The Lexy Show: Fashion That Gives A Damn

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 removal contacts, and families searching for a better option than throwing them away. He explains how he taught himself woodworking and now uses secondhand fabrics, tiny decorations, and reclaimed materials to make each piece more sustainable and personal.

Lexy and Andrew also talk about the creativity we lose when everything is designed for convenience, why locally sourced and secondhand items can be more meaningful, and how custom furniture can become a lasting part of someone’s home. Andrew shares the process behind personalized orders, including choosing the television, wallpaper, finish, curtains, and details based on each pet’s personality and needs. They also offer practical ideas for finding useful secondhand goods through Buy Nothing groups, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, thrift shops, estate sales, and neighborhood businesses.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Nostalgic Nooks for more vintage transformations and custom pet furniture.

Social Media
Instagram: @nostalgicnooksbk
TikTok: @nostalgicnooks
Website: nostalgicnooks.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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. She and Lexy discuss why the fashion industry remains dependent on human skill, the misconception that most clothing is produced entirely by machines, and how the word “handmade” can hide the reality that nearly every garment involves human labor.

They also talk about opening the Human Touch studio during Berlin Fashion Week, giving visitors a closer look at the machines, workspace, and process behind the finished collection. Juliet shares how the brand’s upcycling line applies paint-sewing to vintage and secondhand pieces, including an intentionally overpriced SHEIN cardigan designed to provoke a conversation about labor, value, and fast fashion. The conversation also explores why sustainability needs creativity, beauty, humor, and strong storytelling instead of relying only on guilt.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Human Touch to see how fashion can celebrate the people whose hands bring every garment to life.

Social Media

Instagram: @thehumantouch_clothing
TikTok: @human.touch.clothing
Website: humantouchclothing.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 papier-mâché and air-dry clay, rather than assuming every project requires new or expensive specialty materials. Lexy and Emilee also discuss the overwhelming amount of clothing moving through the secondhand system and what it is actually like to search through the Goodwill bins, often the final stop before unwanted garments are sent elsewhere or discarded.

The conversation challenges the idea that upcyclers are taking clothing away from people who need it. Emilee explains that the volume of unwanted clothing is far greater than many shoppers realize, with mountains of garments continuing to move through donation centers every day. She also shares how creativity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to experiment can make cosplay more sustainable without making it less exciting.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Our Shield Maiden for more sustainable crafting, cosplay inspiration, and creative ways to give old materials another life.

Social Media

Instagram: @ourshieldmaiden
TikTok: @ourshieldmaiden

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 the sustainable fashion movement. They break down greenwashing, including misleading environmental claims, questionable certifications, luxury brands hiding behind higher prices, and marketing that distracts shoppers from the workers making their clothes.

The conversation also explores dupe culture, overconsumption, and the way social media has changed how people define value. Mel and Yalda challenge the idea that everyone is entitled to a cheap copy of every trend, especially when those products are often created by stealing designs and relying on hidden, exploitative supply chains. They also discuss why sustainability is something people practice, not something they can simply purchase.

Rather than expecting perfection, Not Buying It encourages readers to question brands, support garment worker campaigns, spend less time online, repair what they own, and find community through clothing swaps, workshops, and local activism.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Not Buying It for a sharper, funnier look at fashion, culture, and the marketing claims we should stop believing.

Social Media

Not Buying It Instagram: @notbuyingitmag
Website: not-buying-it.co.uk

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 pollutants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. He shares why the company spent years testing and validating the technology before attempting to scale it, and why certifications and measurable results matter when separating genuine innovation from greenwashing.

Lexy and Aldo also discuss the difference between inventing a new material and creating the infrastructure needed to bring it into the market. Aldo explains why PURE.TECH shifted from selling its own consumer products to partnering with manufacturers and brands that can integrate the technology into what they already produce. The conversation also explores fashion’s ability to turn individuals into ambassadors for new ideas and why collaboration between scientists, designers, businesses, and consumers is essential.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow PURE.TECH to learn how everyday materials could become part of the solution to air pollution.

Social Media

PURE.TECH Instagram: @pure.the.tech
Website: pure.tech

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 Vermont and New York can teach other states about building public support and turning climate accountability into real policy.

