Sh*t by Hilary Duff
Earlier this year, August 26th to be exact, Hilary Duff released her first line of DIY accessories to be exclusively sold in Michael's craft stores. Really. Well, thank you Hilary Duff. I've always felt that DIY lacked a face and leader in the celebrity community. Of course this line is aimed towards preteens and kids so it's marketed to anyone from the ages of like five to probably around sixteen. But twelve year olds can do more than iron and clip charms to bracelets. Her slogan is, DIY {Design it Yourself!} "Get Creative with YOUR Style." That's like telling a chef to get creative with slice and bake cookies.
I'm sorry Hilary but this just isn't good enough to call it DIY. Here in the Threadbanger world we DIY or die and we're a little more resourceful than driving out to Michael's to get special designated DIY items. Not that I'm trashing Michael's– I love Michael's, it's no Hobby Lobby but it's good.
Her fashion accessories, as she calls them, resemble the antiquated gothic style of early Madonna videos, but, you know...crappy. There are heavy chains with large vintage crosses, dark jewels covered in black lace, and heavy looking metal crowns. You can buy already arranged rhinestone iron ons and the alphabet in medieval vine covered letters. I think she calls the iron ons 'Rock Royalty' or something. Really?
Let's use a metaphor: Okay so, DIY is like a 10,000 piece puzzle where each piece can fit with any other piece so there are like a gajillion solutions, in the Hilary Duff DIY puzzle, for ages 3-8, there are like ten solutions.
There are so many things wrong with this being called DIY, it hurts.
1. DIY is suppose to be cheap and I'm SURE this stuff is mega-over priced.
2. You're not really making anything
3. It promotes lazy tendencies
4. It's misusing the word "creative" and watering it down
5. And worst of all you're supporting something not hand-made or independent or artistic. Hilary Duff does NOT need your money or support, but independent designers do!!
So if any way you would like to engage the tween generations in DIY, please don't use Stuff by Duff. If you're into cooking you start from scratch not slice and bake, same with fashion.
Anyone disagree?
diy, fashion, threadbanger, Craft, art, hilary duff, michael's
You missed the part where there are little instruction pages available for free which explain EXACTLY how to put them together- buy a charm bracelet and two bumble bee beads and six black beads, then string them together in this exact fashion...
Not so creative, really.
However, some of the beads are kind of neat.There's nothing stopping you from using them with other things.
Start from scratch, yeah, way better.
I guess this is this manufacturing firm's decision to cut down mass production of Stuff merch. How bloody obvious. First, I am no fan of Hilary Duff, and I have no taste for her music and her merch as well. About this so called diy jewelry product, allow me to explain each points: 1. yes, of course it's pricey, so it's ridiculous to say it's diy, but still a part diy. I reckon the product itself does not include jewelry tools. 2. Not making anything--- hmm, let's resold this to someone else then! XD Well, don't construct like the product says, use them beads whatsoever for your better diy projects... hey, make something right? 3. well, either this can be laziness or convenience 4. Creative, in product terms, no. But in our hearts, probably. Not all minds think alike. 5. Yesh, Hilary Duff is not artistic, she's just a girl to expand her entrepreneurial skills, if she sees it that way. Her jewelry are not original and looks ordinary.
Well, for those who hate Hilary Duff like me, AVOID THEN! Go buy rock logo patches, bleach pens, whatever that separates Stuff from us all! XDDDD
shw00ts (kisukejazz in Threadbanger Forum)
Seen them, it caught the attention of my 3 year old daughter, she said she wanted it. But before I was able to say anything my older sons 8 and 10 years old said why get that when mom can show us how to make it at home for me. then More money to spend on tokens at chuckie cheese.
But its a good concept for kids parent who want to shell out mula and let thier creativity.... If my mom didn't get me a kit on chroceting at age 8 I wouldn't have learned it tell I was a teen....
Good luck to all
Now let's not all gang up on someone we don't really know just because they're rich and in the public eye. The way these celeb labels work (fake DIY or regular ready to wear) is they give a company permission to use their name so they can sell it. That's it. I have to wonder if Miss Duff even saw these things. Cause usually if the celeb in question even looks at this stuff let alone approves the design (like I've heard Mary Kate and Ashley do with their tween line) that's a lot. Let's just pray that some up and coming teen idol actually will break the mold and make all her stuff DIY. It's a little late for Miley Cyrus but there has to be somebody else. If you ask me, the fashion industry in general is just so use to doing something one way for so long, they don't know any other way to do it. Maybe us DIY designers can show 'em how it's done huh?
