how to take advantage of idle moments and the importance of hobbies with Cody Duong
meet cody,
we’ve followed each other on Instagram for a while, and he’s one of the few fashion bloggers i think you should be following, too. Cody shares many of the truths about the fashion industry that too many of us don’t know, or choose to ignore for the sake of convenience, yet he also shows that you don’t have to sacrifice style in the process of making better choices.
it’s never too late to do what is not only right, but important, and i hope this conversation reminds you of the power you have to make a decision, live thoughtfully, and act intentionally - whether you’re shopping for a new outfit, exploring a new city for the first time, or simply taking your fifteen minute break from work.
I’ve been following you on IG for a while, and I’ve always admired your clean, modern style. When did your love of fashion begin?
My love of fashion began when my aunt got me a pair of skinny blue jeans from Macy’s in 7th grade. Prior to that, I was mostly encouraged to match clothes with my brother. When I wasn’t matching with my brother, I was wearing my brother’s hand-me-downs. I distinctly remember wearing the skinny jeans almost every day and wanting to purchase more clothes that would look good with my new jeans. That birthed a cycle of buying more clothes that would look good with what I already had.
Growing up, was self-expression - whether through fashion or other outlets - celebrated or embraced in your household?
Growing up, self-expression wasn’t really taught or celebrated in my household. I spent many years of my life finding my identity and ways to express myself.
I see. What was that process like, finding your identity, and what advice would you give to someone growing up in a similar household who is looking for ways to be able to express themselves without judgement or reservation?
Finding my identity was something I subconsciously did my whole life. I don’t think there was really any point in time when I was actively sculpting my identity, but retrospectively, I now feel like I am the most “me” as I ever have been, and I think I’ll keep becoming more “me.” I do remember, however, that I didn’t like who I was in my adolescent years. I was one of the most awkward people that I knew back then, and I wanted to fit in so badly with my friends at the time that I often adopted their mannerisms and interests, regardless of how I felt about them. Around the time that I moved away to the undergraduate dormitories for my first year, I felt a sense of identity separate from my family and previous high school friends. Starting undergraduate felt like a clean slate for me, and I’m thankful to have gotten this time of independence.
My advice that I would give someone growing up in a similar household would be to spend time with yourself to figure out your interests independent of others. This alone time is great to figure out how you like to express yourself without feeling judged by others. Later on, it’ll be fulfilling to acquaint yourself with people who have the same genuine interests as you.
Thinking about culture and also how much you travel (and the places you travel to), how do those global influences play a role in how you style yourself, how you see the world, and the impact you want to leave through the choices you make (ie. supporting local boutique owners/ designers over fast fashion)?
I’d say that my travel experience accounts for just a small portion of my worldview and personal style, since I’ve only been to a handful of domestic states and a few countries outside of the US (Japan, Canada, and Vietnam). Aside from my sporadic travels, I find frequent style inspiration from lookbooks by my favorite designer brands, including Yohji Yamamoto, Undercover, The Viridi-Anne, Takahiro Miyashita The Soloist, and Visvim; everyday uniforms for workers and common people; and my internet peers, who I’m thankful to have befriended thanks to a shared interest in fashion. My style is heavily inspired by several spheres of Japanese fashion, such as Americana, avant garde fashion, and punk. I feel as though I’m between two spheres of fashion--the western sphere’s knack for bold expression and the eastern sphere’s attention to detail and craftsmanship.
My world outlook has largely been inspired by fashion as well. Something that I have come to value over the years is the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, the love of imperfection and transience. My wabi-sabi mindset not only applies to secondhand, aged clothing, but also extends to household items, nature, and my relationships with other people.
To me, wabi-sabi is a comfortable reminder that nothing lasts forever, and the aging of material items, people, and relationships can all be appreciated.
Regarding the impact that I want to leave through my choices, I’m a firm believer in shopping secondhand whenever possible. I find joy in encouraging others to choose thrifting, consignment, and upcycling over fast fashion, and I hope that more and more people will reduce their consumption of fast fashion over time.
