Partly, that is because of Aldi and Lidl being cheaper than their competitors in a country where disposable incomes were severely squeezed during the financial crisis.
Where disposable fast-fashion was once an option, consumers are looking to buy things that last, and will pay more for that.
Money flows out of poorer suburbs like South Gate, Bell and Huntington Park, all heavily Latino, where disposable income is tight and many families export remittances to a home country.
The exhibition – one of a few currently showing across the US to examine the meeting of tech and textiles – is held against the backdrop of an important moment for the industry, where disposable fashion dominates.
But in Mr. Sundaram's hands they taken on a new and complicated life, both as evidence of what consumerism looks like in a country where disposable income is still largely unknown, and as exotic commodities retooled for sale in the great and voracious bazaar known as the New York art world.
In some parts of Asia, where disposable incomes are high, families are happy to fork out a fortune.
This last one stings the most for all of us riding the F2P train, where disposable income is so crucial.
There are a lot of ears in the world after all, and that number is growing where disposable incomes are growing too.
In an industry where disposable is king — Starbucks can go through as many as 2.3 billion disposable cups per year at its 18,000 stores across the globe — Silo stands out as a nearly zero-waste cafe.
In a market where disposable incomes are far lower than the West, the prospect of shelling out more than $1,000 on a phone is one that is not possible for everyone.
In countries where disposable cups are made of plastic, for example, it may take only seconds for one to leave the package, be used, and end up in a trash can.
