We are only day's away from another monumental election. I know how easy it is to forget, to let it slip your mind. It's only because there are no immediate consequences to not voting. It's not like a traffic ticket, or a utility bill, and yet the consequences good or bad reverberate through out the whole of humanity from that point on.

However, if there's one thing I can promise you, it's only hard the first time. After that, it just becomes second nature, not just for presidential election but for all elections, local, state, and national. You'll know exactly where your voting location is, you'll wake up with a second sense that it's time vote and you'll begin to treat it less as a responsibility but more as a tradition, one you are proud to partake in and you'll pass that tradition on to everyone you know.

Visit http://maps.google.com/vote to find out where your voting location is and then put it on your calendar and set a reminder.

LETTER FROM MIKHAELA
Dear Society of the Spectacle,
hello, I have become very interested and taken with he concept of your line, your website and your clothing. First i would love to applaud you for such a creative and innovative concept and execution of a line of clothing. I was curious about several things and would love to ask some questions. i am very interested in Why you chose the same venue that you are consciously critiquing to execute your commentary and anything you have to say on the topic. Thank you

ANSWER TO MIKHAELA
Dear Mikhaela,
Thank you for your interest and wonderful comments. When we first started this company, much time and contemplation was devoted to how we would approach this business. We had very humble beginnings and are still very much the same today. Our goal was to combine two of our loves, social/political issues and fashion. We wanted to create something fashionable that also sparked social commentary. Our hope was that through our designs and messages, the brand itself would come to represent social awareness and responsibility.

We sometimes wonder ourselves if we are just another variegated choice among the many within the spectacle. With this in mind, every design and business decision is given careful consideration. They are debated over as to whether or not the message is clear and appropriate and perceived as it was originally intended or will we just be glamourizing or glorifying the thing we are in fact criticizing.

It is difficult to unwire a mind that has lived a lifetime within the spectacle. Therefore, it is difficult for us to grasp any other means of successfully spreading the themes without resorting to the business practices we are still accustomed to. People tend to develop a sense of identity and self-hood through their choices, such as lifestyle, music, fashion. etc. Unfortunately, this sense of identity is usually achieved through the act of consumption. Although our brand falls under the guise of consumer goods, we view our work as art, a form of expression, and as a way to connect and bring together people with common interests.

We try not to forget that we live in a spectacularized society and we understand the mechanisms that control it. We have seen many socially conscious brands in the past fall into obscurity due to their rigid and uncompromising stance. We believe that it is better to do the best that we can within our limited means and the constraints given us, than to do nothing at all. Therefore, as we grow as people and as a company, we will continue to elevate our standard of responsibility.

We appreciate that you, our public, and our supporters have taken the time to question us. This gives us a chance to reflect on our choices and actions and helps us to maintain our integrity in this venture. We can only hope that the public will continue to challenge us in the future, because it will play a crucial role in both our success and personal growth.

So if you've ever seen our clothes on the rack, you notice a little poem written on our hang tag title "How Doth The Little Snobberdile" which was a parody about the plight of modern consumerism inspired by the original Carol Lewis poem from the novel Alice in Wonderland. Well, we were delighted with one of our supporters "Alex Vassos" sent in his own variation on the same poem. However I must admit his poem is much more compelling on thought and style than our own so we had to share it with you all.

Original S.O.S. Poem:

How doth the little snobberdile...
How doth the little snobberdile
improve his shining chic,
and drinks the waters of denial,
at every expensive boutique.
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
a carefree avante garde,
and welcomes little splendors in,
with brightly colored credit cards...

How far down the rabbit hole
are you willing to go?
How far down the rabbit hole
are you willing to go?

Alex Vassos Poem:

The Snobberdile: an Epic

How doth the lively snobberdile
Improve his shining chic,
And drink the waters of denial
At each fad-filled boutique?

He Cheerfully tries on a grin,
Buys Clothing by the yard
And thanks his god that credit’s in
While charging it to his card.

He paints on his snobbersmile
And turns his sad, to glam.
He saves crying for the crocodiles
That now adorn his gams.

But then: “Whats this? A seam askew!
A blue a shade to dark?
Who knows such pain? Who can sustain
A mismatched walk in the park?

And by park I mean the one that’s clean
And houses the company car.
Cause an entrance missed could be the shift
From hot to not by far.”

But back to the store where some Chinese whore
Has fucked up our snobberstylists look.
The inattentive bitch couldn’t tell that this stitch
Was so gravely a mistook.

With a righteous flair our dear snobby-bear
Escorts said garment to the clerk
Points to the spot where the evil was wrought
Upon the unsuspecting shirt.

The clerk heaves a sigh but apologizes never the less
And takes the cloth to lie in an outlet: Get it 4 Less.
And from there to a closet
To a yard sale to the trash

Or a hand out for the homeless,
Yet another deposit
In a bards tale of the splash
That rendered a planet hopeless.

But back to the real world where snobbys’ been waiting
As his premium pedicure dries
His head full of real concerns
As the fashion world turns

From dawn,
to dusk,
to noon,
To lies.

Society of the Spectacle want's to send out a special thanks to everyone that came out to visit us at the Pool Trade Show. We had a great experience and the outlook for our upcoming fall collection looks great. We want to also thank our exhibit neighbors, G8 Brand, Verum, Decade Standard and Homage for making our experience so fun and pleasant. We'll keep you updated on news as it comes out, also keep an eye out for Society of the Spectacle's mention in DNR's February 18th issue.

Here's some images from the show:

We wanted to give special thanks and credit to those involved in the launch of the Fall 2008 Collection.

Since this is our first collection the following people have been a tremendous help in getting us started.

Adam Hendershott - Photographer

Christine Nguyen - Makeup Artist 

Ramiro Rodriquez - Hair Stylist

Christopher Vanek - Talent

Gina McNeil - Talent

Photogenics Media (Phira Luon) - Talent Agency

Urban Decay Cosmetics (Laura Wilson) - Makeup

Tam Printing (Anaheim) - Collateral

Studio 528 (Deborah Martin) - Location 

Thanks to everyone. You have all been great!