Conscious Magazine

Issue 1 September

CONSCIOUS

magazine

Be Better Together TOKYO 2020 SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

Blue Skies In Beijing WILL IT LAST?

Renew Your Lifestyle

e t a e r C e Hop e r i p s n I Renew

Sustainable Fashion We Can All Create

FROM THE editor

WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF

CONSCIOUS MAGAZINE. This issue, the team have worked hard on bringing you articles that will bring you hope, encourage you to create, renew and inspire you to live a more conscious lifestyle. We have topics regarding hope for plastic removal in seas, a DIY perfect for beauty lovers to create, a case study on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and even inspiring sustainable fashion.

We hope this issue inspires you to live more consciously and sustainably and that you share what you learn with others. Remember that every positive change is beneficial and that even small steps counts towards a better lifestyle. As you live your daily lives, just remember four key words; hope, create, renew and inspire. Keeping these words in mind will allow you to live more consciously and will encourage you to be the best you can be.

veronica Hope you enjoy,

VERONICA

contents

A SUSTAINABLE LIVING MAGAZINE

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14

22

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Plastic In Our Ocean

We Can All Create

Renew Your Lifestyle

Sustainable Fashion

HOPE FOR PLASTIC FREE SEAS

SUSTAINABLE IDEAS & SOLUTIONS

SUSTAINABLE EVERYDAY PRODUCTS

RIHANNA KNIGHT FASHION DESIGNER

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16

24

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Blue Skies In Beijing

DIY Make-Up Brush Holder

In The Spotlight

Sustainability & Sourcing

WILL IT LAST?

INSTRUCTIONS & TIPS

BOOKS & PODCASTS

SYDNEY RETAIL FESTIVAL

10

18

26

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Who Made Your Clothing?

Everyday Product Problems

Be Better Together

Recycled Couture

FASHION REVOLUTION

UNSUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020

DANIEL SILVERSTEEN

HOPE

hope 1. A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.

2. a feeling of trust.

HOPE

Plastic In Our Ocean Plastic is littering our oceans, but there is still hope for plastic free seas

E

ight million tons of plastic is

Take three for the sea is an online

dumped in our ocean every

initiative; every time you go to the

year as stated by the National

beach you collect three pieces of

Geographic. Plastic in our oceans

rubbish and throw them out. This

is killing our marine life due to

campaign has been making an impact

consumption. Marine species are eating

over social media currently with 71.8K

our plastic waste that is dumped in the

hashtags #take3forthesea.

ocean and starving to death. As plastic

Operation straw is a Sydney-based

takes thousands of years to decompose

initiative where people, every

this problem isn’t going away anytime

Saturday at their local beach, do what

soon. As individuals, it’s frustrating but

they call a strawkle, also known as a

you can make a difference. By 2050 the

straw clean up. Not only is it a great

ocean will contain more plastic then fish

way to clean up the ocean, but also to

in weight.

meet like-minded people.

Eight million tons of plastic is dumped in our ocean every year.

Blu

HOPE

ue Skies In Beijing Will they be able to sustain the results that are being seen from their new sustainability act?

BEIJING THE CAPITAL OF CHINA is a city with a population

Although this is good news

of 21.7 million people. The sky of Beijing is usually surrounded

that Beijing’s air pollution is

by a thick layer of smog caused from pollution. The smog sends people inside due to the large list of health problems. At times it gets so bad it disrupts air travel which is frustrating for all involved. This thick smog that surrounds the city is said to be caused by their large population that drives cars, their use of coal and local construction

decreasing, it also comes with some negatives. The factories that shut down due to not meeting the new standards or being coal powered caused thousands of people to lose their jobs. The

sites also contributes to this.

Although there is good news, this year Beijing’s air pollution has dropped by 54% according to Green Peace. This is due to many factory closures and other factories fixing their production and methods to reduce pollution. In homes around the city a switch

switch from coal to gas usage amongst households caused a lot of people to suffer through winter without heating due to pricing. To ensure that Beijing’s

from coal power to gas was also enforced and

smog keeps decreasing they have

has contributed to the large drop in air pollution.

also caped the population to 23

Although this is good news that the air quality

million from 2022 onwards which

has improved, Beijing still has a long way to go

means people will have to look for

as the air quality still does not meet World Health

alternate cities to populate.

