-up video that goes more into the context outside of fast fashion. I mean people wear suits or wear business clothing because they want to appear a certain way and know that the social currency will allow them to make better business deals because the clothes they wear. It's not just fast fashion. When the average person only stares at you for 20 seconds before coming up with an idea of who you are, clothes do matter on how you present yourself.

[@kieran9829]

great video

[@BltchErica]

None of the things in "We are people" apply to me, it's wild that most people don't care about these things. When I want an expensive clothing item I want to know everything about it before making the purchase so I can justify the price tag, even if the value isn't there, you feel a connection to the item when you know every detail about it. And really, people really into fashion do appreciate these things, since many top brands market their history, heritage and savoir-faire, they wouldn't do it if they didn't gain something from it. These are just the 2 types of fashion customer, the trendseeker poser, and then the actual fashionista.