Something that I deeply admire about you is the emphasis you place on sustainability. Through you, I’m reminded of the responsibility that comes with being a consumer. I didn’t learn about the fast fashion industry, and all of the exploitations and detriments associated with it, until a college class. When and where did you learn about it?
I was first introduced to sustainability through, ironically, H&M’s garment collection program. I was a frequent H&M shopper throughout my high school and early undergraduate years. Needless to say, I don’t shop at H&M and other fast fashion brands, like Zara, Forever 21, and Old Navy anymore. My knowledge on environmental sustainability in fashion has gradually grown over the past 4 years or so through various sources: social media accounts like Future Dust and Fashion Revolution, documentaries like The True Cost, and reading up on fabric and garment processing every now and then by simple internet searches.
This might be a big question, but what do you think people need to know about the fashion industry, and how can they learn about it? (not just self-seeking, but educating the public, so to speak. Thinking about how we have influencers who share sales, but how do we convey the realities behind so many of our favorite stores)
People need to know that the fashion industry may one day be 100% ethical, but the fashion industry will never be 100% sustainable. Although fashion industries may one day adopt sustainable fabric processing and garment assembly methods, the simple act of commercial production cannot be beneficial for the environment. Although it can be said that the responsibility of ethical and environmentally friendly business practices falls on the industry, the responsibility of reducing clothing consumption falls on the consumer. The fashion industry has grown exponentially to meet the exponentially growing demand in fashion, and it’s no coincidence that fast fashion has taken the main stage in the 21st century, when consumerism has reached its peak in human history. Environmental sustainability in fashion has reached the forefront of mainstream media as of late, so there’s a plethora of easily searchable information nowadays. I encourage everyone to learn more about what’s in their fabrics and how ethically (or unethically) they’re made. It can all start with a simple web search, and it doesn’t have to end there.
Is fast fashion ever acceptable?
The ideal answer would be no. Considering the reality of most people’s financial and professional situations, however, I believe that the same approach that is commonly taken for ordering fast food should be taken for ordering fast fashion: order only when absolutely necessary. In this extended metaphor, hunger is synonymous to the emergent need for a certain garment, such as a suit for an interview coming up in 24 hours or a swimsuit for an impromptu pool party happening the same day. It’s important to note that I firmly believe in the longevity of clothing, even from fast fashion. The aforementioned interview suit should be utilizable for other occasions as well, if not only for future job interviews. If a fast fashion clothing item lasts for years, it’s keeping the owner from buying an item just like it for that long. In conclusion, buy for the long term, even if the need to purchase is catalyzed by the short term.
Is fashion art?
Whether it's fashion, architecture, sculpture, painting, poetry, or really anything else, I am a firm believer that any form of expression can be a work of art. It can be said that one person's expression through a medium may not be appealing to another person, and that's perfectly fine. Art is subjective, and I believe that people should be free to express themselves without a need to seek validation from anybody but themselves. To me, fashion is an extension of my personality and identity, and I wouldn't change it for anyone.
I also always look to see what shoes you’re sharing, because you always share the coolest pairs. I have to ask, because some people love hats or jackets - why shoes?
Prior to my love for sneakers, I collected 5-panel hats and buttonup shirts. At one point, I had over 40 hats and over 100 buttonup shirts. I can definitely see how extraneous that penchant was now! Around the same time, I had bought my first pair of athletic Nike sneakers and was excited to wear them with everything. Pretty soon after, I had come to own about 20 pairs of sneakers in 2017.
My love for shoes started with sneakers--their comfort, versatility, and laidback appearance all appealed to me. I've appreciated other footwear options, like combat boots, chelsea boots, and derbies for a while but could never get myself to wear them consistently. I had always owned a pair of derbies for more formal occasions and periodically had different pairs of boots in my wardrobe. Over time, I've come to appreciate multiple types of footwear, whether it's athletic, avant-garde, minimal, or a combination of any of these genres.
I've definitely toned down my active rotation of footwear now, owning around 10 pairs at any given time. When it comes down to it, I only decide to own a pair of shoes if it fits my lifestyle needs, has an aesthetically interesting design, and is on the market for a reasonable price. All of this is subjective when considering different footwear, but I think everyone should consider these key points. I'd be lying if I said that the concept of conspicuous consumerism (see below) doesn't occur to me when seeking out shoes (and even clothes), but it's never the sole factor, pun intended.
