He didn't draw a good hand for his first twenty years. When he was 14, his mom passed away. When he was 17, he went blind from an illness, which crushed his dream to one day become a scientist. When he was 20, his brother committed suicide. This string of events would be enough to crush almost anyone, especially at that age.
But what about him and consumerism?
He wasn't personally affected by it. Unlike a lot of other people who fight against moral issues because of personal reasons, he never experienced a tragedy brought about by consumerism that would turn him into a crusader against it. It lies in the nature of consumerism. It isn't the sort of issue that works on a personal level. It has a very wide scope, one that spreads its effect over an entire society instead of a few people living in it.
He did feel that it needed to be addressed before it got out of hand. He realized that if it wasn't, future generations would be swamped by it.
You don't need to be personally affected by something to fight against it.
He didn't let that stop him.
In our CLE class, we tackle the topic of true freedom, which, simply put, means to do good. Huxley's early life provided no shortage of threats to his. With the death of his mom and brother, magnified by his blindness, the conditions in his life were perfect to create a storm of doubt, fear, and hopelessness in him. He couldn't become a scientist and contribute studies to the anymore, as scientists normally need their sight.
But even though he was battered by these, he never lost his resolve. In fact, these tragedies might have been the reason he turned out the way he did. Since he couldn't become a scientist, he had more time to devote to writing and philosophy. This may be why we have "Brave New World" in the first place.