Organization standards.

Blue skies in a Beijing is a big

This year blue skies have been seen in Beijing.

success for China and the world

This is a large achievement for the residents of

due to a decrease in greenhouse

Beijing and an exciting change from the usual smog covered skies. This is due to their change in living

emissions due to a change in living conditions. Although the

conditions and closures of factories. By 2020 China’s

decrease of pollution does come

aim is to reduce their coal emissions from 60% to 58%

as a negative for many lower-class

which will also impact largely on the smog. According to

citizens living in Beijing with the

some of the pessimists the smog that has been lifted is only

rise in heating and loss of jobs.

due to the favorable weather that they have been having.

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HOPE

Who Made Your Clothes?

H

ave you ever thought

#Imadeyourclothes

of who made your

By switching the tables,

clothes or the impact

Fashion Revolution allows

your clothing has ever had on

famers, weavers, sewers and

a person? Fashion Revolution

everyone else in the industry

is a company that brings sweat

to speak up. By creating

shops to the public’s attention.

this social media campaign

On 24 April 2013, the Rana

people all over the world

Plaza building in Bangladesh

can communicate and stand

collapsed and 1,138 people

up for one another. It’s a

died, mainly women who were

movement that will ensure

at work sewing clothes.

that people’s lives are valued and changed for the better.

#Whomademyclothes Fashion Revolution uses

Join The Manifesto

social media to shift

Fashion Revolution is calling

how people think about

all people from around

clothing and help them find

the world to sign their

companies that aren’t using

manifesto. They believe that

sweat shops to make their

to transform the world many

clothing. They do this by

voices standing together will

using a social media hashtag

bring a stronger change than

of #whomademyclothes.

one individual voice. They

This allows people to ask

have ten individual points

themselves a series of

that they want to call action

questions that will change

to. To get more information

the way people think and

visit their Website or

hopefully try and find out more

social media accounts for

information about brands.

information and details.

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create to evolve from one’s own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.

This is exactly what ethical influencer Verena Erin Polowy centres her beliefs on and creates to solve problems regarding the sustainability of the earth.

Verena Erin Polowy, creator of “My Green Closet”, uses social media to influence and encourage others to create innovative solutions in order to live a more conscious lifestyle. The YouTuber, blogger and social media influencer’s main reason to start making a change in her lifestyle started after she was studying fashion design. Verena was exposed to the unethical nature of fashion and clothing and wanted to combine her passion for fashion with her passion for sustainability to create ethical fashion. It was through her studies that she found out natural resources that could be used to make clothing and that fashion could be made with minimalism.

Verena uses platforms to share her knowledge and findings with the world, something which she created so that more people could become aware, advocating and supporting ethical and sustainable practices. “My Green Closet” covers different areas of lifestyle. For example, you can find anything from her seasonal sustainable wardrobe collections to how to dye fabrics with vegetables. She also, however, has topics regarding sustainable gift giving and recipes. Her ability to relate to different people is apparent through these different topics aimed at various people.

According to ThinkInsights by Google, a study conducted a couple of years ago demonstrates the characteristics of a typical DIY shopper and maker. This study found that the key DIY audience are young savvy consumers and that 71% use the internet for DIY information. The main statistic that stands out is that the most popular resource used for DIY is online videos, with 49% of DIYers watching online videos to help with their projects.

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- Verena Erin Polowy

conscious living is something we should all do and can do.

“

ensure we protect the earth. Creating ideas and solutions for

“

n order for sustainability on earth, we must take actions that

I create videos to share my journey and inspire people to think more about the impact of their wardrobe and how we can all live more consciously.

CREATE

We Can All Create I

This research confirms the fact that people become encouraged to create new things if they see others doing it. It also proves that most people, particularly the younger generations, have an interest in creating and that DIY’s can be simple but also impactful. I believe that like Verena has done, we can all create to speak our minds and share this with the world in a time of technological advancement. She has used the power of social media to reach out to others and create with them, something we can all do, even if it’s not through an online presence.

