About Retail Therapy

As a Muslim woman, I’m very conscious of Tabarruj and overconsumption. When it comes to fashion, you would never guess how obsessed I am with it based on how I look in public. You probably wouldn’t even notice me if I walked by. It’s definitely easy to buy the clothes you love, but wear them in your home because they don’t meet the conditions of hijab. When it comes to shoes? Bags? It’s not so easy because…who would wear that in the house? 

I have an unhealthy obsession with bold and intricate handbags and footwear. Sometimes to the point where it’s not even because of functionality or style, but because I appreciate them for the fact that they are not just fashion, but art pieces. Sometimes I look at sneakers and say to myself, “Those are very cool, but who would wear those???” Or “That bag is so cute, but can I even fit a quarter in there???” I probably won’t ever buy these things, but they would look incredible as a painting.

Instead of filling a cart with hundreds of bags, painting those same bags gives me the same dopamine rush for zero dollars. Instead of noticing someone’s incredible sneaker game, and saying to myself, “I can’t wait to buy those.”, I say “I can’t wait to paint those.” I’d say it’s my own form of retail therapy.