rhonart

I’ve previously touched on how people are moving towards curating better, and building our own personal archive instead of falling into over-consumption. There are reasons why people collect: for some it’s a genuine hobby, others see it as an investment or a showcase of wealth and taste. Even the type of things people collect varies from vintage designer pieces, to something as niche as Sailor Moon merchandise. But why do we spend our time and money in search of these pieces?

Well, it’s the thrill of the hunt. There’s no better feeling than finding items that you’ve spent hours down a rabbit hole in search for, especially when they’re an incredibly rare find for a bargain. Afterwards, you can’t help but share your finds with others in your community online. For example, the vinyl collectors who share their collection including their limited edition vinyls in their hauls.

Regardless, we’re building a visual/physical record that essentially tells us who we are. Everyone’s collection will be completely different – as it should be! It’s also an important part of being human. We feel a sense of attachment to these items, be it the memories it carries or the joy it gives us.

The idea of being intentional about what I source has actually helped me curate my manga collection better. Here are some helpful lessons I’ve learnt that can also be applied to your own area of collecting:

• Not everything needs to be collected in a physical format. There are a few factors that come into play in regard to this, such as budget and space. Instead you can collect your manga volumes in an e-reader format via kindle or a kobo, at a lower cost.
• Utilise your local libraries! Getting a library card was the best thing I did last year. It allowed me to explore the different genres available without the financial burden.
• You don’t need to collect ALL the volumes/the entirety of the series. Sometimes choosing your favourite volumes/specific arc in a series is just enough.
• It’s okay to unhaul some of your collection. Get rid of volumes that you no longer enjoy and make room for new titles. There will always be someone else who will enjoy and cherish those titles, that’s the beauty of second-hand shopping!
• Patience is key. The beauty of collecting is actually taking the time to find the right deals, especially when buying second-hand.

Ultimately, collecting isn’t about owning everything in an instant — it’s about building the pieces over time that genuinely means something to you.