IN SUCCESSION

We were shooting two fashion influencers at a hotel. As far as shoots went, it was a breeze.

- TRINA EPILEPSIA BOUTAIN

Not W only were the subjects easygoing, disarmingly funny, and very professional, but they also brought with them several trunks filled with clothes and accessories from the latest and hottest brands. Offers to help them dress up were waved off. As the day wore on, we noticed their energy dropping, no doubt because of the jetlag and the early call time. At the end of the day, they thanked us profusely and bid us a very tired and dazed adieu.

Packing up, we were shocked at our discovery: several pieces of precious designer clothing were left on the wet and grubby bathroom floor and tub, their boldfaced labels sticking out, looking like glittery scraps of deadstock fabric, soundly forgotten. These weren't pieces we pulled from brands, these were their own clothes.

As our team dutifully picked them up and prepped them for cleaning before bringing them back, I was struck at how little regard was given to them. Was this luxury, I asked myself. Was this how people with the means and access treated their clothes? As I was holding on to a scarf and a top, I was also struck at how flimsy they felt, noticed the loose stitching. All the value, it seemed to me, was held together by the small, rectangular label.

THE STEALTH OF WEALTH