Three brief profiles of Englishmen at the peak of the fashion establishment. Each of them worthy expositors of Hume’s civilisational goal, the refinement of the arts and sciences. I love this passage from an interview with Edward Enninful, editor of British Vogue: “I used to spend all my money on books I couldn’t afford…
In my latest post over at Law & Liberty (https://www.lawliberty.org/2019/06/28/commercial-civilization-apollonian-or-dionysian/) I try to show that Caillois’s account of us — members of a commercial civilisation — does not quite capture the totality of how commerce works. Caillois thinks we are Apollonian, rather than mask wearing Dionysians. Civilisation is the substitution of the norms of…
The great English intellectual, John Henry Newman, will be canonised in October. Here is a link to some super pictures of his rooms (scroll forward through the pictures): https://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicism/48143564827/in/photostream/ Very snug and charming.
One of Scheler’s great complaints about commercial civilisation is that its vampiric quality (V&R Chapter 5) rids societies of eccentrics. Adam Smith’s spectator does prompt a degree of conformity, as does the all important role of brand logos in luxury fashion. How refreshing then is this story: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-sussex-48757020/the-brighton-tailor-whose-identity-became-his-business. After the story, Zach Pinsent thanked…
Commercial Civilization, Apollonian or Dionysian?
Universities: The Future of Policing?
Ratio et Motus is a Chinese company making a limited range of luxury, craft handbags (https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3014849/why-chinese-designers-behind-ratio-et-motus-dont-want-make). The conceit of the design is geometry and passion combined: ““The brand name translates to ‘reason and emotion’ because our aesthetic is about trying to find a balance. While our designs are different, they have to make sense…
These doctors certainly mean to try (https://fashionista.com/2019/06/psychodermatology-mental-health-skin-care). The skin care business is a vast one in the West, and a vast, vast one in China, and other Asian countries. It has even attracted the attention of the CIA (https://www.lawliberty.org/2016/11/28/beauty-and-the-beast/). Psychodermatology is an intensification of the blending already offered by the industries devoted to…
Craft and veneration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBTtVTT3qA&feature=youtu.be See V&R Chapter 5 for the ethical reasoning that affirms the moral standing of a company like Freed. Some excellent stills here of the crafts people: https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/freed-of-london-ballet-shoe-factory-east-london-hackney-documentary
Over the last few days, I’ve read some articles with good and bad moral news for the fashion industry. For example, young Chinese consumers of luxury care less about the artisanal background to a product and more about the sales experience (https://jingdaily.com/chinese-millennials-the-future-of-luxury-brand-experience/). Sales can be carefully and beautifully wrought, and all to the good, but…