Our First Collaboration Makes Use of Daniel W. Fletcher's Leftover Fabric

Many of Daniel W. Fletcher's fans first discovered the English designer as the runner-up on Netflix's Next in Fashion. For the penultimate, denim-themed challenge, he collected his competitors' fabric scraps to create a patchwork dress inspired by one of the most conspicuous consequences of climate change, melting glaciers. But rather than making a statement and moving on, Fletcher has since then focused on incorporating leftover fabric into his collections. "It's something that I've always been conscious of, but the thing that has really taken up a lot of my time in the last few months is making sure that I'm not creating too much waste," he says, estimating that up to one-third of material is typically discarded.

In collaboration with Cero Magazine, Fletcher has now designed a series of oversized checkerboard tote bags, using the scraps from his Fall 2021 collection in nine vibrant color combinations. "All of the colors and fabrics have chosen themselves really because it was everything that we were making in the collection. All of the offcuts were stitched up together," he explains. "Literally there were people in the factory going around picking up all the bits. It's quite a laborious process, but for me, it's so important to do something."

Fully lined with an interior pocket, the bags are a sturdier, sustainable alternative to other totes and shoppers, reducing the need for single-use packaging and diverting material from the landfill while offering an eye-catching design. For Fletcher, these principles are not just aesthetic, but existential. "It's about making sure that we are doing the best that we can in every area of the business," he says. "If we can get these big brands to take note and do the same thing, then we'll still have a fashion industry in a hundred years I hope. If we don't do it now, then it's going to be too late."

The Daniel W. Fletcher x Cero Magazine checkerboard scraps tote bags are now available with two complimentary copies of our latest issue in our online store.