All Customize Everything

Lady Gaga's outfits won't really look good on us and no matter how well we can pull off pleather one-sies or cybersex robot sunglasses,  we'll merely be an impersonator at best.  Saving us from acquiesence to the endless tsunami of trends, here comes the Internet.  The convenience and immediacy of technology platforms make it easier than ever to create exactly what the consumer wants. 

In the shoe industry, companies like Nike (a brand king on its own), branched out into letting customers engage in self-branding through platforms such as Nike ID, where customers can design their own sneakers.  There is something more organic about fit, function, and aesthetics when individuals get to be part of the building process.  We find value in these products such as custom suits, sneakers, and BMX bikes because of the extra craftsmanship that went into the meaningful construction of it.  Pop culture on the street takes this concept of individualization and maximized utility by hijacking hot styles from various subcultures and appropriating them into a new swagger through stylistic rearrangements known as culture jamming.

We've rounded up a list of interfaces that allow for customization of headphones, surfboards and more.  Although it may seem as superficial as getting a nose job, there is still something organic and stimulating about cosmetic customization. The tailoring process gives us a chance to articulate our identity.  It's a chance to collaborate among many disciplines on one platform, and transform the consumption process into a creative production of cultural avatars singing a youthful anthem of self exploration.

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