Some of the pieces you share are also limited edition, so that increases the value as well. Makeup has been “limited edition,” but some items keep coming back, thus diluting the integrity of the word, and making it more of a sales tactic. Thinking about clothing and shoes, do you think creating more limited edition collections can play a role in creating an investment type of mentality?
Possibly yes, but realistically and more likely, no. Yes because people will save up for clothes that they care more about and be less likely to dispose of them, especially if the price tag is higher than your typical fast fashion clothing piece. Consequently, the longevity of clothes in one person's closet would very likely increase. No because people may get caught up in conspicuous consumerism, in which people want to own items that are not available to anyone else in hopes of establishing an unspoken superiority to others. This can already be seen in today's hypebeast culture. People are buying clothes and accessories solely to be fit in and be perceived as cool by their peers, regardless of whether or not the item is something they personally like. This hyperconsumerism can be blamed for why the fashion industry is the way it is today. The constant human desire to fit in and keep up with trends has given fast fashion an ideal setting to flourish.
Trends are cultivated, mass produced, and then forgotten, sometimes within the span of a few weeks. Labeling clothing and shoes as "limited" may cause more harm than good in terms of increasing personal value of clothing, although increasing the market price tags.
You also have a resale account, and buy resale as well, which helps reduce your carbon footprint and keeps clothes in circulation, rather than in a landfill.
I sell clothes on various merchant sites, as well as on social media sites. Secondhand fashion is one of the fastest growing markets on merchant sites. Not only does purchasing clothes secondhand allow the buyer to forgo purchasing a similar brand new item, the act of which would increase the buyer's carbon footprint, but also prevents the seller from throwing that item into the trash or "donating it to charity." I put that in quotes because the vast majority of clothes that are donated end up in landfills due to unsuitable garment condition and garment overflow. Both buyers and sellers gain something by participating in the secondhand community.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I seldom buy new items in store anymore, but shopping at smaller stores in Japan is truly an experience, even when not making a purchase. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing selections at Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garcons in Aoyama and Dover Street Market in Ginza. Regarding places from which I actually buy items, I love visiting thrift stores in Japan, such as Second Street, Kindal, and Rinkan. I do most of my shopping online, though, usually through merchant sites like eBay, Yahoo Japan, Jawnflip, and Grailed.
Some people may say that fashion is superficial - the labels, the aesthetics - but it can also bring people together like you and me. What do you think?
I think that fashion, like many other hobbies, can be superficial if the only goal is to impress others with yours. Aside from that mentality, I am passionate about bonding through mutual enjoyment of hobbies. I've met plenty of people through buying and selling clothes, and I'd even go as far as saying that I consider some of these aforementioned people my close friends. For these close friends of mine, the friendships started with mutual admiration for the world of fashion but then expanded to other things, like music, anime, memes, food, and/or philosophies. I'm eternally thankful that there are other people out there who share interests with me.
On the other hand, your life isn’t all about fashion. You’re in pharmacy school. Is that something you always wanted to do?
Believe it or not, I actually embarked on my pharmacy career pathway on accident. When I applied to UC Irvine for undergraduate studies, I thought I had applied under the Biological Sciences Major. But upon reading my acceptance email, I found out that I had accidentally applied for the Pharmaceutical Sciences Major. After experiencing these pharmaceutical science classes, I became interested in learning about treating patients with pharmacologic therapy and the mechanisms of action of these agents. I started working as a community pharmacy technician, applied to pharmacy school, and the rest is history. I have plenty of other hobbies, like actively playing the piano for over 15 years, appreciating art (my favorite periods are Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Contemporary Art), practicing amateur photography (I like landscapes, portraits, fashion photography, and travel photography), and listening to multiple genres of music (read on to find out what I listen to).
How do you find (or identify) time to devote to your hobbies while also balancing work and social time? Do things ever fall by the wayside?
