We teamed up with long-time Drifter and incredible Brooklyn designer Daniel of Zero Waste Daniel to craft a small run of SODA merch that’s fun, fresh, and sustainable. More than a brand, ZWD is a movement toward mindful making, radical transparency, and creative problem-solving‚ proving that what we throw away still has the power to tell a story. And we’re honored to support Daniel’s mission with this merch drop and by sponsoring his recent fashion show during New York’s Climate Week.

Inspired by ZWD’s elevated take on streetwear, Daniel designed these stunning, one-of-a-kind crewneck sweatshirts as vibrant statement pieces. Each lightweight, yet luxe, crewneck sweatshirt features handmade fruit appliqués made from 100% upcycled scrap fabrics, cut and sewn by Daniel in his Brooklyn studio. The ultra-limited release Each shirt is bespoke and one-of-a-kind.

As a perfect wearable companion piece, Daniel also designed a SODA dad hat, made locally in Brooklyn from 100% deadstock cotton twill.

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The best thing about the collection (besides the impeccable style) is that 100% of the revenue from sales of SODA merch sold on drinkspindrift.com from 9/24/25 to 1/31/26 will be donated directly to Kiss the Ground. Kiss the Ground is an audience-supported nonprofit promoting regeneration and healthy soil as a viable solution for our wellness, water, and climate crisis. For us, supporting the regenerative agriculture movement is a way to help offset our impact and improve farms for generations to come. Regenerative agriculture also aligns with our company ethos of “proudly made the hard way,” because it prioritizes the process, takes time and effort, and prioritizes doing the right things for the right reasons. In that way, regenerative agriculture is so much like Zero Waste Daniel’s mission approach to clothing design, breathing new life into pre-consumer waste sourced from New York City’s garment industry (as well as other hard-to-recycle materials) to create his line of genderless clothing and accessories that send nothing to landfills.

To celebrate the launch and learn more about his mission, we sat down with Daniel to discuss his background, this exclusive collection, his perspective on the future of fashion, and how we can all contribute to a 'zero-waste' lifestyle.

Spindrift: What is Zero Waste Daniel and what inspired you to start it?

Daniel: Founded by me, Daniel Silverstein in 2015, Zero Waste Daniel is redefining what sustainable fashion can look like: bold, expressive, and landfill-free. After I graduated from FIT and witnessed the massive waste behind the scenes of the fashion industry, I set out to make change from the inside out. I began collecting pre-consumer textile scraps from NYC's garment industry and turning them into entirely new garments using my now-signature ReRoll technique: a process of stitching together fabric scraps to create custom textiles.

Today, every Zero Waste Daniel piece is made in New York City, many of them crafted right in our Brooklyn studio, which doubles as a storefront and creative hub. Genderless, seasonless, and made entirely from reclaimed materials, the designs are both fashion-forward and future-minded‚ diverting roughly one pound of fabric waste per garment from landfills.

To me, ZWD is more than a brand, it is a movement toward mindful making, radical transparency, and creative problem-solving‚ proving that what we throw away still has the power to tell a story.

Spindrift: We’d love to hear more about that idea. What does “zero waste” mean to you personally and professionally?

Daniel: For me, zero waste isn’t about being perfect. It’s about doing your best—with what you have, where you are. Professionally, it means designing with intention and finding value in materials most people overlook. I build garments out of scraps because I see potential where others see waste. It’s a creative challenge, but also a personal commitment to tread more lightly and leave things better than I found them.

Personally, it’s the same idea. I make choices that reflect my values. I reuse, I repair, I rethink. It’s about seeing possibility—not just in fabric, but in people, in systems, in the way we care for our world. That mindset keeps me grounded and hopeful.

Spindrift: How do you choose the materials you work with? What is your process for sourcing?

Daniel: At Zero Waste Daniel, I work with what already exists. That’s the whole philosophy—starting not with a blank canvas, but with the leftovers. Scraps, offcuts, misprints, roll ends—materials that weren’t “supposed” to be part of something beautiful. I see those as the starting point, not the limitation.

My process is instinctive and ever-evolving. I’m constantly collecting, curating, and imagining how these discarded pieces can be transformed into something purposeful and powerful. It’s part scavenger hunt, part puzzle, and part alchemy. The real magic is in the remix—taking what others consider waste and turning it into wearable art.

Spindrift: In what ways has your brand evolved since it first launched?

Daniel: When I first launched Zero Waste Daniel, it was just me, a pile of scraps, and a sewing machine in a tiny Brooklyn apartment. The mission was clear from day one: prove that fashion doesn’t have to create waste. But over the years, the scale, the impact, and the possibilities have all grown.

What started as one-of-a-kind patchwork pieces has become a full studio operation, with a team, a storefront, and collaborations with major brands. We've expanded beyond clothing into art, installations, performance, and education—but always with sustainability and storytelling at the core.

The evolution hasn’t been about changing who we are—it’s been about deepening our commitment. Now we’re able to reach more people, share bigger ideas, and challenge the industry in ways I never imagined at the beginning.

Spindrift: What excited you about partnering with us our new SODA merch collection?

Daniel: I’m kind of obsessed with Spindrift. I’ve been drinking it for years—it’s always in my fridge, I serve it at every party, and it’s just been part of my daily life for a long time. So getting the chance to collaborate with you? Total pinch-me moment.

What made it even more exciting is how aligned we are—Spindrift cares about what goes into its products and how it impacts the world, and that’s exactly how I think about design. We both believe in transparency, real ingredients, real materials, and making something joyful without unnecessary waste. It felt like such a natural fit, and honestly, just really fun to bring to life.

