On the Subject of Perfection
When you start throwing around the phrase “sustainable fashion,” I’ve noticed people can get a bit antsy.
Some people think that if they are going to fully commit to sustainable fashion, they have to overhaul everything they own. They imagine a minimalist wardrobe entirely in neutral tones. They imagine linen, vintage denim, and overpriced ethical brands they can’t quite afford.
But here’s the catch: That’s not reality. And that’s okay.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for walking away from fast fashion as quickly as possible (anyone up for a light jog, perhaps?). But we also need to realize that striving for the “perfect” sustainable wardrobe can be more paralyzing than empowering. Those of us who care deeply about living sustainably often place so much pressure on doing it exactly the right way that, instead, we end up doing nothing at all. We feel guilty about what we already own, worry about being “called out,” or assume we have to start from scratch.
But sustainability isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.
Perfection paralysis is real. Many of us want to make better choices when it comes to our clothes – according to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, over 60% of consumers report going out of their way to make sustainability a priority in their shopping – but the fear of not doing enough can keep some of us from even beginning the trek.
This phenomenon is heightened by social media and influencer culture. We scroll past aesthetic capsule wardrobes and eco-influencers who seem to have it all figured out, and suddenly our most recent thrift store finds or old H&M purchases from days of yore feel like personal failures. Here’s the thing, though: Trying to be 100% sustainable in a world built on fast fashion is a tall task, one that requires lots of effort and individual research to navigate. We don’t need perfection – what we need is progress.
As much as we may think so, there is no one-size fits-all approach to sustainable fashion. What’s possible for one person might not be for someone else. A great example of this is clothing swaps. While these can be awesome ways for like-minded people to come together and trade clothing, they can be an impossibility for folks living in more remote areas or without reliable means of transportation. Location, budget, size, time, culture all of these shape how we engage with sustainability.
For some, walking down the trail of sustainable fashion looks like buying less and wearing more. For others, it might mean thrifting, swapping with friends and community members, or supporting ethical brands – you can probably tell from our website that we definitely agree with that third one! It’s not about ticking off a checklist as much as it is about finding what works in your life. Then, once you’ve been able to institute some changes in a way that works for you, you can branch out from there.
I find it necessary to remind myself sometimes that the path to a more sustainable closet is rarely linear. As much as we like to think of ourselves ascending some mythical diagonal line up the graph of progress – anyone else think of their lives in graph terms? Or is that just me? – reality is more of a messy, wobbly, see-sawing thing. It’s full of learning, experimenting, and mistakes, and that’s okay. One fast fashion purchase or one thrown out garment doesn’t undo all of our good intentions, as long as we’re showing up for the cause over time.
Instead of aiming for perfection, I like to think about consistency. Building habits like repeating outfits, mending tears, or pausing before you hit “add to cart” can pay great dividends when repeated over time – and they’re a lot more sustainable than guilt or burnout.
Together, we can reframe what it means to build a sustainable wardrobe. It’s not about never making a misstep – it’s about choosing better when we can, and being honest with ourselves when we can’t. It’s about clothing that fits your values, not someone else’s aesthetic. It’s about finding the fun within the challenge and making a difference in the process.
Keep finding the fun, folks!
Alec Matulka
Doo Dah Apparel
