The Beauty of Less: Consume Less, Live More.
In 1968, on the streets of Paris, a generation of students and citizens took to the walls with paintbrushes and passion. Among their slogans - handwritten in defiance and hope was one that still echoes half a century later: “Consume less, you’ll live more.” It was a quiet rebellion against a culture of excess, a reminder that fulfilment does not come from accumulation, but from connection, creativity, and conscience.
At Deed Industries, we see that message as more relevant today than ever. Consume Less, Live More is not just a nostalgic slogan it’s a philosophy for modern living. It asks us to rethink what we value, to rediscover beauty in simplicity, and to recognise that mindful choices can enrich our lives in ways material abundance never could.
From Protest to Purpose
The original phrase was born during the May 1968 protests in Paris - a time of profound social change and youthful optimism. It was a rejection of blind consumerism, a call to reclaim agency in a world that was beginning to be driven by mass production and advertising.
Today, that same spirit lives on through the conscious consumer movement. It is no longer about scrawling slogans on city walls, but about living those words through our everyday decisions. Every purchase becomes a quiet act of resistance, a way to “vote with our wallets” for the kind of world we want to inhabit.
The Beauty of Living with Less
To consume less is not to live without but instead it is to live with purpose. It is to choose quality over quantity, ethics over impulse, and meaning over excess. It is about slowing down, caring deeply, and cherishing what we already have.
At Deed Industries, we call this conscious luxury: a form of elegance that values craftsmanship, sustainability, and longevity. Every item we curate whether it be a bag, a piece of skincare, or a home accessory is designed to endure, both in form and in spirit. Because true luxury is not about owning more, but about owning better.
The Environmental Dimension
Excess consumption is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The fashion and beauty industries, in particular, contribute significantly to waste, pollution, and resource depletion. “Consume Less, Live More” is a reminder that sustainability begins with restraint.
When we buy fewer, better things made ethically, from sustainable materials we can help to reduce the demand for mass production and its environmental toll. It is a simple yet powerful way to participate in positive change. Choosing a vegan leather bag made from cactus or coconut, or skincare crafted from cruelty-free ingredients, becomes more than a purchase - it becomes a statement of values.
Living More, Not Having More
To live more means creating space for experiences, relationships, and growth. When our lives are not cluttered by possessions, they are filled with freedom. We have time to connect with nature, with others, and with ourselves.
Minimalism is not about emptiness; it is about clarity. It allows us to rediscover joy in small details: the texture of a handcrafted item, the feel of natural fabrics, the quiet satisfaction of knowing that our choices are doing good.
A Modern Expression of Conscious Luxury
The spirit of May 1968 reminds us that meaningful change begins with individual action. Each person, each choice, each purchase adds to a collective shift. Conscious consumerism, like the art of those Parisian walls, speaks through expression - through what we wear, what we use, and what we refuse to accept.
At Deed Industries, we believe that consuming less is not an act of deprivation, but of empowerment. It allows us to live more beautifully, more ethically, and more intentionally.
Because in the end, less truly is more- more freedom, more peace, more purpose. And that is the real beauty of living consciously.
