Minimalism- a trending word and rising hashtag in fashion- isn’t as simple as dressing up in monochrome colours. It’s true, of course, that black, white, and grey are simple (and timeless) colours that don’t really catch the public eye. Greyscale exudes elegance and mystery. In a sense, monochrome does represent simpleness. But the word is gradually being overshadowed by its original purpose of decluttering for a simpler, happier life.
People spend so much time on the hunt. Black Friday shopping mania in malls across the US look like war. Neuroscientist and TED speaker Sam Harris pointed out, “You have this thing you were once obsessed about, but then a new version comes out. The one you had becomes a source of dissatisfaction.” What comes to mind straightaway is the iPhone. We forget the feeling of excitement when we first got the phones we were using now as soon as a new version is released. Fancy advertisements and marketing ploys want more profit, making us feel left behind when we don’t follow the current trend. This proves that we, as a culture, seem to have lost our minds. It’s about time to focus on the things that really matter while we still have time, by letting go of the impulsive need to consume.
What really matters, then? It is difficult to say, as it is subjective, but minimalism, for some, could be a starting point to help them figure out what does by enabling their minds with a little head space. Whether it’s focusing on health, relationships, work, it could only do them good.