It is encouraging to see people use technology and social media to spread powerful messages. I believe that anyone can create for good and that is exactly what Verena has done. She has successfully created answers to many problems that people face every day and supports others to create in her footsteps. We all have the power to create and we can use this ability for good to generate positivity in this world. Whether it’s creating a blog that contains tips regarding sustainability or making clothes out of recycled fabrics, we can all do something. We can all spread messages to others through our creations, just as how Verena has done. We can all create.

Check out “My Green Closet”: Website: https://mygreencloset.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ MyGreenCloset/ FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ MyGreenCloset/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerenaErin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ verenaerin/ 15

CREATE

DIY Make-Up Brush Holder CALLING ALL MAKEUP GURUS! We have all had that moment when we need a specific brush to finish our makeup, but we just can’t find it anywhere. Then after wasting 5 minutes of looking, we find it was right in front of us the whole time.

There’s a simple and creative solution to this problem… and that’s these DIY make-up brush holders. These brush holders are a perfect way to express your personal style and keep you organised… plus they make great room décor as well.

This DIY uses recycled glass jars to make make-up brush holders.

Did you know that glass never ever breaks down or decomposes once thrown out? Recycling glass to make something new helps with sustainability and creates less waste for the world. So, what are you waiting for… make your very own stylish make-up brush holders.

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Step 1

Step 2 Decorate your jars however you desire! You can place colourful pebbles in the bottom of the jar to allow your brushes to stand up.

Or you can even paint or draw a fun design on the jars. There’s no limit.

Acquire several glass jars that you would like to use. These can be any size, shape or have any pattern on them. It’s completely up to you!

Tips

Remember that by recycling the jars, you are avoiding them ending up in landfill and helping the sustainability of the earth. Plus, you’ll never lose a make-up brush again. As beauty YouTuber James Charles would say, “you go conscious and sustainable sister… and use code ‘James’ for 10% off!”

• Use different size jars together to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

• Use different colours on each jar and use that colour co-ordination to help you keep your brushes organised.

• Put your initials on the jars to create a custom jar like no other.

• The jars can also be used for other items, not just brushes. And if you have lids, then you can use them as well to keep your items safe in the jar.

• You can even leave the jars clear so that you can see the names of the brushes from the outside!

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CREATE

Everyday Products Crea The negative effects of un-sustainable common craft supplies and solutions

PAINT PROBLEM While paint is a great product to use to create things, most acrylic paints include plastic compounds.

They also contain Volatile Organic Compunds (VOCs) which react with oxygen to form an ozone layer in the presence of sunlight. This is a main factor in global warming. Paint can also have a detrimental effect on the environment when it is dumped into landfill. Tons of waste that have paint can lead to water poisoning, if the products are exposed to water.

PROBLEM Paper is a product used by everyone and is a versatile product that can be used to create many things.

However, paper is seen as a wasteful product and is harmful to the environment. That is, 30 million

CREATIVE SOLUTION Recycling paper is key to prevent wastage and harmful effects on the environment. 100% recycled paper now exists and is available to buy.

acres of forest is destroyed yearly and an A4 single sheet requires 10 litres of water. Paper is also responsible for greenhouse gases; methane when the paper rots and carbon dioxide when it is burned or composted.

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CREATIVE SOLUTION Eco-friendly paints are available which use natural pigments that are non-toxic and conform to safety standards.

PAPER

ating Problems Everyday PROBLEM Metal and plastic pens are made

CREATIVE SOLUTION

PENS

from fossil fuels, ending up in landfills for centuries when thrown

Pens are available to buy that

out. In 2005, Bic announced that

are made out of biodegradable

they had sold their 100 billionth

corn starch, recycled paper,

disposable pen. Imagine what that

recycled plastic, sustainable

number would be now in 2018?!

bamboo & wood. These pens are

These pens are non-biodegradable

biodegradable, can be recycled or

and are polluting the natural

are sustainable.

elements of the earth.

GLUE PROBLEM Glue is also a universal product used but is commonly composed of crude oil, PVA, epoxy and polyurethane to name a few. These substances are a negative threat to the earth and can also generate greenhouse gases.

