29th January, 2004
Mainstream Abandon
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Haiminh’s favourite words include…
1. Bits.
2. Moist.
3. Residue.
4. Lumpy.
5. Penile.
6. Girth.
7. Cheek.Haiminh ought to get out more.
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people who diss on hot topic for being mainstream in general make me laugh. i keep expecting these people to explain just why exactly not being mainstream is such an importance. supposedly these are also the types who “don’t care” about their image, but i beg to differ.
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I think it’s amusing because here Volcom is as common as dirt. Every Supre-wearing skank who gets a few extra bucks goes down to the General Pants Co. to get herself an “I’m not Joey Ramone” t-shirt, or a fluro pink fishnet with ‘Volcom’ branded across the front of it in a punk kind of way. Volcom is the height of Avril-esque mainstream-punk fashion.
Meanwhile, there’s not a single Hot Topic here within half a dozen timezones. A couple of shops started picking up Emily Strange gear about six months ago (first only uber-expensive goth specialty shops, later specialised skatewear shops, finally General Pants Co. and now it’s common like Volcom). I know of one shop that sell Serious at around 120% markup over US prices (no joke), and two that do Lip Service (again, markups are over 100%). The same two sell Manic Panic makeup (prices on this, at least, are reasonable).
With the exception of the Mighty Gallery Serpentine, specialised goth, fetish or punk gear here is expensive and poorly made. Cheap Asian imports. Nothing is under $50. Anything that’s not a tshirt will be over $70, and if it’s under $100, consider it cheap. I’ve seen a simple latex miniskirt (nothing fancy, just a hot pink rubber tube) for $300. That’s pretty common.
On the other hand, it means those of us here with credit cards and the ability to wait 5 To 10 Business Days can surf the ‘Net and import. But unless the store is Hot Topic (and the dollar is good like it is at the moment), the prices are still outrageously high. British places are especially bad, since even the pound is weak against the pound.
So that’s why people who wear Volcom and diss Hot Topic make me laugh. I can go down and buy their shit for $30 and thus dress like every other skank and skegg in the vacinity. Meanwhile, to get mallgothed Hot Topic style takes a credit card and some serious (hah) dedication.
It’s all about the effort, baby.