Feature Photo by: Redress Design Award
Every movement warrants a moment to celebrate—recognising achievements, reflecting on obstacles, and inspiring fresh discussions for the future. The zero-waste movement is certainly no exception. This week, I’m excited to celebrate Zero Waste Day, a day focused on promoting awareness about sustainable consumption and addressing the escalating waste crisis. In this year’s article, I aim to guide you through everything essential—from the significance of Zero Waste Day to how you can participate, and most thrillingly, how the fashion industry is rising to meet this challenge.
WHAT IS ZERO WASTE DAY?
The third International day of Zero Waste, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, will take place on March 30, 2025. This year’s theme, “Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles,” focuses on an industry that significantly contributes to waste pollution while also having the potential to lead in waste reduction efforts.
Fashion ranks among the fastest-growing industries globally, yet it produces an immense amount of waste. Humanity generates approximately 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, which includes textiles, electronics and food. According to the Global Fashion Agenda, a staggering 92 million tonnes of textile waste are created each year—equivalent to a garbage truck full of discarded clothing being incinerated or sent to landfills every second.
Fast Fashion’s Hidden Cost
The statistics are alarming: between 2000 and 2015, clothing production doubled, while garment usage fell by 36%, as reported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The industry accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and 9% of ocean microplastic pollution, and consumes an astonishing 215 trillion litres of water each year—comparable to 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
In brief, the fashion and textile sector is fueling mass overconsumption and waste pollution. Unless we embrace a shift towards circularity and sustainable production, its environmental impact will only continue to escalate. Zero Waste Day acts as a call to action, encouraging us to reevaluate our habits and support more sustainable choices.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Zero Waste Day goes beyond just raising awareness; it’s about taking action. This global event will be celebrated with various initiatives and activities worldwide, inspiring individuals, businesses and communities to embrace a zero-waste lifestyle. If you’re eager to join the movement, there are numerous ways to get involved.
A great way to start is by pinpointing an area of waste in your everyday life and working on reducing it. Whether it’s decreasing food waste, cutting down on plastic usage, or choosing to repair and repurpose clothing rather than throw it away, small adjustments can create a significant impact.
Last year, I published an article filled with tips on how to adopt zero-waste practices at home, and you can find this here for additional inspiration. This year, however, I want to shift our focus to a universal industry: fashion.
About the Redress Design Award
The Redress Design Award is the world’s leading sustainable fashion competition, empowering emerging designers to rethink fashion through the lens of circularity. Organised by Redress, a Hong Kong-based environmental NGO, the award spotlights innovative talent committed to reducing fashion’s environmental footprint.
Each competition cycle guides participants through an immersive, months-long educational journey. Through university talks, workshops, the Redress Academy, and partnerships with over 170 institutions worldwide, designers learn to apply core sustainable techniques—zero-waste, upcycling, and reconstruction—to tackle fashion waste at its source.
Participants are challenged to transform textile waste into beautiful, market-ready collections that are both sustainable and scalable. Winners receive career-launching prizes designed to amplify their long-term impact and inspire a global shift toward circular fashion.
ZERO-WASTE FASHION: WHY?
There is substantial evidence that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters globally, backed by reports from organisations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank.
With pesticides in cotton farming and toxic dyes and chemicals in manufacturing, it is estimated that clothing production accounts for approximately 10% of all global carbon emissions, also consuming vast amounts of water—enough to sustain millions of people annually. Textile production is a major source of pollution, with fabric dyeing contributing to industrial water contamination and synthetic materials releasing microplastics into the oceans. Additionally, the industry generates massive textile waste, with only a small fraction being recycled into new clothing.
embracing zero waste fashion
Embracing zero-waste fashion not only helps the environment but also bolsters small businesses and independent designers. Purchasing from large retailers often means supporting unethical labour practices and contributing to environmental harm. By opting for more sustainable brands, we can foster a more ethical and eco-conscious fashion industry. Our throwaway culture has resulted in a dramatic surge in clothing consumption—400% more than just 20 years ago! Unfortunately, many of these items end up in landfills. By transitioning to zero-waste fashion, we can lessen our environmental impact while championing brands that prioritise sustainability. It’s a win-win situation!
redesigning the future of fashion
Jeans have long been a fashion staple but have followed the industry’s wasteful linear model. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation set out to change this by making circular design the norm. Through collaboration with brands, mills, and manufacturers, the project proved that sustainable fashion is possible.
The message is clear: those contributing to the problem today can help shape the solution tomorrow. With companies like Primark showcasing progress, the focus now is on scaling up and accelerating change.
ZERO-WASTE FASHION: THE BRANDS
If you’re already steering clear of fast fashion, skipping the dry cleaners, and choosing organic cotton t-shirts, you’re definitely on the right path. However, sustainable fashion encompasses much more than these practices. One of the most thrilling advancements in this field is zero-waste design, which fundamentally rethinks the garment creation process from the very beginning.
