The Lexy Show: Fashion That Gives A Damn

What will it take to move net zero from an ambitious goal to the way we actually design and operate our buildings?

Drew Shula is the founder and CEO of Verdical Group, a sustainability consulting firm focused on decarbonizing the built environment. Since founding the company in 2012, Drew has worked to advance greener buildings through engineering services, green building certifications, sustainability strategy and net-zero consulting. He is also the founder of the Net Zero Conference, one of the world’s largest events dedicated to building a net-zero future.

In this episode, Drew breaks down what ne...

What if the most sustainable thing in your closet isn't something new, but something already hanging there?

On this episode of Fashion That Gives A Damn, Lexy sits down with Vanessa Sanchez, co-founder of Bonnie, a clothing swap app built to help people refresh their wardrobe without spending money or feeding fast fashion. Vanessa has spent her career thinking about overconsumption, and Bonnie is her answer: a social, swap-first alternative to shopping and resale apps.

They dig into why most people only wear a fraction of what they own, the sentimental pieces we can't let...

What if sustainable living has less to do with buying the “right” products and more to do with strengthening the communities around us?

This week on The Lexy Show: Fashion That Gives a Damn, Lexy sits down with environmental activist and community organizer Ariel De La Cruz to explore the connections between sustainability, environmental justice, wellness, and community care. With a background in biology and a journey that shifted from pre-med to environmental advocacy, Ariel brings a thoughtful, people-first perspective to building healthier communities and a healthier planet.

Lexy and Ariel discuss why access to gree...

What if the easiest way to reduce your environmental impact starts with the products you use every single day?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Janette Spiezio, founder of Sustainable Haus Mercantile and co-chair of Beyond Plastics New Jersey. After questioning the ingredients in everyday household products, Janette turned her curiosity into a mission to make low-waste living practical, approachable, and accessible for everyone.

Together, Lexy and Janette unpack what it really means to live a zero waste lifestyle without striving for perfection. They discuss the rise of refill...

Can fashion be both creative and sustainable, or are we still buying into fast fashion without realizing it?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Lana Garmo, founder of In Two Minds, an upcycled clothing brand transforming secondhand materials into one-of-a-kind fashion. Lana has built her business around the idea that great style doesn't have to come at the expense of the planet, proving that creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Lexy and Lana dive into what it really takes to build a fashion brand rooted in circularity...

What if the future of fashion isn't made from plastic at all, but from seaweed, cornstarch, and materials we haven't fully embraced yet?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Caroline Zimbalist, a New York-based biomaterial artist and designer whose work blends fashion, art, and sustainability. Using handmade biodegradable bioplastics, Caroline creates sculptural clothing, jewelry, and home objects that challenge what fashion can be while reducing its reliance on petroleum-based materials. 

Lexy and Caroline explore why the materials we wear matter just as much as the designs themselves. They discuss h...

Can the clothes you buy help create a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Candice Ray, founder of The Fairnest, a platform dedicated to making ethical and sustainable shopping easier for consumers. Through her work, Candice helps connect people with brands that prioritize transparency, responsible production, and positive environmental impact, making conscious shopping more accessible.

Lexy and Candice discuss why navigating sustainable fashion can feel overwhelming and how shoppers can make informed decisions without striving for perfection...

What if the future of luxury fashion isn't about buying more, but about valuing what we already have?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein speaks with Jessica Schwartz, a sustainable fashion advocate and founder of The Resale Shop, a platform focused on extending the life cycle of clothing through resale and mindful consumption. Jessica brings a fresh perspective on how fashion lovers can embrace style while challenging the industry's culture of overproduction and waste.

Lexy and Jessica explore the power of resale, why secondhand fashion is becoming a major force in the...

What if the future of fashion starts with reconnecting to the materials, makers, and stories behind what we wear?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Brooklyn Deshea, founder of Atma Prema, a sustainable fashion brand centered around mindful design, creativity, and intentional living. Brooklyn brings a unique perspective on fashion as a form of self-expression while exploring how clothing can be created with more care for people and the planet.

Lexy and Brooklyn discuss the journey behind Atma Prema, the importance of slowing down fashion, and how conscious designers...

What if the clothes sitting in your closet could become a tool for storytelling, connection, and real-world change?

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein sits down with Christine Chang, founder and creative director of Red Thred, a social impact platform transforming fashion into a force for philanthropy and community building. Inspired by the idea that an invisible red thread connects us all, Christine has created a nonprofit that brings together creators, nonprofits, and communities through the stories behind the pieces we wear.

Lexy and Christine discuss...

Can one purchase really make a difference? Rosalie believes the answer starts with understanding who made your clothes and choosing brands that put people and the planet first.