Spindrift: Yes! Like you, we want our products to be enjoyable on their own, but we also want our business to have a positive impact. For example, when we launched our Spindrift SODA product launch, we donated to regenerative agriculture movement to help offset our impact and improve farms for generations to come. That being said, it’s also a very fun, bold product for us. How did you approach designing pieces inspired by our SODA line?

Daniel: This collection was all about collaboration from the very beginning. The Spindrift team came to me with this idea I loved right away—pairing their new soda with bold, flavorful foods. As someone who’s super into both food and Spindrift, I was immediately excited to translate that concept into clothing.

We worked together every step of the way, bouncing ideas back and forth and making sure the designs felt fun, fresh, and true to both of our brands. It wasn’t just about putting a logo on something—it was about capturing the spirit of Spindrift Soda through color, texture, and attitude. It was such a fun creative process, and I think that energy really shows in the final pieces.

What do you think consumers often misunderstand about “zero waste” fashion?

Daniel: I think people hear “zero waste” and assume it means sacrifice—like the clothes won’t be stylish, comfortable, or well-made. Or they treat it like a buzzword instead of a real design practice. But for me, zero waste is about designing with intention. It takes more time, more thought, and a lot more creativity to make something beautiful from what others consider trash.  It’s not about being perfect—it’s about doing better. About pushing yourself to see value where others don’t, and to make choices that reflect care—for the planet, for people, and for craft. You can have fashion that’s expressive, wearable, and impactful—and yes, it can come from scraps.

Spindrift: Why is sustainability in fashion — and beyond — more important than ever right now?

Daniel: Because the old way of doing things just isn’t cutting it anymore. Fashion has a massive footprint, and we’ve reached a point where ignoring that feels out of touch. But I don’t think sustainability has to feel heavy or technical—it can be creative, expressive, even fun.

To me, it’s about being intentional. About making things that matter, using what already exists, and finding smarter ways to move forward. We don’t need more throwaway trends—we need clothes with stories, clothes with heart.

That’s the energy I’m trying to bring into the world. More care. More meaning. Less waste.

Spindrift: How do you hope collaborations like this one can help spark broader conversations about conscious consumption?

Daniel: I love collaborating outside of the fashion world—it’s one of the best ways to reach people who might not normally care about clothes. Fashion can feel niche or intimidating, but food and drink? That’s for everyone.

Working with a brand like Spindrift lets us meet people where they are—in their kitchens, at their parties, in their everyday lives—and introduce ideas about waste and creativity in a way that feels approachable and fun. It’s not about preaching—it’s about showing how thoughtful choices can show up anywhere, even in what you wear or what you drink.

These kinds of collabs open the door to bigger conversations about conscious consumption—and they do it with joy and color, not shame or pressure. That’s the kind of change I want to be part of.

Spindrift: If you could change one thing about how brands approach sustainability, what would it be?

Daniel: Honestly? I think a lot of brands are too scared to get it wrong. They overthink, over-polish, and try so hard to make sustainability look effortless and shiny. But it’s not about that. Just do the work. Start somewhere real. People can always tell when it’s fake—and you can’t fake authenticity.

Sustainability has to be a core part of who you are as a brand, not just a one-off campaign or trend. It should show up in your decisions, your values, your day-to-day—not just your marketing. It’s okay to be figuring it out. What matters is that it’s genuine.

Spindrift: Is there a personal connection or memory you have with SODA that made this project meaningful to you?

Daniel: I’ve always loved soda—but my husband and business partner, Mario, loves loves loves soda. Like, truly obsessed. So getting to work hand-in-hand on this project with him made it extra special. From the start, I could tell he was totally in his groove—it was one of those collaborations where everything just clicked.

I think for me, it’s less about a nostalgic soda memory from the past and more about the memory we created working on this together. That’s what made this project so meaningful—getting to blend our creative worlds and make something we’re both really proud of.

Spindrift: We like to say that every Spindrift is proudly made the hard way - what does "proudly made the hard way" mean to you and your work?

Daniel: To me, “Proudly Made the Hard Way” means choosing care over convenience. It’s about making things with intention—even when it takes longer, costs more, or challenges the norm. That’s how I approach design every day. It would be so much easier to buy new fabric, follow trends, and cut corners—but that’s not what I believe in.

I believe in doing the work. In digging through scraps, rethinking the process, and building something beautiful out of what already exists. It’s not the fast way, but it’s the right way—for me, for my brand, and for the planet.

So when I hear “Proudly Made the Hard Way,” I feel seen. That’s how we’ve always done things at Zero Waste Daniel—with our hands, our hearts, and a whole lot of intention.

Spindrift: How do you hope people feel when they wear or experience this limited-edition merch?

Daniel: I hope people feel joyful. Like they’re in on something fun, thoughtful, and a little unexpected. This collection is bold, colorful, and full of personality—just like the flavors that inspired it. It’s meant to make you smile, spark conversation, and feel good inside and out.

And because it’s made from reclaimed materials, there’s this added layer of meaning. You’re not just wearing something cute—you’re part of a bigger story about creativity, care, and doing things differently. I want people to feel connected to that energy. Like they’re wearing something that matters.

Spindrift: We believe the future of beverage is introducing people to real ingredients – what do you believe the future of fashion is?

Daniel: Honestly? The future of fashion has to be more real. Less fluff, less waste, less smoke and mirrors. People want to know where their clothes come from, who made them, and what they stand for. Just like you’re starting to check the label on your drinks, people are starting to check the label on what they wear.

I think it’s going to be more creative, more transparent, and way more rooted in storytelling. Not just about selling something new every week—but about making things that last, that mean something, and that feel good to wear in every sense of the word.

Thanks Daniel! We can't wait to introduce our collaboration to our community and see what incredible work you produce next.

Shop the SODA Merch Collection to find the ultra-limited edition ZWD x Spindrift items.