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Do designers decide your friends?

Ciara O'Donovan
Ard Scoil Pobal, Cork

Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger are not just ordinary male names, they are name-tags on desirable clothes. What is special about these names? Although clothes that contain them are overly expensive and advertised extensively by the media and celebs but often these costly clothes, are as plain as paper. I sometimes notice that newly famous singers and actors also gain these designer labels. There is nothing fabulous about these clothes - in fact sometimes they have no sense of character or uniqueness. Personally, I prefer clothes from vintage outlets and thrift shops, many are far more interesting and are much cheaper than the so-called designer names.

There is a lot of pressure among teenagers to wear the pricey brand names especially at school. School uniforms = "uniformity", I don't think so! What about the Calvin Klein polo shirt or the over-priced Buffalo trainers? Also there are the accessories, the designer school bag and the most fashionable winter coat. With the Celtic tiger roaring, students have more money stashed in their wallets - it just has to be spent on something, so why not designer clothes? Ireland is becoming increasingly materialistic; does it really matter if the person next to you isn't wearing the latest Nike trainers?

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