In this episode of The Lexy Show, Lexy Silverstein talks with Rosalie Roberts, founder of World Changer Co., a sustainable shopping guide created to help consumers find ethical and environmentally responsible brands across fashion, beauty, food, and lifestyle. Rosalie built World Changer Co. around the idea that every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want to create. 

L...

What if living more sustainably could make your life feel bigger, more creative, and more connected instead of more restricted?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Alexa Pavan, the sustainability copywriter, strategist, and content creator behind Go Green with Alexa. Raised in a family that valued composting, ocean conservation, and protecting the natural world, Alexa brings a practical perspective to environmentalism that replaces guilt and perfectionism with curiosity and action.

Alexa explains how her family’s scuba diving business shaped her relationship with the ocean and why protecting coral reefs remains pe...

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Kelsey Reese, the designer and creative force behind ReeseCycled. What began as a pandemic closet cleanout grew into a fashion brand built around thrift flips, secondhand materials, one-of-one designs, and a willingness to create before consuming.

Kelsey shares how she taught herself to sew, turned vintage reselling into a business, and developed a design process that can begin with anything from a finished garment to an old blanket or a pile of neckties. She and Lexy talk about the patience behind made-to-order clothing, why a custom piece...

How much clean water goes down the drain while you wait for the shower to warm up?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Elle Turner, co-founder of SEVAS Water, to talk about the simple household habit that inspired a new approach to water conservation. Growing up in drought-prone Australia taught Elle to treat every drop as valuable, but years of carrying awkward buckets from the shower also convinced her there had to be a better way.

Elle shares how SEVAS went from a rough idea to a shower water catcher that...

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Mecca McDonald, co-founder of Mo.Na. Gems, a jewelry brand creating colorful, biodegradable accessories from a potato-based biomaterial. Mecca and her co-founder, Mia Dunn, began experimenting in a college kitchen during the pandemic, using the tools and ingredients they could access when their Johns Hopkins lab spaces were closed. What started as a creative experiment became a material that looks and performs like plastic without relying on fossil fuels.

Mecca explains why potatoes were a practical starting point, from their abundance to the existing agricultural systems that...

What happens when clothing donated with good intentions becomes another country’s waste crisis?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Rowaiye Olanrewaju, founder of the Larry Rowbs Foundation. With a background in economics, international trade, and fashion entrepreneurship, Rowaiye brings a business-minded approach to addressing textile pollution and creating economic opportunity across Africa.

Rowaiye explains how traveling through several African countries changed the direction of his fashion career. He saw how large volumes of inexpensive secondhand clothing and poor-quality fast fashion were hurting local businesses while leaving communities responsible for garments th...

What changes when we stop treating clothing like disposable content and start seeing it as art?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy sits down with Raphaella Godoy, the self-taught Brooklyn designer creating bold, one-of-one wearable art. Raised in a creative family of painters, musicians, and performers, Raphaella approaches clothing as another artistic medium, combining sewing with painting, embroidery, screen printing, found objects, and unexpected materials.

Raphaella shares how experimenting with her mother’s old sewing machine helped her discover the work she wanted to pursue. She and Lexy talk about developing personal style in a...

What does it take to make swimwear that feels playful, personal, and genuinely better for the planet?

This week, Lexy sits down with Gigi Scholbi, the founder and designer behind Cheeki Swim, a Hawaii-based brand creating handmade swimwear with recycled and deadstock materials. Gigi started the brand from a college dorm room after struggling to find swimsuits that combined quality, individuality, and a fit that made her feel confident. Her approach offers a thoughtful alternative to mass-produced swimwear and the constant churn of fast-fashion trends.

Gigi shares how Cheeki Swim grew from an idea into...

What happens when something as ordinary as an orange prescription bottle becomes the starting point for a pair of sunglasses?

This week, Lexy sits down with Claire Ring, founder of Cocoplum, a circular eyewear brand turning discarded prescription pill bottles into bold, wearable frames. Claire proves that recycled materials do not have to look dull or feel like a compromise. They can be functional, stylish, and part of a much smarter system.

Claire shares how Cocoplum transforms plastic waste through a process of collecting, cleaning, shredding, melting, and molding pill bottles into new sunglasses. She...

Can fashion slow down without losing its edge?

This week, Lexy sits down with Ruben Nowak, founder and designer of the Berlin-based fashion label NOWRUBI. After serving as a German Air Force officer, Ruben taught himself how to sew, studied fashion design in Berlin, and built a brand that combines structured military influences with individuality, rebellion, and bold storytelling.

Ruben explains how NOWRUBI’s made-to-order model allows the brand to produce clothing only after a customer places an order, reducing excess inventory while helping a small independent label survive financially. He and Lexy discuss why sh...

