Balance & Honesty

I have had so many thoughts swirling around my mind about what I want to write here, that I’ve pushed off writing this story for quite some time. But we are finally here and something I continuously dwell upon is this question: Who is the sustainable bride? What makes up a sustainable wedding dress?

And from a broader perspective: What actually is sustainability?

Then what really gets me with those questions is the word sustainable. To be honest, it really gives me the ick.

Let me explain.

My journey started years ago after watching the documentary, “The True Cost.” I highly recommend it - though it could trigger an existential crisis. It utterly paralyzed my consumer habits, making it a struggle to even buy a simple bottle of shampoo. I needed to know my purchases were supporting brands with a more positive impact on the environment. To say the least, my world was turned completely upside down.

At the time, I was working as a designer for a contemporary womenswear brand. Realizing how wasteful the design and development process was (not to mention, the horrid concept of fast fashion), I had already been struggling in my relationship with fashion. Watching the film heightened this struggle ten fold and my existential crisis ensued. Feeling disgusted and saddened that I had been contributing to this viscous cycle, I wanted to leave the industry altogether.

Years later, I’m glad I didn’t. Gradually, I have seen mindsets and processes change. There is hope where there wasn’t any before. But there is also uncertainty where there wasn’t before. The word “sustainability” has become so oversaturated and so overused, it is nearly impossible to figure out who and what is trustworthy. This is where things get a bit complicated.

My relationship with the concept has evolved over the years, very much rejecting the influence of it’s mainstream marketing presence. I was acutely aware of greenwashing and did my best to dig a little deeper. I have struggled with physical purchases, with the food I eat, with what to do with waste. I wanted to be perfect - to do it the right way and was scared out of my mind of making a mistake. But then I realized that’s exactly what it actually is - a relationship.

Sustainability is a conversation, not black or white. It’s a lifestyle - it’s how we interact with others, with the land, with everything around us in our daily lives. It’s about the choices you make and the actions you take. There are a multitude of ways to approach a sustainable lifestyle and it can’t be defined in one single sentence. And in all honesty, nothing and no one can be 100% sustainable. It is nearly impossible.

This is not to say ‘sustainable’ is a bad word. The meaning of it has merely been derailed. Just like any relationship, one changes and must grow within the new perspectives your worldview develops as more life is experienced. I couldn’t continue living my days perpetually paralyzed within every one of my decisions, scared of making mistakes. That would be…unsustainable.

Since my initial existential crisis, my approach has slowly taken form in a more clear sense. I now prefer to label the whole concept as balance and honesty. Balance because that requires intention - and when you live intentionally, all your decisions are made with mindfulness, thoughtfulness, and care. Honesty because that requires communication - and just like any relationship, that is what builds trust.

Taking care of ourselves and knowing what foods to put in our bodies requires trust. Choosing the clothing to wear that makes us feel good requires trust. Getting into any form of transportation believing it will get us to where we need to go safely requires trust. Trust allows things to continue. We need trust to live, to keep going. in other words, to be sustainable. It helps to take a moment to remember that without this earth, we as humans would have nowhere to exist. Maintaining our relationship with it and building trust within this relationship is essential to our survival.

So, what is sustainable bridal wear?

To me, that is wedding attire brought to life with as much thoughtfulness as possible. that is created with the least amount of harm to the environment and the people around us as we know how. this is my intention with nordeen and I will always try, to the best of my ability, to communicate and be honest with you. Because without that, how can you trust me?

you deserve to feel grounded with the land beneath our feet. To be connected with the wind whispering between the trees. To be present with the warmth of the sun basking your skin. That’s the feeling I want to bring out when nordeen pieces are worn.

to feel present.

to feel connected.

to feel seen.

Our everyday decisions build trust with the world around us, including those made for wedding days. That’s what I’m here to try and preserve. To help you preserve as well. With as much balance and honesty as possible.

xx Brenna

Photography: Cedar & Pines | Styling: Heirlooms Design