Meet Daniel Silverstein. If you like fashion and watch TV, you probably have already seen him on NBC’s hit show Fashion Star. If not, set your DVR for next Friday night as Daniel unveils his final collection in what should be a dramatic season finale.
Daniel is the creative director behind his brand, 100% NY, which, as he puts it, is an expression of “zero waste fashion” and “one-piece patternmaking.” Frustrated by the incredible waste of the fashion industry, and unable to find a fashion company that he wanted to be a part of, Daniel set out to start his own line shortly after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology. As someone dedicated to both a “fashion first” look and a commitment to sustainability, Daniel created the “spine” detail, his signature technique for waste reduction. Not only is Daniel’s process zero-waste, Daniel makes further efforts to produce sustainably by sourcing the majority of his materials in the US and using as many different eco-friendly fabrics as possible.
Inspired by fossils, skeletons, ruins, various forms of nature 100% NY is an interpretation of beauty in the unexpected. After several months of experimenting, the result has been a line of gorgeous, eco-friendly, locally-produced, minimal-waste pieces.
Like any startup, establishing your brand in the beginning is tricky and a process of trial and error. This was especially true for Daniel as he consciously strived to minimize waste. The process has come a long way since he started. Initially, Daniel would come up with a design, cut out a rectangle of material and wing it. At a certain point, his business partner Marge would take over and strategically place the leftover scraps in ways that enhanced the design itself. As this process repeated itself, it got more and more streamlined. Now, Daniel says, they color-code everything with sharpies and have the system down to a science.
Just over a year old, 100% NY has clearly arrived on the fashion scene. Not only is Daniel competing for the title of Fashion Star, but 100% NY is becoming a favorite of celebrities with Jennifer Hudson one of the biggest fans.
The future for Daniel is incredibly bright and Modavanti is proud to be selling a brand that is not only fashion forward but truly sustainable as well! You can buy the latest looks from 100% NY here on Modavanti and make sure to tune in this Friday at 9 to find out if Daniel is the next Fashion Star.