What if an old television headed for the landfill could become your pet’s favorite place to sleep?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Andrew Parsons, the creator of Nostalgic Nooks, a Brooklyn-based shop transforming vintage televisions and radios into custom furniture for cats, small dogs, and even animals like ferrets. Andrew began the project as a creative side hustle after leaving his career in journalism, but a viral video quickly pushed the growing business into the spotlight.

Andrew shares how he finds unwanted electronics through Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, collectors, junk re...

Every garment you own has passed through human hands, even when the label never acknowledges them.

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Juliet Seger-Banks, co-founder and creative director of Human Touch, a Berlin-based fashion brand making the labor behind clothing impossible to overlook. Juliet is a trained tailor, clothing engineer, sustainability designer, and artist who developed the brand’s signature paint-sewing technique while studying sustainable design.

Juliet explains how she covers her hands with paint while sewing, leaving fingerprints across each garment as a visible record of the person who made it. Sh...

What if your next costume could begin with an unwanted sweater, discarded cardboard, or something already sitting in your recycling bin?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Emilee Shield, better known online as Our Shield Maiden. Emilee is a cosplayer, activist, sustainable fashion advocate, and creative maker who believes cosplay should be affordable, inclusive, and accessible to anyone with the imagination to participate.

Emilee shares how thrifting and upcycling can lower the cost and environmental impact of creating costumes. She encourages makers to revisit inexpensive techniques often associated with childhood crafts, including...

What if a glossy early-2000s magazine could teach you how to spot the fashion industry’s biggest lies?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Mel Watt and Yalda Keshavarzi, the co-editors of Not Buying It. Designed like the magazines many of us grew up reading, Not Buying It uses quizzes, horoscopes, advice columns, pop culture references, and humor to make fashion justice and greenwashing easier to understand.

Mel and Yalda explain why traditional activism does not connect with everyone and how meeting people where they are can bring more people into th...

What if the materials around us could do more than reduce harm and actually help clean the air?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Aldo Sollazzo, CEO of PURE.TECH and a technologist working across material science, computational design, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Aldo’s work focuses on building the connections that allow promising scientific discoveries to move beyond the laboratory and become practical solutions used by real industries.

Aldo explains how PURE.TECH developed a mineral-based material that can be incorporated into textiles, paint, paper, polymers, and other surfaces to capture po...

Why are ordinary people paying for climate disasters while fossil fuel companies continue making enormous profits?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Cassidy DiPaola, communications director and spokesperson for Make Polluters Pay. The campaign is working to hold major fossil fuel companies financially accountable for the damage their products have caused to people, communities, and the climate.

Cassidy explains how climate Superfund bills require the largest historical polluters to help fund flood protection, wildfire prevention, cooling centers, home upgrades, public health programs, and clean energy. She shares what the successful campaigns in...

What if refreshing your wardrobe could help you meet new people without buying anything new?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Sam Cerwin, founder of BeReworn, an online platform connecting people with clothing swaps, upcycling workshops, community meetups, and other slow fashion events. Sam created BeReworn after noticing that sustainable fashion events were scattered across flyers, social media posts, and different ticketing platforms, making them difficult for newcomers to find.

Sam explains how BeReworn helps people discover local events while giving organizers tools to manage tickets, attendees, volunteers, accepted sizes, and leftover...

Can luxury fashion be glamorous, empowering, and more conscious at the same time?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with designer Dell Scott, founder of the Dell Scott Collection. Dell creates luxury formalwear designed to help women feel beautiful, sensual, and confident. Her relationship with fashion began with Barbie dolls, glossy magazines, and her mother’s designer wardrobe, but it became deeply personal as she navigated eczema, visible scarring, and low self-esteem.

Dell shares how fashion became a creative escape and eventually a way to empower other women. She explains why quality construction ma...

What if the perfect outfit is already sitting in a thrift store, waiting for someone to see its potential?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with sustainable fashion designer, content creator, and upcycling advocate Indira Viswanathan. Through her popular Thrift Flip Thursday series, Indira transforms secondhand clothing, curtains, scarves, and other overlooked fabrics into completely new designs.

Indira shares how she began sewing in high school and continued developing her skills during the pandemic. She explains how she approaches thrifted pieces as fabric rather than finished garments, allowing her to look beyond an...

What would change if we started asking who made our products, where their materials came from, and what happens when we no longer need them?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Ashleigh Dawson, founder and president of Recycle2Riches, a nonprofit working to change the culture of consumption through education, collaboration, and community action. Ashleigh’s commitment to sustainability began with lessons from her uncle and grew after she witnessed the hidden realities of fast fashion while interning in Los Angeles.

Ashleigh shares how experiences like relabeling mass-produced garments exposed the gap be...