The container of the glue and the toxicity of the glue are also factors that also can affect the environment.

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CREATIVE SOLUTION Glues that are eco-friendly can be purchased and these glues use recycled plastic bottles and their glues are solvent free.

renew

1. to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection 2. give fresh life or strength to.

RENEW

RENEW Your Lifestyle

How to switch out everyday products and live more sustainabily ESTHER MCLAREN

AIM FOR ZERO AND SWAP IT OUT. We swap out the junk food for the healthy options because we know it’s good for our body, so why don’t we do the same for the environment? There are many household items that we use daily that we don’t even realize have a negative effect on the environment. With more and more people embracing sustainable living, more eco-friendly products are being made. Living a more sustainable lifestyle has many advantages and benefits. Not only is it better for the environment, but it is good for your personal well being and happiness too.

While it is a challenge to lose the old, unhealthy habits, the changes you make can help you to improve your life significantly. The smallest changes can make a huge difference in the long run. What are you going to swap out?

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Literati Tea TOTE BAG

We all have to go grocery shopping Pura Choice

(love it or hate it),

GLASS & SURFACE SPRAY

why not reduce

Cleaning products full of chemicals can have a negative impact on the environment. Switch to a chemical free cleaning spray as an easy way to reduce your impact. Pura Choice, with natural essential oils, smells amazing too!

Earth Choice DISHWASHING LIQUID

Australian made and owned, Earth Choice is a great option for an eco-friendly dishwashing liquid. Safe for the water ways and cruelty free - it doesn’t get better than that!

Who Gives A Crap RECYCLED TOILET PAPER

Toilet paper that is 100% recycled and raises money for those in countries with no toilets. Not only are you helping the environment but you are helping someone else.

We love that!

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your waste by using re-usable shopping bags.

Easy to do and some shops even reward it.

RENEW

In The Spotlight Our Favourite Books & Podcasts To Help You Live A Sustainable Life That Is Good For You & The Environment

A Zero Waste Life

Sustainability With Style

Simple Matters

ANITA VANDYKE

LISA HEINZE

ERIN DOYLE

This book is a great way to kick start

Lisa Heinze was a shopoholic and not

We all live such busy lives that the idea

your journey to reducing the waste in

someone who would ever consider

of living simply seems like a foreign

your life. This thirty-day guide will show

giving that up. Part auto-biography,

concept. Erin Doyle shows us in Simple

you practical ways you can reduce your

part eco-guide this book is great if

Matters that living simply is not only

waste by 80%. With simple changes to

you want to achieve a sustainable life

good for the environment but it is good

everyday habits, Anita Vandyke shows

without losing your personal style. From

for your personal well being - afterall

readers that you actually gain more by

eco-fashion to organic beauty care, this

isn’t it all connected? Doyle shows us

living a zero waste life. If you don’t know

book will even teach you how to talk

that living simply is achievable and leads

where to start when it comes to reducing

environmental without sounding like

to a life more full - full of love, more

your waste - this is the book for you! Ps.

a weirdo. We guarantee you will love

time, more space and more moeny. I

Day 5 and Day 15 were our favourite (get

Lisa’s funny personality and the real life

don’t know about you but this sounds

ready to go through that wardrobe)!

experiences she has to share.

like something we all need to read!

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Low Tox Life PODCAST

The Sustainable Jungle PODCAST

Hosted by Lyall & Joy, The Sustainable Jungle Podcast is all about focusing on solutions for global sustainability. They are passionate about helping others find value in the world around them and to live with purpose. With sustainability at the centre of discussion, this podcast looks at travel, lifestyle, beauty and fashion.

Listeners are encouraged to learn and live a more purposeful and conscious life.

Conscious Chatter PODCAST Conscious Chatter, hosted by Kestrel, discusses all things fashion. Much deeper than simply what’s in style, Kestrel discusses the meaning and potential impact of what we wear. This is an opportunity to learn more about the fashion industry and how we all have the power to make a postive change.