Assuming work takes up an average of 8 hours a day with sleep taking up 7-8 hours a day, I have the other 8-9 hours to care for myself, indulge in my hobbies, and spend time with friends. These pastimes frequently overlap. Sometimes I’m indulging in my hobbies as a form of self-care; sometimes I’m spending time with friends through talking about or participating in my hobbies (like talking about fashion or shopping); sometimes I feel rejuvenated by spending time with friends (though not always; being an introvert with extroverted tendencies is confusing). My key to managing time is being able to quickly and efficiently shift focus. What I mean by that is spending even small bouts of free time throughout the day on important things and then resuming what I need to do when that small bout of free time is over. For example, I typically online shop, learn Japanese on my phone, and/or message my friends during my work/rotation breaks; then I go back to work until my next break. Here’s a little more extreme example: while my leftovers are in the microwave at home, I’m taking writing up sale descriptions for my clothes and/or taking pictures of them to post for sale later.
The key is to take advantage of these idle moments to do what’s important. That way, I’m able to go to bed earlier since I don’t need to check my phone for clothing sales, contact with friends, and learning Japanese--all of which added together would take up a more significant amount of time than during the day in my idle moments.
Of course, my time management isn’t perfect. Sometimes, I’ll postpone learning Japanese or buying and selling clothes for later if I have something more pressing at any given moment, like an emergent assignment due date, if I need to drive, or if I’m having a deep talk with a friend. The key point that I want everyone to take away is to make time for the important things; Everyone has free time throughout the day, albeit different amounts, and everyone has different priorities.
What does a day in your life look like?
A day in my life typically consists of: buying and selling clothes, working on my professional self, tidying up my living space, learning Japanese through Drops (a language learning app that's not as menacing as Duolingo), and eating good food, whether it be store bought snacks or homemade meals. Like most people, I spend an unnecessarily high amount of time on social media, but I at least try to make that time slightly productive by checking in on and interacting with friends that I don't see on a daily basis!
What is something everyone should know how to do?
Everyone should know how to cook a good meal for themselves. "Good" is entirely subjective. A good meal can range from rice with spam and eggs to garlic lobster noodles. Whatever that good meal is, I believe it's worthwhile to learn to make a dish that you love so that you can eat it whenever you want. One of the greatest joys in life is good food, so why not learn how to make it?
From what I’ve seen from you, helping people is a big part of who you are. You also post about mental health and other important topics. We’ve seen so many trends and evolutions on social media - from MySpace selfies to curated, almost perfect feeds on Instagram - and things seem to be learning towards authenticity now. Without wanting to mandate what any one person does, do you think there’s an obligation of some sorts (for lack of a better word) to share resources, if not our own personal experiences?
In the most realistic sense of the word, I don't think people have an *obligation* to do anything. Voicing your own opinion in today's society is now easier than ever, but there are definitely those that are critical of every shared opinion that they see. However, I do admire people that share informational/actionable resources and personal experiences, no matter how controversial they may be. Before I share anything with anyone, especially on social media, I ask myself what the purpose of sharing that certain thing is. Is it solely to get a reaction, i.e. humor, disgust, or excitement? Is it to increase visibility of one of my hobbies / favorite things, i.e. a fashion designer's intricate piece or a musician's beautiful song? Or is it for educational/growing purposes, i.e. racial inequality/injustice, environmental sustainability, or personal development? No matter what it is, I make sure that I personally support and can defend what I share or at least am prepared to have a discussion about it. One of the great things about social media is that it makes discussion easier than in person, especially for those who prefer the safety of being behind a screen.
This year has been unpredictable in many ways. I think it’s felt limiting at times, with a focus on what we can’t do until things are ‘normal’ again. That said, what is something you want to do in 2021?
In 2021, I want to travel again, but only when it's safe to do so (and when the 2-week self-quarantine when travelling to certain countries is lifted). Before the pandemic started, I had plans to attend a 6 week advanced pharmacy practice experience rotation in Japan. That was cancelled, of course. Since then, I've been continually pushing back my flight to Japan, in hopes that the pandemic will improve over time. Travelling is the one thing that I really miss from pre-pandemic times, and I'm looking forward to booking my next trip.
Lastly, what is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned, or a takeaway from 2020?
One of the biggest lessons I've learned from 2020 is to advocate for myself.
