Vivienne Westwood
Buy less, choose well.
Minimalism
My mattress and me, or: how I got my apartment back.
If I had to describe myself in 2012, titles like "emotional-consumerist" or "materialistic junky" would probably be on top of the list.
Whenever I felt stressed, or sad, or simply bored - I'd go out and buy something. ANYTHING. Clothes, shoes, books, home decor or food - you name it. I'd use excuses like "It's a classic", "I'll absolutely use it one day", or my favorite - "worst case scenario- I'll sell it".
My apartment was an absolute mess: Stuff on top of other stuff, behind other stuff, inside other stuff.
Most of my time was spent on trying to "organize", "re-arranging", trying to get a hold of my stuff. Hopelessly, of course.
I had this tiring, heavy, claustrophobic feeling. I couldn't work or even think clearly there.
So one day, I threw everything away. Gave it all up.
I stood in this new empty space of mine, that contained nothing but a mattress, and felt so at ease.
My journey to understand materialistic needs, re-purposing/ up-cycling and defining spaces started there, in that empty apartment.