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Low Tox Life, hosted by Alexx Stuart, discusses how choosing sustainability is not only better for the environment but better for your personal health too. With real life stories and examples this podcast will motivate you to clear out the toxins (yes some of that is your beloved cosmetics!) and find that it leads to a better life.

This podcast offers real support for real people, it isn’t a bunch of tips that are unachievable. Alexx speaks of things she has personally changed in her life and reveals the results. We love her motivation and how much she values the world around her.

RENEW

Be Better Together For the Planet & The People

T

he Olympic Games are

forward at a fast rate. Tokyo 2020’s

to 63% in the last five years. Tokyo

an amazing opportunity

Sustainability Committee chairperson,

2020 aim to address this problem

to display how large-

Hiroshi Komiyama, stated “The Tokyo

by making the medals athletes

scale global events can practice

2020 Games are a great opportunity

receive from Japans smartphone and

sustainability. Ensuring sustainable

for us to show to the world a vision

electronic waste. Another initiative of

practices when pulling off an event

of society humankind is striving for in

Tokyo 2020 is the decision to power

as large as the Olympic Games is no

the 21st century.” Tokyo clearly has

the Olympic Village with hydrogen,

small task and previous cities, such

vision to be a leading example for

which is a cleaner source of power.

as London, have failed to deliver

sustainability and model how future

Hydrogen will always fuel the cars

on their sustainability promises.

Games should operate.

used to transport the athletes around

Tokyo 2020 aims to be the most

during the Games. Different projects

sustainable Games to date and in

Tokyo 2020 have set a goal to use 99%

are also in motion to reduce the food

doing this, they hope to contribute

re-used or recycled products and one

fast and recycle dinnerware from the

to the United Nations’ Sustainable

way they are doing this is through the

Olympic Village. Tokyo 2020 intends

Development Goals.

medal production. Asia is the highest

all electricity used for the competition

e-waste producer in the world, with the

venues to be from renewable sources.

Tokyo 2020 have created the

amount of electronic waste increasing

slogan “Be better together – for

Tokyo was looking to be smokiest

the plant and the people” to guide

Olympics in years, however in June

the planning as the things move

of this year Tokyo passed a strict

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“We aim to leverage the Games as an opportunity to showcase our model of a sustainable city to the world and our goal of becoming a global environmental leader.”

anti-smoking law. This will mean

her main goals to lower emissions

Koike stated in a recent press

that many of the city’s bars and

and plastic pollution whilst she

conference, “We aim to leverage

restaurants will ban smoking in the

is in charge of the capital. Koike

the Games as an opportunity

lead up to the Games. This will assist

is hopeful that the sustainable

to showcase our model of a

with the aim to reduce air pollution.

initiatives done for the games will

sustainable city to the world and

create nationwide change for Japan.

our goal of becoming a global

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who

environmental leader.” It is clear

previously was Japan’s Minister of

that Tokyo are taking their slogan

the Environment, has made some of

seriously and aim to truly be better.

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inspire Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative: his philosophy inspired a later generation of environmentalists | [with object and infinitive] : his passion for literature inspired him to begin writing.

INSPIRE

Sustainable Fashion

Melbourne designer creates outdoor apparel made from plastic bottles

T

oday consumers are extremely mindful of the

Knight believed that these numbers needed to

products they purchase. We want to know

change, thus, Mister Timbuktu was created.

where they have been created, if they are

Mister Timbuktu is an outdoor sustainable apparel

supporting local businesses and what the business

company, founded by Rihanna Knight. The idea was

itself is doing to give back to the community and/or

formed when Knight was hiking through Patagonia

the environment. Rihanna Knight, has taken this to a

in 2017. Although she was wearing the right clothes

whole other level.

for the task, this didn’t quite fit with her style for sustainability.

