i really like this rubberband slipped around the wrist. the object as such it is totally meaningless. it doesn't carry any complex signals, knowledge, meaning, interpretation instructions on/in it, but more functions on the idea of shared awareness which in the cases of the bracelets is being built with the media discourse around them. i think these are even called awaress bracelets. and besides the per se meaninglessness, when the bracelets are mass-manufactured, the production conditions are not in any way visible or who has made the product, etc.

in your blog, you've been documenting some aspects of repair cultures and customization, which also are basically more or less accountable ways of reproducing or finishing the product or usually parts of it, ie. producing it so, that people know where and maybe by whom, this work is done.

so, my question/pondering is this: what added value does knowing the person who made the product and awareness of the manufacturing conditions give to the product? and in what sense repair and customization are ways of creating an extra layer of meaning and connection to the product?

finally, a shameless plug with a nationalistic vibe. in finland, there is an old sport sneaker company, which has relaunched its vintage models from the 70s and promoting heavily the ways and conditions of their manufacture. any sneaker person should get their feets in these, if possible. :)

link here: http://www.karhuoriginals.com/production.php