So, what exactly does zero-waste fashion entail? It focuses on designing apparel in a manner that significantly reduces fabric waste. In traditional garment manufacturing, about 15% to 20% of fabric is discarded during production—a staggering waste of valuable resources. Yet, through meticulous pattern-making, innovative cutting methods, and purposeful fashion silhouettes, zero-waste designers are demonstrating that sustainability can indeed coexist with creativity. Naturally, any leftover scraps should be transformed into accessories, home textiles, or other useful items. Unfortunately, many brands find it more cost-effective to throw away waste rather than recycle it. Nevertheless, an increasing number of designers are defying this trend, using their skills to craft stunning pieces without generating waste.
In this section, I’ll introduce you to some of the most inspiring zero-waste fashion designers who are leading this movement.
yeohlee
Yeohlee Teng, a visionary designer, has been championing zero-waste fashion since founding her brand in 1981. Originally from Malaysia, she moved to New York to study at Parsons School of Design and has built her career around sustainability and innovation.
Long before the industry embraced waste reduction, Teng was repurposing fabric scraps into new garments, ensuring every material was used to its fullest potential. Her designs prioritise efficiency, inclusivity, and timeless style—crafted for all ages, sizes, and genders. As sustainability becomes a global priority, Teng’s philosophy remains more relevant than ever: fashion must take responsibility for its impact on the world.
Holly McQuillan
Co-author of Zero Waste Fashion Design, Holly McQuillan delves into sustainability through research, exhibitions, and education. Her work challenges conventional production methods and encourages fresh perspectives on waste-free fashion.
Charlotte Bialas
Based in Paris, designer Charlotte Bialas merges heritage and sustainability in her work. She utilises vintage textiles from renowned French maisons and employs zero-waste geometric cutting techniques that significantly minimise fabric waste. Any leftover scraps are creatively transformed into accessories like necklaces, bags, and sashes.
Her collections celebrate patterns and textures, showcasing whimsical designs that evoke nostalgia while maintaining a modern flair. The incorporation of vintage materials guarantees that each piece is distinct, honouring the craftsmanship of historical couture houses at the same time.
Dr. Mark Liu
It’s uncommon to find a fashion designer with a PhD, yet Dr. Mark Liu harnesses modern mathematics in traditional pattern making. His ‘Non-Euclidean Fashion Pattern Making’ technique enables zero-waste garment construction, revolutionising the realm of sustainable couture.
Liu’s work has been showcased globally, from Asia to the U.S., and continues to influence designers eager to transform surplus materials into breathtaking, sculptural fashion pieces.
Malaika
Malaika New York is a zero-waste clothing brand that combines Scandinavian minimalism with innovative methods to maximise fabric usage by up to 98%. And that’s really a lot if we compare these stats to how much brands usually send to waste. Their garments are crafted from basic geometric shapes—squares, triangles, and rectangles—ensuring minimal waste.
In addition to smart design, Malaika also upcycles bike tubes from local shops and uses sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, Tencel, and linen. They even incorporate regenerative nylons made from repurposed fishing nets. Locally produced in New York, their garments emphasize fair labour practices and reduced carbon emissions too.
Farrah Floyd
Berlin-based Bojana Draca’s brand, Farrah Floyd, employs a carefully crafted zero-waste pattern drafting system too. Her garments are constructed using precisely measured rectangles, ensuring that no fabric goes to waste. The outcome? A collection of uniquely structured pieces that merge artistic silhouettes with sustainability. Draca sources certified sustainable fabrics from Italy and Turkey, reinforcing her commitment to ethical production.
Karen Glass
American designer Karen Glass is an advocate for upcycling, sourcing fabrics from flea markets, old garments, and factory remnants. Her collections are a patchwork of history, with each garment narrating a story through its thoughtfully chosen and reimagined materials. This approach guarantees seasonless, high-fashion clothing that can be cherished for a lifetime—true sustainability in practice.
Daniel Silverstein
A long-time proponent of sustainable fashion, Daniel Silverstein‘s ‘Re-roll’ technique transforms textile scraps into imaginative, one-of-a-kind creations. His method has inspired other New York-based designers, including Study NY and Eileen Fisher.
Rothy’s
Rothy’s is a family-run brand that repurposes rescued ocean plastic to create vegan shoes and bags. With over 30 miles of shoreline scoured for PET bottles, their innovative 3D knitting technique ensures that no threads are wasted.
and finally......
These designers demonstrate that fashion can be both stunning and sustainable. Their creativity, innovation, and commitment to zero waste can motivate us to reconsider our clothing consumption and how we can contribute to a more responsible fashion future.
As we celebrate Zero Waste Day, let’s spotlight those leading the way—who are your favourite zero waste designers? Share them with us and join the movement toward a cleaner, more conscious fashion industry.