TED Business Luxury, not landfill — the waste-free future of fashion | Joon Silverstein
Dec 23, 2024
Joon Silverstein, founder of Coachtopia, is pioneering a shift in the fashion industry by advocating for a circular fashion system that repurposes waste into new designs. She discusses the massive environmental impact of fashion waste and challenges the conventional notions of luxury. Joon’s approach not only reduces the reliance on new raw materials but also aims to redefine what we consider valuable in clothing. The conversation encourages innovation in sustainability and calls for a major rethink of corporate practices around waste management.
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Fashion's Waste Problem
- Fashion waste is a major problem, with consumption up 400% in 20 years.
- 85% of fashion materials end up incinerated or in landfills, making it the third most polluting industry.
Coachtopia's Origin
- Joon Silverstein, during COVID, realized current sustainability efforts were insufficient.
- This led her to create Coachtopia, a Coach sub-brand focused on circularity.
Waste Visibility
- Making waste visible is the first step to addressing it, which involves measuring and classifying it.
- Leather scraps, often discarded, represent up to 30% of each skin and can form a new supply chain.