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Alvin

First Impressions | Human Conditioning Project - T-shirts and stuff.

Updated: Aug 31


You hear beautiful stories about how people came to be in possession of their watches, a family heirloom, a souvenir from a major holiday, a milestone marker of a significant life event that was gifted or self-gifted. I did get a watch from a parent but I'm not sure how much influence that has had on me. As with irrational attachments to things, there is likely some sentiment, trauma or a comfort element - psychology isn't it. Obviously it's not just me, but on the surface my reasons might be no reason other than I have been conditioned by capitalism to buy watches and expensive things to create that dopamine hit. Or is it that I'm obsessed with time, and logically the more I have the better - logic isn't it.



In 2020, during the early bad-time-stay-indoors times, I started this watch blog about my watch journey - logging my thoughts on watches, my collection and the logic and emotion involved. The more involved I got, the more I loved it, and the more I loved to hate it. Recently, after buying my first Rolex in 2024 and writing my first impressions post on it (Explorer II 226570), I realized how conditioned I was, how much of a filthy consumer I had become. While I was in a shame spiral I also had happytime moodswings - it was a confusing time - and a creative one leading to a line in that post that inspired a whole new project - "It was fate by capitalist human conditioning - my signature fragrance."


I always looked at the blog as something inspired. I like to write, and I like watches, so why not write about watches? So I did, and a few lovely people have come to read and hopefully enjoy and glean something of value from it - as in 'give Chinese watches a chance'. I do take pleasure in writing, but I also like to design and create - some of the photography for the blog has been great fun but I needed more. Decades ago I studied multidisciplinary design, and I have always been a creative sort. Clothing has been a particular fascination, it's how we present ourselves to the world, make sense of it and signal numerous things about ourselves. It is as complicated as it is simple, like life it's about context and perspective. I've always felt like I had to do this at some point, a lifestyle brand I guess you might call it but it had to be as complicated as it is simple, there's got to be subtext, always layers.



IYKYK


So, why not design watch-centric t-shirts but in a way that isn't too obvious, not a wolf howling with a moonphase watch dial in background vibes (that is happening at some point) - more, if you know you know kind of vibes. I know you can show your taste in watches by your watch but this is just a bit of a laugh at our very obvious but still cryptic vernacular. I like the idea - the whole thing works on a number of levels. I am inspired by my existence, time, materialism, consumerist ideas, brands, logos, human behaviour, and the horology zeitgeist. I hope to create things that are fun, and sometimes clever, things a casual or causal horophile can enjoy, things that I would wear and that readers of the blog can wear and enjoy. Is 'Human Conditioning Project' a stupid name? Maybe it is, maybe that's the point.


The print on demand services aren't the best for reliable quality but for speed and value they are decent. There will be some trademark/copyright issues, you might be able to guess where - Pepsi was the first, others may follow. At this point I want to see if this works so an investment of a few hundred quid is enough as I just spent all my money on the Explorer II, but seeing as it inspired this project I can't be mad at it - if it works out, that is. And if it does then this is the story I'll tell. If it doesn't no big deal. Always doing things backwards am I.



I/we take this hobby quite seriously at times but after all it's just a bit of fun - when it's not your primary job that is. I guess I would like to be able to do something watch related to bring in some income and move away from the 9-5 desk-dweller existence, though it's not been a bad run at the desk. I just fancy letting those creative juices flow, but it's probably a good idea not to quit the day job. It would be cool if this could be a little side-gig type situation, but I wouldn't know what to do if someone actually bought something I designed!



Check out the humanconproject.com - there is 20% off your first order when you add you email address and as a bonus to visitors here (and YouTube subscribers), a buy one get one free code on tees - BOGOFTEE - offer ends on 30 September 2024. Tell your friends and any issues or constructive feedback, let me know.


I'll be back to the usual posts now, I don't plan on changing the blog in any significant way. I need it more than ever for self-therapizing.


Thanks.


Yours Humankindly,


Alvin

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