chasing optimism in the face of challenges

“It’s powerful, but it’s kind of just slapping a band aid on the problem.” “A marketplace to sell waste is great,” said Benedetto. At its core, Queen of Raw uses technology to drive sustainability at scale, repurposing textile waste so it can be turned into something beautiful.īut Queen of Raw seeks to go beyond creating a marketplace for deadstock fabric. Using supply chain software, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Queen of Raw alters the linear economic model typical of the fashion industry and transforms it into a circular economic model, protecting the environment while driving value financially.

She sought to turn pollution into profit through the creation of a global marketplace that allowed users to list, sell, and buy deadstock fabric. This led to Queen of Raw, which offers new life to sustainable materials, including organic cotton, peace silk, faux leather and fur, and quality luxury deadstock fabrics. Stephanie Benedetto, CEO and founder of Queen of Raw, is a visionary entrepreneur, creating opportunity out of the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing the fashion industry. Today, $120 billion worth of excess fabric sits in warehouses and 87% of fiber input used for clothing ends up burned or in landfills.īenedetto wanted to eliminate the excess water, waste, and emissions that had become an inherent part of the value chain for clothing production. Benedetto returned to her roots and sparked disruption with the goal of building a business to change the world, scaling her grandfather’s efforts for even greater impact. One hundred years later, this profitable clothing business with humble beginnings would inspire the Austrian immigrant’s great granddaughter, Benedetto, to leave her job as a corporate attorney and become a fashion tech and sustainability entrepreneur. He repurposed old fabrics and furs brought over by other immigrants and transformed them into beautiful fashion garments. As an immigrant chasing the “American dream” in the Lower East Side of New York, he started a business, one that generated profit while doing good for the planet. In 1896, an Austrian man arrived on a boat on Ellis Island. Listen to our conversation and read more about her story below. I had the privilege to sit down and speak with one such entrepreneur, Stephanie Benedetto, to learn more about how she is changing the textile industry and the world while encouraging others to have courage in their convictions and act on their beliefs.

Will the industry seize the opportunity to change its course and positively impact the planet? Despite the huge task at hand, creative and innovative entrepreneurs provide hope for a more sustainable future for fashion. The fashion industry is one of the most significant contributors to the climate crisis today. Between excess water, dangerous chemicals, carbon emissions, and huge amounts of waste, the fashion industry faces a critical juncture. As climate disasters continue to devastate communities around the world, businesses, governments, and citizens increasingly seek to understand the major contributors to climate change to reverse any reparable effects and ensure a more sustainable future for all.

Chasing optimism in the face of challenges