I remember when I was young I used to go everywhere with this red microbead pillow that my grandmother gifted me when I was born. It had endured long nights of insomnia as well as short nights of deep sleep, it had traveled around the world; I would never spend a night away from it. As the years went by, the red pillow got older and more used up, it broke several times, and several times we sewed it up. Around the time I was six, the red pillow was patched up and had lost most of its fillings. My mom begged me to throw it away, but I refused to do so, because I always though to myself: Someday I’ll give this pillow to my kids, and they’ll love it just as much as I did.
What stood out to me after going over the videos and articles of Patagonia, was the connection I found between their products and my red pillow. I believe that when consumers are able to find meaning behind a company's products, that is when the company has succeeded. And I can say that Patagonia, in that sense, has been able to sell clothing that doesn't only create meaning, but that inspires others to pursue their true meaning in life. As I was watching the short documentary, I was able to see the drive in the subject's eyes; the way they spoke about their passions really displayed fulfillment and purpose. Yet, what I liked the most about this marketing strategy was how they were able to compose a beautiful video that went beyond just talking about the products; it showed the hidden stories behind their merchandise that many fail to notice. I feel that nowadays, we tend to purchase disposable artifacts, in the means that we use them only once. But in reality, clothing is meant to be worn, items are meant to be used, because every product we consume has so much potential, it all lies on weather we make the most of it or not. Upon reflecting on the media I went over, I was able to realize that stories are all around us, and we have the power to make some of our own, to make stories that are worth passing. When that man put on his pair of shorts, he remembered all they had been through, when that woman warmed up with her beanie, she thought back to all the distances she had hiked, and as for me, I still sleep with my red, microbead pillow, and eventually, when the time comes, I'll pass it on to my kids (or what is left of it) and hope they appreciate the history behind it.
1 Comment
Bill Cotter
8/2/2015 04:47:20 am
Frances, please see your growth chart for your blog feedback.
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