contemporary culture

Meaning

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Discovering purpose in a world that seems to lack it


Having meaning in life, feeling it, and not losing it.
It’s something we need, the core of who we are, the anchor that keeps us grounded through life’s storms.

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how,” said the great Friedrich Nietzsche.

Later, Dr. Viktor Frankl wrote one of the most beautiful books ever written, Man’s Search for Meaning, focusing on this very concept, with Nietzsche’s quote as a guiding principle. If he made it through the unimaginable, so can we.

As we navigate these days of recovery from Covid,—struggling with weakness and brain fog—we circle back to meaning.

A hardship never seen before. The toughness of the moment can make it easy to lose sight ofit, of what truly matters.

Both Nietzsche and Dr. Frankl’s powerful words serve as reminders, not just for us, but for anyone who needs them.

They teach us that even in the darkest of times, meaning is something we can hold onto. It’s not always easy to find, but it’s always worth the search. And in finding it, we rediscover our strength to endure and move forward.

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Like a common flu? Not really!

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Far more than just a simple illness


You have heard this before: “Covid is like a common flu.” Well, not really. Most importantly, generalising and selfish thinking can be dangerous.

We are sisters, and we work together. And so it means we spend a lot of time in direct contact. The bad news is that about ten days ago, we tested positive for Covid, and we feel devastated.

Now that we’re on the mend, we still don’t have the energy to fully manage our usual routine, so this isn’t one of our typical posts. But we felt it was important to address those who have said—or still say—that Covid is just like a common flu.

No, it is not! It’s worse than that. It’s horrible.

If you’ve had mild symptoms and can only look at your own garden, it’s ok, do it and think selfishly. But do not assume that it works the same for everyone else.

By the way, we hope that protecting the weakest and a sense of social responsibility will prevail over individual protection. After all, true strength lies in how we support each other, especially in times of crisis

Thanks everyone for your supportive messages, we truly appreciate them.

Love,
Ro and Cri

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Are Women Free To Make Decisions?

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Apparent Freedom: women and the struggle of playing a man’s game


We have recently touched on the connection between fashion and patriarchy to demonstrate that women aren’t really free to make decisions for themselves.

If, in the Arabic world, freedom is a male prerogative, what happens in the western world is not much different. Women believe they are free, but their image reflects a male perspective. There’s a filter in women’s brains, a male setting made of centuries of cultural domination.

Look at what happened in the U.S., where some older men just passed an abortion ban, sending the country backwards and triggering big debates worldwide. The joke is that perhaps Americans went to Afghanistan to train with the Taliban. But when the sad laugh ends, the concern grows. Indeed, you can see that patriarchy is still very much alive.

Being a female-led company, we suffer every time we hear women saying: “I cannot buy this dress because my husband doesn’t like it.” Of course, it’s not about the dress itself but because we are the only ones who can decide if we like something or not. We cannot allow someone else to rule us, knowing that someone else is often a man.

Likewise, women must be the only ones with a voice in matters concerning our bodies.

Are women truly free?


In analysing whether women are truly free to make decisions, we understand that being a woman isn’t a free choice. The vision of a woman is a male representation because those who hold the power and who make the rules are men. And so, they impose beauty standards, the clothing we should wear, and dictate our rights too. Even whether women can study or have an abortion is up to their whim. In other words, women, by engaging in or conforming to societal structures dictated by men, inadvertently perpetuate those systems of control.

If we allow men to decide what we can wear and how we should look, we hand them the power to make decisions about our lives.

This story is about men who want to control women and women who, by playing their game, enable it.

Wake up, women! It’s time to shed patriarchal layers and choose what we want for ourselves.

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Bukowski Capturing The Essence Of Style

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Precise, powerful words that define true style


Bukowski on capturing the essence of style. The essence of style is difficult to define and even harder to frame it in words, yet Bukowski brilliantly found the perfect phrases capture it. In a world often dominated by fleeting trends and superficial appearances, Bukowski’s words offer a rare glimpse into what true style really means.

Thanks to Mary Portas, we have discovered the following piece by Charles Bukowski, which, she says, sums up her feelings on style. We found it absolutely fantastic, so we decided to share it here—Bukowski’s sharp words truly hit the mark. He masterfully captures its essence, not just through the actions of individuals, but through the way they live, express themselves, and even embrace the rawness of life itself. His unique perspective reminds us that style is more than just aesthetics—it’s a reflection of authenticity and personal expression.

Bukowski on style


“Style is the answer to everything,
A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous day,
To do a dull thing with style is preferable to doing a dangerous thing without it.
To do a dangerous thing with style, is what I call art.

Bullfighting can be an art.
Boxing can be an art.
Loving can be an art.
Opening a can of sardines can be an art.

Not many have style
Not many can keep style
I have seen dogs with more style than men,
Although not many dogs have style.
Cats have it with abundance.

When Hemingway put his brains to the wall with a shotgun, that was style.
For sometimes people give you style.
Joan of Arc had style.
John the Baptist,
Jesus,
Socrates,
Caesar,
García Lorca.

I have met men in jail with style.
I have met more men in jail with style than men out of jail.
Style is a difference, a way of doing, a way of being done.
Six herons standing quietly in a pool of water, or you, walking
out of the bathroom without seeing me.”


The poem emphasises that style is a unique approach to life, turning ordinary or dangerous actions into something meaningful and artistic. Bukowski suggests that style is not common, but it can be found in unexpected places, whether in animals, historical figures, or even in the way a person carries themselves. It’s about how you do things, the essence of being distinct and authentic. From the mundane to the profound, style makes a difference, and it’s often more present in those who are unconventional or marginalized.

Although capturing the essence of style in words is no easy feat, Bukowski does so brilliantly, encapsulating it in a way that resonates deeply. We absolutely adore this piece! Not only has he gifted us with a true work of art, but it also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of words in a world overwhelmed by superficial images and fleeting trends.

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Child Labour: Modern-Day Slavery

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The obscenity of a society that closes its eyes in the face of the major issues


Child labour is one of the most obscene issues in our society, one of those problems people don’t want to see. Even though prohibited by legislation worldwide, the number of children exploited is growing. According to Unicef, 2021 registered the first increase in two decades, with cases rising to 160 million worldwide because of covid-19.

There is a consistent number of countries where child labour is not forbidden. Poverty and discrimination are the main causes, but conflicts and the pandemic gave a big hand in spreading the situations that degenerate into this modern-day slavery.

Child labour: modern-day slavery for the western world


Exploited children produce goods that fill the stores of the western world. Or call it that side of the world where either people ignore or pretend to ignore these issues. Whether it’s having the latest mobile device or a fancy car, it’s considered better than facing the truth about the small hands that extract the materials used to make our toys.

And so, we dedicate each day to specific matters giving them the priority for that day. Specifically, the world day against child labour was on 12 June. On an annual basis, we see impactful graphics and beautiful words that end up in nothing. They just become content for social media, but nothing ever changes.

These kinds of stories are as old as the earth. So, if we aren’t able to eradicate them, but we still abuse children’s rights, we have serious problems.

There can be no true sustainability without ethical labor. And if sustainable products are a priority, addressing child labor must come first. How can we talk about sustainability when the number of children involved in production chains has increased over time?

There is an organization committed to creating lasting change, called Still I Rise. Their projects are not endless; they focus on solving specific problems in a given area before moving on to the next. Education is at the heart of their mission, and they open schools to empower those in need.
Please, check them out here and donate if you can!

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