Sustainability as a state of being: Moving beyond the external objective.

This article focuses on redefining sustainability as an intrinsic state of being rather than merely an external goal, emphasizing a paradigm shift from consumption-driven models to one grounded in care, spirituality, interconnectedness, understanding, pragmatic action, and authenticity. Using the fashion industry as a case study, it examines how brands like Early Majority and Eileen Fisher embody these principles of flourishing—defined as the capacity for humans and other life to thrive in harmony with the Earth—through community engagement, circularity, and ethical practices. The analysis highlights limitations in dominant sustainability strategies that prioritize technological or economic solutions while often neglecting deeper cultural and personal transformations. Drawing on Indigenous and non-Western perspectives, the article advocates for sustainability as a holistic, relational practice that can extend beyond fashion to fields such as agriculture and urban planning, calling for further research into policy frameworks that support collective and individual flourishing.