Rihanna Knight is a 26 year old designer from Melbourne that knows that it isn’t all beauty in the

This means that all apparel is created from recycled

fashion industry. The fashion and retail industry has

plastic and discarded fishing nets all over the world.

been exposed for a number of indecencies in its

Yes! 50% of their raincoat material is recycled from

lifetime. From Apple’s employee disputes at their

plastic bottles. Eleven plastic bottles is crushed

factory in China to large retailers such as Kmart and

together to create the material in every single pair

Nike that have their apparel made in sweat shops

of leggings whilst fishing nets and other ocean

around Asia. However, one thing that you may not

waste is used also in their leggings and crop tops.

know is just how much waste is created from retail materials. In fact, every year five hundred million

How you may ask? The process is simple. Recycled

kilograms of fashion ends up in landfill and twenty

plastic bottles are collected from all over the world

seven kilograms of textiles are consumed by each Australian.

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and are shredded into tiny chips. They are then washed and melted into liquid form. Yearns are then extracted and spun into thread which is used to create this stunning collection of sustainable apparel.

The collection is made up of leggings, raincoats and crop tops. Although this is an outdoor apparel company, there is no dull colours in sight! Each item Mister Timbuktu’s are also very practical which is great, especially if you’re a girl that loves her pockets. Their raincoats have features such as headphone holders in the hood and their leggings have a phone holder located at the front in the waistband. Not only are their clothing items cute, of great quality and sustainable, Mister Timbuktu donates 20% of their profits to Waves of Wellness and the Foundation for Nationals Parks and Wildlife, supporting mental health and our earth of course.

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INSPIRE

be inspired

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FRIDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 10:30AM - 10:30PM

Sydney Retail Festival Sessions

Sustainability & Sourcing Alexandra Smart

Founder and Managing Director GINGER & SMART

James Bartle Founding CEO OUTLAND DENIM

Davif Giles-Kaye

CEO AUSTRALIAN FASHION COUNCIL

Jeremy Meltzer Founder I = CHANGE

Clare Press

Sustainability EDITOR-AT-LARGE VOGUE AUSTRALIA

SYDNEYFESTIVAL.COM.AU 33

INSPIRE

Recyled Couture Brooklyn’s Daniel Silversteen creates designer clothes by recycling fabric scraps

D

aniel Silversteen is an American high-end

In the United States, over nine million kilograms of

designer from Brooklyn, New York that

textile are thrown away each year. Daniel assists in

has a passion for fashion and a strive for

eliminating this waste by visiting a Brooklyn cutting

change. On one tiresome afternoon of designing

room with his team at least twice a month to source

cocktail and evening dresses, Silverstein realised

the fabric scraps used to create his garments.

that none of the clothes he was designing had a

Customers are also provided the opportunity

long-lasting and positive effect. None that had

to customise their clothing using the available

the impact he wanted. After closing his store and

discarded fabric in store and have it made in front

packing up, he spilled a rubbish bag full of textile

of them within an hour.

scraps on the ground.

In the fashion industry, fabric is created in what After noticing the colourful and fun fabric, he

Daniel described as a “cookie cutter” process. This

decided to create a shirt for himself out of the

is where the textile pattern is designed and cut,

discarded fabric. After posting the shirt on his

leaving the scraps or “extra dough” to be thrown

Instagram account, hundreds of people were asking

away. Daniel then created a process called

if they too could have one of Daniel’s recycled

“reroll” which in a cookie cutter process would be

designs.

the combination of the excess dough to form a new roll of dough used to cut more cookies. In the

It was at this moment that he realised what he was

fashion industry, Daniel will be using the excess

doing was not only beneficial to the environment,

material to sew them all together and create a new

it was something he wanted to pursue long term.

garment.

Thus, ‘Zero Waste Daniel’ was created.

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Silverstein is very aware of the low pay and difficult working conditions garment workers face worldwide. Therefore, all employees are paid fairly and all garments are manufactured inside the store and not in factories. As shirts start at $55, Daniel hopes that customers will see the price tag and think of the designer that created the item they are purchasing. He uses his co-worker Emilee as an example saying that he wants consumers to see Emilee as a “26 year old woman who is creative and passionate about climate change who created your shirt�.

Silverstein believes that being a part of positive change and leading by example can have the same qualities perceived in high end fashion such as edgy, fashion-forward and comfortable. He inspires not on his co-workers, customers but people all over the world to achieve their dreams in the fashion industry in a positive and ethical manner.

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C e p o H w e n Re e r i p Ins e t a e r C