IT'S JUST CLUTTER.... LET IT GO! Message from a former 'Label Whore'.

I must admit, there were times in my life when ‘Label’ was important. Russians have a reputation of being ‘Label Whores’ and that applies to all aspects of life - luxury means 'I am special'.

For me, ‘Label’ always represented understanding/ appreciation of high quality and craftsmanship. However, these days ‘Labels’ have nothing to do with old fashioned quality and pride of ownership.

Go to any ‘famed’ restaurant in NYC, Dallas, DC, Miami, Boston, LA (after waiting 3 months for a table) and you will see identical kitchen with identical staff.

Regardless of the cuisine served, the hard working staff looks the same: most chefs, waiters and kitchen help are from Mexico and South America, who got 'on the job training'.

Professionals, who put those restaurants on the map, are no longer around. The famed chefs, with great culinary skills. are busy on BRAVO TV, FOOD CHANEL, QVC - selling everything: pots and pans, kitchen gear and 'How to' books.

We watch them traveling with celebrities (without career), having great time, tasting great wine and great food, all over the world.

Let’s face it, established chefs already paid the heavy dues, they are tired and want out of the hot kitchen. I am OK with that, I understand 'tired'. I just have one problem: would you think that menu prices would be adjusted, after they are gone? After all, we are lining up to pay top dollar for the 'Name/Label', that special dining experience, the very best. Well, now you know - I am a romantic fool.

Or... To own a designer’s 'Label', that ‘something special’ has new and not always worthy meaning as it did before. In the 'old days', when you looked at the "Label'’ you knew that it was made by a professionals, with years of training and experience. It was quality to the highest degree and the name on the 'Label' represented a designer, who cared. I would like to see a 'BRAND' today, with real commitment to QUALITY and that 'something special' would not demand a 30 year mortgage to pay for it. Is it asking too much?

Thanks to Global Economy, that ‘something special’ takes a trip around the world, and most of the places has nothing to do with quality as I know it. Made with pathetic wages by children and hungry adults, it's not labor of love, but simply hard labor and means to survival.

If that is not disturbing enough, here something else: to appeal to the ‘simple folks’ (sale more cheap 'something') and to make sure the rest of us feel 'special', our favorite designers 'created' second and more 'affordable Labels’ - for Kmart, Kohl's, H & M and Wal-Mart. Oh, how very considered!

But wait, maybe you want to support the 'young, hip and happening’? Do not worry!!! We got it covered for you!

FYI: everybody can be a designer - no professional training needed.

Here is PLAY BY PLAY: get yourself on YOUTUBE, wearing 'Your Label' - as little clothes as possible, body paint, naked works too, make sure to mumble some profanities into camera or better yet, just have sex and.... VOILA! Done!

24 hours later – you are in the news, a ‘new designer’ with reality TV show, launching fresh bunch of crap with your name on the 'Label',made in China. Soon after, some of us will be in the stores, looking at your new 'something special' and thinking - I get it, it's cool!

Everyday we get addressed with 'urgent call for giving' by 'someone famous', who have the time and money to be charitable. BTW: many of them do give and give generously, but when it's constantly makes front page and social media 'buzz', I get suspicious. Is it really about bringing awareness, or simply staying in news, long enough to promote a next movie, book or 'Label'. And where are millions of not famous working people across USA, who give as much as they can, without out endorsing anything?

Sometimes, I wonder about money from 'WE ARE THE WORLD#1 and #2".

Was it all given away to the needy? Let me ask you: if it takes 'only few dollars per person a day, don't you think that hunger and poverty in Africa would be solved by now and everyone would be wearing Chanel and Armani, while eating gourmet meals 3 times a day? Maybe, it was 'a portion of the proceeds...What portion, exactly? And where is the rest?

I don't need to listen to 'someone famous', preaching about generosity and giving, please STOP! WE ARE giving, we are helping and supporting - doing the right thing, always. That is why the whole world is looking to this country for help.

This is not a problem.

It becomes a problem for me, when that 'someone famous', who's on a mission 'to help' is launching a 'Label' -AKA: pay workers in 3rd world countries something like $5.00 a week, spend millions on advertising and sale that ‘fabulous crap’ for insane amount, while telling everyone and everywhere about generosity...

That leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.

So, what's a 'simple' girl to do? Instead of bitching, whining and complaining, I will tap into my own spirit of giving and help people donate no longer needed 'STUFF'.to charity. At the end of the day, owning a ‘Label’ may not be that important. Who cares?

It’s just CLUTTER.... LET IT GO!

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