I’ve been reflecting a lot lately. After years of working with and researching sustainable fashion, I feel ready for a deeper shift—something more significant. What began as a mission to create eco-conscious, beautifully crafted clothing has evolved into something I now think of as wearable art. This idea goes beyond sustainability; it’s about creating pieces that resonate on a soulful level, that feel like stepping into art itself.

When I started Southeast Saga, one of my guiding principles was to never ever challenge the price set by the skilled craftswomen and seamstresses I collaborate with, nor to bargain for the discarded jeans I buy from a large secondhand market here in Bali. Because if I start haggling over the cost of these materials or undervaluing the labor behind them, it goes against everything I stand for.

But I’ve realized that there’s a challenge!

We’ve all become so used to clothes costing next to nothing that this mission can be hard, really hard. Quality, handcrafted textiles and thoughtful design are time-consuming to create—and they should come with a price, perhaps even a high one. Such pieces should be ideally be viewed as an investment, not just a purchase.

I understood that I had two choices: I could start bargaining with the amazing people I work with here—asking the weavers to “optimize,” pressuring my seamstresses to work faster, and cutting down on my own research and design time. Or I could reframe these pieces as wearable art. Art, unlike everyday clothes, is something we expect to invest in. Art is exclusive, carefully crafted, and worthy of a high value. And so are the creations of the artisans I collaborate with.

In my book, Aesthetic Sustainability, I explore the idea that sustainable design should mean more than just eco-friendly materials—it should provide lasting visual and emotional value. Because honestly, what good is “sustainable” if a piece loses its allure in just a few months?

Wearable art takes this idea a step further.

Creating wearable art isn’t just about crafting clothing that respects the environment. It involves creating garments that feel like an extension of the wearer: pieces you reach for time and again because they’re meaningful. Pieces to be cherished, loved, and worn over years, not just for a season. Pieces that are thoroughly designed and crafted, that hold the essence of the time they’re charged with, becoming carriers of time. Pieces that evolve with the wearer, telling stories that deepen and expand over time—becoming more beautiful as they gather presence and meaning, and as they are worn and weathered.

Wearable art can be bold and provocative—a way of dressing that expresses style, attitudes, and opinions. It invites boundaries to be pushed, embodying art in a way that challenges norms and sparks conversation. It’s not only about adorning the body but about making a statement, showing the world who one is and what they stand for through what they wear. For example, what does it mean to be well-dressed? Could it involve repairs, or holes that come from years of loving wear? Carefully curated outfits that break conventions, with unexpected patterns and bold color combinations?

The idea of wearable art makes space for these questions and allows us to redefine style—not as perfection, but as an honest reflection of individuality and life’s aesthetically nourishing imperfections.

This thought has radically reshaped how I think about building a wardrobe—and how I think about creating garments. For me, it’s not just about crafting beautiful clothing; it’s about honoring the incredible skill and dedication of the talented craftswomen I collaborate with. I don’t want to bargain with them or push them to lower their prices! On the contrary, I want to give them more than they ask for and support the development of their craft. Without this, the mission of Southeast Saga loses its heart and meaning.

Investing in garments shouldn’t mean surrendering to fleeting trends or fast fashion. It should feel more like curating a home, selecting pieces with a sense of purpose, and creating a space where true expression lives. Every wardrobe has its essentials—quiet, dependable garments that offer comfort and ease, grounding a personal style. Pieces that provide a steady foundation, fitting seamlessly into daily life without demanding attention. And then, there are the pieces that transcend function, that nourish the soul. These are the wearable art pieces, chosen to elevate, to express something deeply personal. Pieces that transform a wardrobe as a bold painting or sculpture transforms a room—infusing it with spirit, meaning, and life.

A wardrobe isn’t just clothing; it’s a reflection of how we construct our lives. Like a home, it balances the practical and the artful, holding the everyday essentials and the pieces that express who we are. It’s about a harmony—a yin and yang of garments that carry us through daily life and those that tell a story, that make us feel, that communicate our essence.

Creating wearable art is about creating a garments that reflects values, creativity, and self-expression. I like to think of wearable art as a canvas—sometimes a complete expression on its own, but maybe, more radically, it could also be a blank canvas that invites the wearer to shape it, to bring in their own style, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, love.

Wearable art is more than clothing; it’s a bridge between maker and wearer, a shared vision. Or maybe even a collaboration.