The New-Age Mantra; Do It Yourself
By Sana Chaudhry
7 April 2016
The first time it happened, I was at a friend’s house admiring a vase. The particular vase in question was perched on top of her dresser, and housed all her little trinkets. Now I am not normally the type of person to lose my mind over fancy glassware but what was so fascinating about said vase was that it was unlike anything I had seen before; white with the prettiest, palest cracks along the surface, giving it a marbled effect. Unable to resist, I immediately bombarded her with questions as to where she procured such an item only to be given an answer that left me speechless. She made it, herself.The very term, DIY, exists solely for the purpose of ridding others of the responsibility and taking it upon yourself. Originally coined in the 1950s, it stems from a surge in home owners undertaking home improvement projects. Typically defined as the method of building, modifying, or repairing without the direct aid of experts or professionals, DIY have now become the sacred words for the current generation.
Maybe because it is because of our ever growing need to be in control or because of economic reasons that more and more people are deciding to DIY projects. “I’ve always been into arts and crafts and this just gives me an outlet where I can channel all my stress into”, says Erum Khan, a student. Not to mention that it is an excellent way for one to creatively express themselves; for the creatively challenged it provides simple steps to achieve the desired result. As some die-hard believers of the DIY way write on the internet, it gives them an opportunity to uniquely express themselves, a chance to stand apart from the crowd rather than blend in.
And if that is the goal, websites such as Buzzfeed, Pinterest and YouTube have helped in achieving that goal. Endless tutorials are listed on each of these websites, providing step-by-step instructions on how to say, make a marquee light. Everything under the sun has been explained and made easy for you for benefit and entertainment. It has become a business really speaking with people posting videos and sharing tips and tricks; a secret society of wannabe designers and closet control freaks who can finally live out their dreams. “At the end of the day, I would much rather YouTube a tutorial on how to fix a broken doorknob, rather than have somebody come and do it for me. Its hassle free”, says Hamid Ali, a father of two.
However, trends will come and go as is evident from the fashion of the 90s. What remains is the mindset. This recent trend in crafting may eventually fade but it will leave behind seeds that will birth a new way of approaching problems. After all, it was said best when we were taught, “why leave unto others what you can accomplish yourself”?
