Perfect World, a project to change the world.
My name is Nico, I am 23 years old and to put it simply, I have lived a life of privilege and comfort. Having grown up in Johannesburg, Munich, San Francisco, and Madrid, I feel as though I have quite an international outlook on the world. However, living in South Africa in a well-off neighbourhood, right next to the townships just a few miles away, made me realise many of the inequalities in our world from a very young age. In a way, this has shaped me into the person I am today.
Despite my own comfort, I have seen people struggle with their mental health and personal safety for a long time, between raging wars, socio-political issues, and a climate that has gotten out of control, I started feeling helpless. So, for the last 4 years, I have been trying to turn my experiences, my privileges, and my struggles into something that can help others. I believe that fashion has the power to move, “Making it Together. Not Alone.’’ This is why, I am on a mission.
Introducing to you my project: ‘Perfect World’.
The idea of ‘Perfect World’ has existed for quite some time now, however, the idea really came to life after I spent 9 long months in the hospital. Staring at these white walls gave me time to think… and I mean, really think. In a lot of ways, it was a real reset after a long time of reflection. Looking around me also gave me clarity and an understanding that my pain was not unique. I started to realise that so many other people have continuously struggled, and this is when I started dreaming about my vision of a perfect world.
‘Perfect World’ believes in doing, in acting, in making a statement through fashion. Ultimately, it believes in the power of the collective.
The idea of ‘Perfect World’ is fairly simple and, in all honesty, I don’t know much about fashion. But it’s a way to use consumption for impact. I mean, think about it! We consume every day, so we might as well use that consumption for good, no?
Perfect World, at its current stage, is a clothing brand unlike any other. With 100% of profits donated to our three charity partners (Mental Health Initiative, Care in Action, and Plant for the Planet), it’s a way to use fashion to raise awareness of the need for change, and act against the pressing issues of our current world.
Today is ‘Time to Talk Day', so I would like to share with you our mission to destigmatise mental health through fashion.
From the three organisations that we support, mental health is the topic I have the deepest connection to, and relate to the most. I’ve struggled with depression and handling trauma for many years now. This year alone I was in a mental health treatment facility for three and a half months, something that was long overdue and I found extremely helpful. So, naturally, I started talking about it.
This started resonating with ‘Perfect World’s’ mission, which embodies the need to ‘talk about it’, not only to raise awareness for the need for more support (especially for the younger generation), but also to destigmatise the discourse and normalise asking for help. So, whether it’s reaching out and checking in on friends and family, taking a stand for the wellbeing of others, or directly funding tangible items, we believe it is important to talk about, in as many ways as possible. Hence, the design of our t-shirt. We hope that it can serve as a reminder, and as an influence, to open up and talk to one another.
Empowering people to speak up and seek help matters so much. Our mental state reflects the world around us; it’s our entire existence and needs to be taken care of accordingly. I found it shocking that in 2024, 26 out of 100 people aged 18 and over suffered from at least one mental health condition. This made me want to further underline the urgent need for mental health advocacy, ultimately motivating me to get involved and fund initiatives that address widespread disparities and break down the stigma surrounding mental health.
My vision and hope is that through the sale of our clothing, our project not only amplifies the message ‘talk about it’, but at the same time, financially supports Mental Health Initiative (MHI) in their efforts to destigmatise mental health, more specifically through their amazing YAM (Youth Aware of Mental Health) project, because it is truly an incredible organisation.
By supporting this I am also hopeful that it can help society shift from massive consumerism to purchasing products that make a difference, because every contribution truly is more than just a purchase, it’s an active investment into our well-being and that of our future generations.
Ultimately, we need to realise that we, all of us, are in this together. This entire project is about building on the hope of a better future, bringing people together, and actively encouraging them to ‘talk about it’. It’s also all about lending a helping hand and making a statement that goes beyond borders.
As someone who has had first-hand experience with the battles of mental health struggles, I know the power that can be found in going through that fight with support, and how much talking about it really does help.
So, let’s make a difference, together, not alone.
Thank you for your time, and if you’re interested in our work please click here.