It actually might not be too late for Miley Cyrus. I was in Joann fabrics today with my costuming teacher, and I saw a whole (roughly ten page) section of the simplicity pattern book devoted to Hannah Montanna patterns. Now I know this isn't true DIY, but that is hard-core sewing, and doesn't that teach the talents required in DIY? It was reading pattern books with my grandmother that really got me into sewing in the first place. I say we should give a mini applause to Miley. *single clap.
I don't really think that it should be called diy but at least it is introducing kids to crafts. like those $5 kits for friendship bracelets and beads. The kids can use that as inspiration for their further crafts
This is the same as making cookies from "Scratch" by buying the premade tube of cookie dough! I hope this stuff quickly goes away!
i totally agree with you on this i went to micheals today to get stuff for a science project n her crap was all over the place n it was soo expensive! i could totally make that stuff made in sweatshops by myself at home and it would totally come out way nicer and have my own personal flare to it!
I agree, TheSewthernBelle. I doubt HD even saw this stuff. Her money has already been made. The craft-supply company that distributes the stuff is the one who will get your money. As an art teacher and the mother of an 8-year old who loves both fashion and DIY, I can tell you that kids will be inspired by the designs. Young creative minds tend to stray from following the instructions, anyway. Their designs are usually much more creative. These items are just tools, like all craft store goodies, what we do with them is limited only to our imagination. Same goes with the Martha Stewart stuff that can be found at Michael's. My first thought was "overpriced, name-brand hype", but then I tried a couple of her products and they are really good quality.
come on!!!!
wtf??!!
shit!
pardon my language but...
this is so bad
what was she thinkin??
and michaels???
bitch..please
if she call that DIY
she lost her mind
does she made all of that???
we're thinking that
hillary puts her "fans" to make those
thats DIY for her
ewwwwwwwwww gross!!! who would buy anything that she has her face on.
Thouroughly a crafty person myself, I am not enticed by Hilliary Duff's products. However, they may be a doorway to the crafty side for the not-so-crafty person. Like if somebody only ate out but wanted to switch to eating at home... that person might start w/ tv dinners that only need to be heated, then go to mixes requiring additional prep... then to cooking w/ recipes... and finally to creating dishes w/out any help at all. Hillary Duff's products are like tv dinners. They might be really helpful for the girl w/crafty desires who doesn't know how to start, especially if that girl is growing up in an un-crafty family (scary, but yes, they do exist). I frequently use other people's ideas, but I don't think this makes me any less of a crafty person.
where's the hanna montana D.I.Y. purse?
Ha... I work at a Michael's store, and I get so sick of seeing stuff like this going through the line. It's not just Hillary Duff garbage - practically everything has a "don't think for yourself, just pay more" addition. The average large chain craft store makes approximately 10,000 a day simply on pre-designed and easily packaged "craft kits" (That number doesn't include all the other items purchased within the store). I get very ill of all the people spending hundreds of dollars to put together something that looks like everything else and them deem themselves as DIYers... while I'm spending time trying to give them far better advice. Heh, I sometimes feel like a missionary trying to pull these poor people away from the evils of "Craft Consumerism". *nods*
Okay so I have to recomment. All this talk about craft stores and pushing ready made fake DYI got me wishing for the days when a century ago, a designer would do an exclusive line and design something for a limited clientle, then those designs would be turned into patterns and sold in catalogs so people (or at least their seamstress) could make something simular. (Ya gotta love the 'trickle down' theory.) Coco Channel might have helped women gain more independence and style, but her ready to wear might have helped the attempted murder of DIY. Any thoughts?
well if its ranged for kids maybe its a good way to get them started and interested in diy.
it may not be for you, but someone else might like it. and just because its constrictive to creativity doesnt mean you cant change it around to be creative
i saw it in michaels and it was kind of cute, some limiting, but others open to creativity
totally right, i dont have much to say on this but i think you're right on all levels. its definitely misleading to what creativity is and the possibilitys the younger generations (kinda like myself) could be learning with true DIY.
I have to agree that ready made projects are a waste, but there is no reason to bash Hillary. She is a lot more tolerable (and a better role model) than other celebrities in the media.
I have to ask alwxis, what makes you think the other craft products you buy from Michael's aren't made in 'sweatshops'? How is Stuff by Duff any different?
