Waste Not, Want That! Zero Waste Daniel Turns Fabric Scrap Into Fashion Fab

The concept of sustainability is at the forefront of conversations taking place in fashion today. Fashion brands on both the global and local levels are considering what it means to be “responsible” in light of the startling fact that the fashion industry is the second largest polluter of planet earth, topped only by oil. Global brands leading the way in sustainability include Stella McCartney, Prada, and Adidas, but you don’t have to be in the upper echelons of fashion to make a meaningful impact. More and more emerging independent designers are approaching the creation of fashion from a place of environmental consciousness and responsibility. One of those designers is Brooklyn-based Daniel Silverstein of Zero Waste Daniel.

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Daniel is an influential force in the zero waste movement, having created no-waste couture dresses for celebrities including Jennifer Hudson and Kristen Bell. But he represents more than responsibility in fashion.

I recently attended a talk Daniel gave at the Brooklyn Public Library, and the piece of his story that resonated for me the most was his charmingly melodramatic and self-deprecating recounting of a specific moment in time when he was facing what felt like a personal and professional impasse, but instead of giving up on his dreams, he decided to make one more piece of clothing - a piece he wanted to make purely for himself, for pleasure, because he felt creatively and nostalgically inspired. He posted the shirt on Instagram, and it became the most popular piece he’d designed to date. His line grew exponentially from that moment forward and is still growing today.

Daniel reminded me of the importance of perseverance, trusting our creative vision, and believing in our talent. He reminded me the most powerful clothes we can create are clothes that come from our hearts; those are the clothes that move people.

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Daniel spoke with me about his brand and his actionable vision for sustainability in fashion.

Tell us about your sustainable fashion line.

Zero waste Daniel is a line of unisex basics that are made from cutting room scraps collected from factories and designers around the greater New York area. Each piece represents roughly 1 pound of textile waste that was headed for landfill.

Why is zero waste so important to you?

Living in the modern world and knowing what we do about our waste, climate change, and ways we can improve our collective experience on earth; I think it’s important that we all do our part. I do it in fashion because this is my passion, but I also do it in my personal life because I think it’s the right thing to do.

Why should millennials and Gen Z care about sustainability in fashion?

Sustainability is not a one way answer. It’s not organic, or recycled, or simply one thing. It means being able to maintain doing something at a specific rate or level; and for future generations if we want to maintain producing fashion and expanding the exciting world of design and creative styling, everyone has to get on board with figuring out a way to sustain doing that so we can all enjoy for generations to come.

What are three simple and affordable changes we can make to reduce our fashion footprint?

Rather than running out for a whole new wardrobe consider buying secondhand and going to a local Tailor to get the perfect fit. Another great tip is to take your gently used or stained clothing and overdye them to give them a second life, and a third great idea is to organize a clothing swap with friends - so if you plan to get rid of some of the things in your wardrobe that are taking up space - see if you can trade with other friends of similar sizes and styles so that you can give new life to things you don’t plan on wearing again anytime soon.

What special project or event are you extra excited about right now?

Right now I am super excited about earth month! I have lots of pop-ups and exciting plans to bring Zero Waste Daniel to locations all around the city as part of a large celebration for the month of April!

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