To DIY or To BUY?

“Oh, I could make that.” But will you?

Chlothing Pinterest Purse

In my other post about bag charms, shoe laces, and brooches becoming overwhelmingly available, I began to ask myself another question about the current state of buyer trends. Many of these trends became popular due to their do-it-yourself nature, and room for personalization. Now, consumers can buy these items right off the shelf, saving themselves the time and effort it would have taken to make or collect such items

I’m sure almost everyone has seen an item in a store and said to themselves “Oh, I could make that.” Though, oftentimes, we do not make the item in question. Sometimes these items are worth the extra money in order to save time. These items could be knit scarves, necklaces, or ceramic dishes; your personal skills will likely change how you feel about these DIY-looking items.

Gilded Tin Oranaments

But, this issue continues to grow as society grows accustomed to quicker instant satisfaction. The first time I really thought about this was with the online store Chlothing and their Pinterest Purse. A simple black shoulder bag, adorned with 18 pinback buttons, most of which include more brand imagery. The purse is priced at $95. When this product was first released around late 2023, it created a lot of controversy. How much are people willing to pay for something they could so easily make?

My own embossed greyhound ornament

Another item that I’ve gone back and forth with are the Gilded Tin Ornaments sold at Free People for $10 each. This one is tricker, as they are much cheaper, but still something that could easily be made at home. This season, I purchased embossing foil and tools to make my own ornaments, rather than buying them elsewhere. It has taken far longer to complete, but I feel a connection with my own creations, and have saved money in the long run.

As I stated in a previous post, there is nothing wrong with purchasing these items, but it does raise some questions. It makes me wonder how long people hold onto and reuse these items, since there is far less personal connection. I try to make my holiday decorations every year, and repurpose them into year-round decor once the new year begins.

This year I learned about macrame in order to create my own produce basket, rather than buying one. I knew nothing about this type of art prior to deciding to make my basket, but it turned out great, and my roommates and I make an effort to purchase produce and put it in the basket. Crochet, on the other hand, is something that I simply do not have the skillset to create. I have purchased crochet items from local artists and friends who do have that talent.

My argument here is not really about avoiding big corporations or saving money (although those are some of the benefits), it’s about having a special connection with the items you own. What is the point in having a bunch of pins on your everyday bag, if you did not pick them yourself; if they just have the name of the brand from which you purchased the bag? Consumers today crave the visuals of these types of items, but would rather look past the reason why and how people create these items in the first place.