As far as DIY ethics are concerned - there has been and always will be "DIY" impersonating products on the shelves of big box stores. Not only is bitching about them uninspiring, it begets a negative atmosphere - clouding a discussion that may actually encourage someone to be creative.
In addition, you are advertising products you don't even like while voicing an argument that seems contrived.
Thank You!
Hillary Duff is not only a fairly awful musician and an actress, but her merchandise generally sucks too. This "DIY kit" is just one more reason to loathe her. The last thing that kids today need is some overpriced crappy kit that only stiffles their creativity.
Well, it could be worse. These kids could be buying pre-assmebled DuffStuff for the same ridiculous price. At least with the Duff DIY they are beginning to experience the fun of putting together their own creations (even if these ones completely lack creativity). I think it's a good start, even if it is kind of bullsh*t.
I sort of agree with Tine. Cut some kids a break! If you're secure in what DIY stands for and your own DIY, no need to be threatened by a poseur company. There may be some kid out there who picks one of those things up and it inspires them to keep going. Why not be glad about how many kids may start with some kit and move on to bigger, better things? They may be the next DIY artist some day that everybody falls in love with.
Everybody has to start somewhere. At least it's Hilary Duff DIY kit and not Hilary Duff Let's Sit In Front Of The TV and Eat Cheetos kit.
o.k, but wouldn't it be smarter to encourage kids to embroider their own things, or even make really easy stuff, like needle pillows or fabric cuffs, instead of inadvertantly supporting sweatshop labour and mass manufactoring?
i would rather support myself, not Hillary Duff.
besides, Hillary has enough money. I completely agree with this blog entry. BTW, if I want to write in to the blog, how do I post? I see articles by people other than Rob and Corrine's....
This product might not be up to your standards, but it at least introduces children to DIY. Sure 12 year olds might be more advanced than this, but you can't really expect an 8 year old to hand-make everything.
They start with simple kits like this and move onto more complex things. It is pulling in kids that are interested in Hilary Duff, not those that are already interested in DIY.
It might not be your taste, but it is a start for many kids.
Did, uh, you write this post based on a flyer/ad? You're "sure" it's overpriced? You just as "sure" about the crappy quality?
I'm no fan of celebrity endorsements. But as far as kits go, sometimes it's the best way in. Once something is demystified, things can get interesting. This post, unfortunately, strikes me as a bit knee-jerk.
I was Mortified!! The thought of a bunch of little girls out there wearing such BAD Fashion!?!? There are plenty of mothers out there to contribute to that school of thought already!. So mom's Please use this as an example of what NOT to wear and let your girls find their own style!!!
if this were aimed at adults, i would be outraged, and i completely agree with the metaphor.
however as a child, i got into crafts and diy through premade kits like friendship beads and such and was eventually inspired to first use the leftovers to make new things then make entirely my own items. i know its hilary duff, but cut the girl some slack. shes trying
Hi Guys,(Just to let you know)
Found some cool new videos of Hilary Duff on a film set of her latest movie
Safety Glass movie, not sure if anyone has seen this already, credit to
Hollywood North Insider website as I found it there, you can see them below:
http://hninsider.com/node/164
and
http://hninsider.com/node/165
I bought this iron on thing once b/c it had a bunch of fleur de lis on it and my bff loves those (plus it was on clearance lol.) it had flawed instuctions so i just sewed some on.
ne kadar ayip
Well I'm 23 and even though it is not "hard core diy" i like the stuff, then again I am a glam goth, so the crosses and crowns are welcome even though i didn't cast them out of a mold or anything.
I also started out using the kits as a kid and now I am a well off abstract painter and a avid crafter. Oh and the stuff is not expensive. I got some stuff for less then $7.
bolindir.com
We all buy things and use them how ever we want, granted that some of these things are not exactly what I would call DIY, BUT! If you were to buy a couple of these things and use them on something that you did make yourself, what then.>? I would like for you to think about all of the T-shirts you cut up and made into miscellaneous things or those jeans you deconstructed... you didn't make that T-shirt or the jeans but you did create something new with them... Are you following me? If I happen to take a charm off of a pair of earrings and sew it to my dress hem, then I just created something new out of someone elses' creation. Don't be turned off just because you think it's going to make crafters lazy or lazy crafters... I think that her name being on the product is a way to get kids interested in being unique individuals... There will be those who will follow the directions to a T and those who will naturally create something of there own. Either way it gets the younger generation started.