Lexy and Cassidy also discuss how the fossil fuel industry shifted attention toward individual carbon footprints while spending heavily on lobbying, public relations, and greenwashing. They explore how climate change is already affecting utility bills, food prices, insurance, education, physical health, and the emotional well-being of young people. Cassidy also explains what the campaign learned from the movement that held Big Tobacco accountable and why personal stories can make climate policy feel urgent and understandable.

The conversation connects fossil fuels to fashion through synthetic fibers, manufacturing, shipping, and fast fashion’s dependence on cheap energy. It is also an important reminder that individual sustainability does not require perfection. Real change happens when people give themselves grace, talk to others, support community campaigns, and demand accountability from the industries causing the most harm.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Make Polluters Pay to learn how you can help hold Big Oil accountable.

Social Media

Instagram: @polluterspay
TikTok: @makepolluterspay
Website: makepolluterspay.net

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 clothing. She shares practical advice for hosting a first clothing swap, including finding a venue, clearly explaining how many pieces guests can bring, and connecting unwanted items with organizations that can return them to the circular economy.

Lexy and Sam also discuss why upcycling workshops can help people repair, transform, and reconnect with clothing they already own. They explore how in-person events make sustainability feel more welcoming, affordable, and social, especially for people who are tired of spending so much of their lives online. Sam also challenges the idea that sustainable fashion must be expensive and encourages listeners to begin with one or two realistic habits they can maintain.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow BeReworn to find a slow fashion event or start building one in your own community.

Socials 

BeReworn Instagram: @bereworn
BeReworn TikTok: @bereworn
Sam Cerwin: @sustainabilitybysam

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 matters, from careful stitching to fully lined garments, and why she refuses to create clothing she would not proudly wear herself.

The conversation also explores Dell’s collaboration with Goodwill, where she transformed secondhand garments into a cohesive luxury collection. She opens up about the challenge of designing with whatever fabrics, sizes, and pieces were available instead of starting with new material. That experience changed how she approaches sustainability and inspired her to consider resources like FABSCRAP when planning future collections.

Lexy and Dell also discuss the connection between clothing and confidence, developing personal style beyond social media trends, and finding new possibilities inside the clothes already hanging in your closet. Dell encourages listeners to shop their wardrobes, experiment with alterations, visit thrift stores, and think carefully before getting rid of pieces they may later regret losing.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow the Dell Scott Collection for luxury fashion rooted in quality, creativity, and confidence.

Socials

Instagram: @dellscottcollection
Website: dellscottcollection.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 outdated shape or imperfect fit and imagine something entirely different. Some of her favorite transformations include turning a scarf into a fitted dress and reworking an oversized nightgown into a matching two-piece set.

Lexy and Indira also challenge the idea that sustainable fashion must always be expensive. They discuss affordable options like thrifting, tailoring, repairing clothing, borrowing from friends, and learning simple sewing skills. Indira offers practical advice for beginners, including starting with small alterations like taking in a loose tank top, adjusting the waist of oversized jeans, or repairing a minor hole.

The conversation also explores personal style, cost per wear, mindful shopping, and why documenting the process behind a garment can help people appreciate the human labor involved in making clothing. Indira also shares what it is like to run her handmade brand, Indira Amélie, from a Newtown shop with her sewing studio directly behind the sales floor.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Indira for thrift flips, sewing inspiration, and creative ways to make your wardrobe more personal and sustainable.

Social Media

Instagram: @indiraviswanathan
TikTok: @indoodle

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

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 between the stories brands tell and what actually happens behind the scenes. She explains why conscious consumption begins with curiosity and encourages listeners to ask questions about materials, manufacturing, workers, transportation, product use, and what happens at the end of an item’s life.

Lexy and Ashleigh also discuss capsule wardrobes, personal style, clothing rentals, secondhand shopping, and why thrifting does not automatically make every purchase thoughtful. Ashleigh introduces Recycle2Riches’ free lifecycle analysis tool, which helps consumers and business owners examine the full impact of a product and identify possible signs of greenwashing.

The conversation also highlights Recycle2Riches’ Fire Relief Fridays, which brought sustainable brands together to provide reusable bags, personal care products, food, and other essentials to Los Angeles communities affected by the fires. Ashleigh reminds listeners that sustainability does not require perfection. It begins with one manageable habit, honest questions, and a willingness to keep learning.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Recycle2Riches for practical resources that can help you become a more conscious consumer.

Social Media

Instagram: @recycle2riches
TikTok: @recycle2riches

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/