Trade Secrets
"People always want you to think it's crowded at the top. But there's always plenty of room at the top. There's room for everybody. It's crowded at the bottom!" Judy Blame, stylist.I first heard that quote at a dinner party to promote Rankin's new film Lives of the Saints. It was months ago but it really stuck in my mind, as it rang so true. The guy who cited it was a 20 something Italian guy who was acting as a sort of creative consultant cum artistic go-between for Meltin' Pot, the Italian denim label that collaborated with Rankin on the production of the film.
Squashed in between the remarkably scary ceo Augusto (who reminded me far too much of my old boss in Milan - y'know the sort of guy who should be well cool but comes across otherwise) and this dude, I was amazed that in the 5 years or so that he'd been living in London since leaving a small provincial town in Puglia, not only had he gone on to consult for Meltin'Pot but he was also regularly commissioned to create sculptures for Elton John and David Furnish.
The secret of his success? Trade Secrets a sort of insiders guide to the creative industries in which said quote by Blame is contained. The book is a bit outdated, published in 1999, but still gives an amazing insight into what it took for people to make a name for themselves but also highlights the difference between now and then.
It may only have been seven years ago but the vibe now seems so much more concerned with consumption. Really. Isn't it so much more about bling, getting on the property ladder and which MP3 player you have? In the midst of this era of technological revolution the only thing being produced seems to be opinions.
Gone are the days when you'd risk your credit rating and launch a publication that could actually add something to the zeitgeist, no far safer to comment on what others are doing rather than getting out there and dirtying your hands in the process.
posted by Bella Figura @ 10:11 pm
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