DIY is becoming more prevalent, FYI

By Brigit Bauma

A mother walking through Jersey Gardens Mall pulls her daughter away from the GUESS store full of shoes. The daughter has a look of longing on her face while the mother has a look of disdain. “I am not paying $200 for shoes just because they has studs on them when you can buy the same thing for $20 without the studs,” says the mother.

Taking a walk over to look at the display, it did look like a normal, everyday boot found in any woman’s closet. The only difference is the addition of round silver studs.

As the women leave, the daughter comments on the boots being “so cute,” prompting the mother to say, “Take a hot glue gun and glue some studs on your old boots.”

This scenario seems to be becoming more and more prevalent with today's economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment is still around 8 percent, with New Jersey at almost 10 percent. All the while the Price Consumer Index shows prices constantly increasing. Less jobs being available and 

prices rising causes everyone to try to save some money.

With the decline in the economy people are turning to do-it-yourself (DIY) projects rather than going out and buying high priced goods. They want to save money, but still want the look and effect of those “luxury” items.

Fernando DaSilva, an electrician and father to Michael DaSilva studying at Kean University, does a lot of DIY projects around the house. He has repaired his own roof, rewired his home, and fixed parts of his parent's house. He feels that sometimes, “DIY is necessary, especially in this economy. [People] have to do it themselves because they don’t have the resources to pay.”

Other than money, the thing that is really making people turn to DIY projects is the internet. The internet, being relatively free, is full of DIY projects. “I see a lot of creative DIY ideas online,” said Sharyn Freindlich, a journalism and English writing major at Kean.

With social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, DIY projects are constantly being shared. Pinterest even has a section specifically for DIY. Blogs devoted to DIY ideas are also popping up.

“I’ve seen people do [DIY projects] before. Some people copy a $300 dollar dress on a celebrity and do it themselves for $30 bucks or get a similar outfit at the mall,” said Dayanara Baez, a student at Kean University, studying special education.

Young women seem to be at the forefront of the DIY phenomenon. They want to be stylish and trendy, but don't have the money for it. DIY projects are the perfect solution to these problems.

Angela D'Amico, a junior at Rutgers Camden studying criminal justice, finds most of her ideas on the internet. Pinterest, Facebook, Stumbleupon, and Craft it are just a few that she has used in the past. So far she has made almost twenty products using the DIY method, creating things from cleaning to fashion items. “I have learned different hair styles to make easier, along with dying hair from home, nail designs, making your own eye liner, also some awesome eye shadow designs!Oh, how could I forget Red Bottom heels?!”

Red Sole shoes are designer shoes by Christian Louboutin. These shoes are very expensive for the average person, usually costing more than $500 for one pair. What makes these shoes unique is not only the name, but the red colored soles. Every time a woman would take a step a flash of red would pop out from the bottom. It's a very popular and coveted look.

There are several DIY projects that show how to get the Red Sole shoe look. All different types of paint are used to get the look, from spray paint to nail polish. A CNN interview with Louboutin reveals that he actually got the Red Sole shoe idea using his wife's red nail polish. Also, it's not just the red color, any color can be used.

However, Louboutin had a big lawsuit with Yves St. Laurent (YSL) over the red bottom look. YSL had some shoes with red soles, which Louboutin claimed were a violation of the trademark he had on them in 2008. Through a long court battle, Louboutin won the right to the Red Sole heels. However, YSL could use the look if the shoe is monochromatic, or all the same color. Since then, Louboutin has been cracking down on the fake Louboutin shoes being sold online and in stores.

Then brings up the question. Are making these DIY shoes illegal?

The answer is no, not really. Unless you are selling the shoes for profit and claiming them to be Louboutin, then you should be fine. However, the Red Sole look was trademarked by Louboutin. So it might be safer to go with a different shade of red or a whole new color in general for the bottom of your shoes, just to be safe.

With the DIY projects, one does wonder if sellers like Louboutin and Ikea lose profits from these non-buyers. If you are “doing it yourself” then you aren't buying the product. However, most buyers of these brands aren't buying for the look, but the name and convenience. The great thing about DIY projects are the smaller stores are getting more money. “A smart company will adapt. Instead of sell the end product, they will sell the materials and service to better teach a customer,” said Greg Finn, a recent finance graduate from Rowan University. Griffin Sullivan, a student at Mercer County Community College, disagreed to some degree, “Places like IKEA and contractors absolutely lose money to DIY, but I do not think it is a significant amount to adversely affect their bottom line.”

Some do not chose to DIY just to save money. D'Amico as well as Brianna D'Amato, an environmental science major from Ramapo, do DIY projects to be more healthy and environmentally friendly. “I 'do it myself' for multiple reasons. In the long run, it is cheaper than buying conventional products. Also, it is healthier using natural products compared to toxic conventional products.”

Many websites offer great ideas for Eco-friendly DIY projects. Lemon works like an antibacterial while banana peels can be used to treat acne. Combine the banana with oatmeal to create a great facial mask. 

There are also neat ways of reusing old bottles to create furniture or ripped shirts to make scarves or skirts. “An interesting aspect of DIY projects are ones dealing with recycling, or “up-cycling” as they all it, waste and turning something that could end up in the landfill into something awesome,” said D'Amato.

Whether you are trying to save money or the environment, DIY projects are a big trend now. It's cool to turn your old dress into a purse or use a block of wood as a canvas for a photo. Even fixing up a part of your house is a great DIY idea. Sure it takes time, but it also saves you money. Plus D'Amato said, “[DIY] is really fun! There are a lot of neat options out there.”

Until next time! XOXOXO