Humans always want a change in products. It stands for a different life, a fresh start to do things better than before. Most people think they want new products. The perception of new is that it is clean and someone else did not touch it before. “Today we are taught that aging (of products and individuals) is wrong. We wear, use, enjoy things as long as they look as if they had just been bought.”[1] This has to do with us trying to be perfect.
Cleanliness was originally motivated to stop diseases. But soon after it came clear that cleaning did little to stop spreading diseases, its opposite arises; dirtiness was linked to immorality, laziness and ignorance. With the invention of the washing machine, the perception of cleanliness rose further. This caused the link between cleanliness and social/cultural values such as success, acceptance, happiness and being perfect.[2] This being clean and new resulted in a society where everything needs to be packed. After a new product is unpacked, the packages can be thrown away immediately, because then the user owns it. But as you have read in my article about Cradle to Cradle (C2C article April 2012), everything is packaging, so what is the point of packing the package?
Cleanliness was originally motivated to stop diseases. But soon after it came clear that cleaning did little to stop spreading diseases, its opposite arises; dirtiness was linked to immorality, laziness and ignorance. With the invention of the washing machine, the perception of cleanliness rose further. This caused the link between cleanliness and social/cultural values such as success, acceptance, happiness and being perfect.[2] This being clean and new resulted in a society where everything needs to be packed. After a new product is unpacked, the packages can be thrown away immediately, because then the user owns it. But as you have read in my article about Cradle to Cradle (C2C article April 2012), everything is packaging, so what is the point of packing the package?
We as humans can think analytical and reflect with the questions Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. Thinking why we do something makes it also possible to think why we wouldn’t do something. Then you have a choice. With a choice there is a path and you want to choose the path that fits you the best. That is why we need this aim for perfection, although I rather speak of completeness. (in dutch; volmaaktheid)
What is perfect is linked to time, place and notion. Humans have certain preferences which are deeply rooted, like the urge for symmetry, but most of the preferences are inflicted by the media. I think that the current image of perfection seen from the perspective of people in western countries is linked to ‘new, ownership and grow’. The more you can buy, the more you are able to show you have success. Wanting to have success shows the aim for perfection.
An old classmate of mine called perfection ‘the desire for other than being contented’, this gives me the feeling of something inexonerably, as if it will never be enough. I rather experience a sense of completeness. With feeling complete you can enjoy the moments in between, they aren’t spotless, but feel like everything fits. In eastern philosophies you find this feeling of unity and completeness much more.
Nature isn’t perfect too, but she is complete. In nature aging is completely accepted, as nature is cyclical. From this point of view our understanding of perfection is a linear concept, because this means you aim for an final destination, while nature has no end.
If we are able to let go this aim for perfection we have the ability to accept aging. Take for example garments. We expect from each other that we change our garments and wear new garments ones in a while. But why should someone buy new garments if he is able to satisfy his needs with the garments he has? That is why I like a timeless collection of garments that are easy to combine and can be worn at multiple occasions, which can flourish by the use of different accessories that reflect the feeling of that person at that period.
It doesn’t matter whether we are the owner of these garments and accessories or if we only use them. More about this topic in the next article.
What is perfect is linked to time, place and notion. Humans have certain preferences which are deeply rooted, like the urge for symmetry, but most of the preferences are inflicted by the media. I think that the current image of perfection seen from the perspective of people in western countries is linked to ‘new, ownership and grow’. The more you can buy, the more you are able to show you have success. Wanting to have success shows the aim for perfection.
An old classmate of mine called perfection ‘the desire for other than being contented’, this gives me the feeling of something inexonerably, as if it will never be enough. I rather experience a sense of completeness. With feeling complete you can enjoy the moments in between, they aren’t spotless, but feel like everything fits. In eastern philosophies you find this feeling of unity and completeness much more.
Nature isn’t perfect too, but she is complete. In nature aging is completely accepted, as nature is cyclical. From this point of view our understanding of perfection is a linear concept, because this means you aim for an final destination, while nature has no end.
If we are able to let go this aim for perfection we have the ability to accept aging. Take for example garments. We expect from each other that we change our garments and wear new garments ones in a while. But why should someone buy new garments if he is able to satisfy his needs with the garments he has? That is why I like a timeless collection of garments that are easy to combine and can be worn at multiple occasions, which can flourish by the use of different accessories that reflect the feeling of that person at that period.
It doesn’t matter whether we are the owner of these garments and accessories or if we only use them. More about this topic in the next article.
[1] Victor Papanek, Design for the real world, 1985, page 293
[2] Kate Fletcher, Sustainable fashion & textiles design journeys, 2008, page 91
[2] Kate Fletcher, Sustainable fashion & textiles design journeys, 2008, page 91
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