Specifically, I've been learning to speak up whenever I have negative feelings about a situation that is affecting me and even whenever I come across a situation in which I could benefit from. As an introvert, I've had difficulty speaking up in important situations throughout my life. Throughout my pharmacy school rotations this year, I've learned firsthand that much of my professional development is my own responsibility, and not advocating for myself would be detrimental to my experiences. I have been extending this mentality to my personal development, and I'm happy to say that 2020 has been a year of immense growth for me.
seven questions with cody duong:
I can’t go a day without…
thinking about clothes. I have to admit that I'm obsessed with clothing and fashion in a broader sense. I often find myself going through my closet--sometimes thinking about what I am okay with selling to make more space for other items, sometimes imagining what outfit to wear for the current day or upcoming days, or sometimes even just admiring the material, construction, and silhouette of some of my individual pieces. I feel as though my closet lives and grows with me throughout the years.
Everyone should see...
Naruto--both the original series and Shippuden. As Naruto grew up throughout the series, I did too, having started the series back in late elementary school and watching throughout undergraduate studies. The show is riddled with life lessons, most notably valuing your friends over anything, pushing your limits, and never giving up. These all sound cliche and are main themes for almost any shonen anime, but the series' way of teaching these themes stuck with me the most throughout my life. Forewarning: there's about 700 episodes; to save time, the many fillers can be skipped, bringing the canon episode count down about 40%.
Life is better with a little…
Music. Music can make mundane tasks feel more exciting. I turn on my favorite tunes when I'm vacuuming, washing the dishes, or cutting my own hair. My mood dictates what I'm listening to at the specific moment, but for the past few years, I have been frequently listening to contemporary piano (Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yiruma), post-rock (Cicada, Jizue), Japanese jazz (Jizue, Schroeder-Headz), electronic (Medasin, Swardy, Porter Robinson, Madeon, G Jones), and Japanese rock (Gesu no Kiwami Otome, Indigo La End, TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, Kana-Boon, the Peggies). For me, music about the melody first and lyrics second. I'm always open to listening to new music!
Everyone in their 20s should…
figure out their long term plans. This plan should include financial and personal goals. For example, where do you see yourself living long term? At what age would you like to retire? What sort of passions do you see yourself pursuing long term, and how does that overlap with your occupational prospects? What sort of people do you want to surround yourself with? I could go on about financial responsibility in our capitalistic society and what specific steps everyone should take, but I'm by no means an expert on that subject, and there are plenty of free podcasts and videos out that I definitely encourage everyone to check out.
One insider thing to do in Portland…
I'm probably the wrong person to ask this question to, since I don't engage in many activities aside from spending time with friends and eat; therefore, I'll be recommending some of my go to restaurants whenever I feel like treating myself. There's a variety of good eats in the Portland area, whether you're feeling Duck House's Szechuan cuisine, Fish n Rice's Japanese fish dishes, Bun Bo Hue restaurant if you want some Vietnamese comfort noodle soups, or Proud Mary if you would like to grab some Australian style brunch with some friends.
What the world needs right now is…
Empathy. Everyone could benefit from having more of it for others. Many current problems, like the negligence of COVID-19 sanitary precautions (mask-wearing, hand washing, social distancing), racial injustice, and even exploitation of fast fashion garment workers, wouldn't be as bad as they are if people realized how their actions or inactions are negatively affecting others. If people cared for their fellow human beings even half as much as they care for their loved ones, the world would be a much better place.
One way to spread love is…
letting someone you know that you're thinking of them. This can be done in numerous ways, like messaging your friend that you're thinking of them with you aren't physically with them; making your friend a work of art (see above); sending your friend a meme that made you laugh, calling them to say hello... I could go on for a while. To summarize, just interact with your friends more, especially through social media. I feel as if social media has increasingly been used more for lurking than actual social connection and rekindling, and this should change. It's easy to feel distant from others when you see them living their lives without you, but have you ever thought about how your friends may feel the same when they see you active on social media? I am a firm believer in using social media for its namesake: for social connection through media.
Follow Cody on Instagram here and here (for his resale account, Commes des Cody), and shop his closet on Jawnflip here.
Photos by Ann Tong.