Photo Credit Bobby Pache
Brooklyn is about to feel a lot more like Miami—pastel walls, banana-leaf wallpaper, and maybe a slice of cheesecake in hand. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Emmy-winning TV classic The Golden Girls, sustainable fashion label Zero Waste Daniel (ZWD) has teamed up with Disney Entertainment Television for a one-of-a-kind tribute: a limited-edition capsule collection and immersive store takeover honoring Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia. The collection and experience launch July 31, with pieces available in-store and online at http://zerowastedaniel.com.
For founder and designer Daniel Silverstein, better known as Zero Waste Daniel, the project is personal. “The Golden Girls were a North Star to me growing up,” he shares. “They’re funny, fearless, wildly fashionable, and they showed up for each other in ways that felt groundbreaking. As a child, I felt the warmth of their love and friendship. As an adult, I see how they were trailblazers. This collection is a thank you for all the laughter, lessons, and late-night cheesecake.”
The Capsule Collection: Fashion With a Wink
The 25-piece gender-free collection is a wearable love letter to the series, layering nostalgia with ZWD’s signature artistry and upcycled craftsmanship. Highlights include:
• Handmade mosaic portrait garments of the Girls, stitched in Daniel’s signature textile portraiture style
• A “St. Olaf 40” varsity jacket, celebrating Rose’s endearing Midwestern roots
• Cheeky graphic tees and totes declaring “I’m a Blanche” and “I’m a Sophia” for fans ready to claim their Golden Girl identity
• Cheesecake-splashed sweatshirts, banana-leaf bomber jackets, and sun-drenched matching short sets inspired by the show’s Miami aesthetic
Every piece nods to the sitcom’s enduring humor and heart, inviting wearers to carry a piece of the Girls’ world into their own lives.
The Store Takeover: A Miami-Meets-Brooklyn Fantasy
From July 31 through August 17, ZWD’s flagship store at 257 Varet Street will become a pastel-saturated playground where fans can step directly into a reimagined Golden Girls universe. Expect:
• Banana-leaf wallpaper, retro lounge furniture, and vintage accents channeling the Miami bungalow vibe
• Photo-ready installations and vignettes inspired by iconic moments from the series
• A curated thrift section for fans to craft their own Golden Girls-inspired looks
• Immersive soundscapes and subtle scents, completing the multi-sensory experience
This isn’t just merch—it’s a full-hearted homage, bridging television history and sustainable fashion with wit, warmth, and a touch of Miami sun.
Thank You for Being a Fan
Since its 1985 premiere, The Golden Girls has remained a cultural touchstone, blending sharp humor with trailblazing storylines and the kind of chosen-family bond that feels just as radical today. Every main cast member won an Emmy; the series collected 11 in total, plus four Golden Globes, and it still finds new audiences on Hulu, where all seven seasons are streaming.
With this collaboration, Zero Waste Daniel captures the show’s rare alchemy—part comfort, part courage—and invites fans to wear it on their sleeves. Or their bombers. Or their cheesecake-printed sweatshirts.
Let’s start big: How did it feel to get the call to collaborate with Disney on the 40th anniversary of one of the most iconic TV shows of all time? Did you scream internally or externally?
Both. Loudly. I couldn’t think fast enough. Do I scream? Make a pun? This is one of those shows that’s baked into my DNA. Getting that call felt surreal. Like suddenly I was in the middle of a dream sequence… with cheesecake! To be invited in for such a major milestone was a huge moment for me and for our whole studio.
You’ve always woven emotion into fabric, but this collection seems extra sentimental. What did The Golden Girls mean to you growing up and how did those feelings shape the collection?
The Golden Girls were warmth, wit, bravery, glamour, friendship and the best kind of sarcasm. As a queer kid watching them rerun after rerun, they taught me what it meant to show up for people, and how to have hard conversations. They dealt with life’s challenges using heart and humor. That stuck with me. So we made something that shows up for them. The visuals are bold, the stories are clear, and the references are rich. We didn’t want to just nod to them, we wanted to celebrate the world they created.
You call this capsule a thank-you note. Which piece in the line feels most like that handwritten letter to the Girls, and why?
The mosaic portraits, without question. The faces are built from hundreds of tiny scraps I cut by hand. There’s no shortcut. It’s hours at the machine, building personality piece by piece. To me, that’s the heart of the collection. It’s how I translated admiration into something tactile.
You’re known for your “textile portraiture.” Can you walk us through how you approached creating the handmade mosaic face garments? How do you decide which version of Dorothy or Blanche to immortalize?
I study their expressions like I’m casting a play. The version that captures their essence most just emerges. For Dorothy, it had to be the disapproving glance, with her chin on her hand. For Blanche, it’s that smirk that she makes after she lands a one liner…or a man! Once I’ve found the image, I break it down into zones, like a heatmap, and start building. I use fabric like other artists use paint.
This isn’t just a drop. It’s a full store takeover. What was your moodboard for reimagining Miami in the middle of Brooklyn? Did you binge the series again just to find the right wallpaper pattern?
Let’s just say I rewatched enough to quote full scenes. The mood was very much nostalgia meets Bushwick 2025. Banana leaf prints, vintage accents, lots of pink, but with a Zero Waste Daniel filter. Every detail was designed to make you feel like you walked into the Girls’ world, through my lens.
Let’s talk character energy. Be honest. Are you a Blanche, a Dorothy, a Sophia, a Rose… or a secret hybrid situation?
I would say I’m a Dorothy, with a Blanche rising, and a Sophia moon! Hahah! think I have a little bit of each of them in me, but that’s a cop out. If I have to pick, I’m a Dorothy. Sarcastic, loyal, no-nonsense, and definitely Brooklyn to the core.
There’s a lot of talk in fashion about sustainability, but your work has long been about zero-waste as emotional practice, not just material one. How does that idea show up in this particular collab?
It shows up in the details. The faces in the mosaics were all built from our signature scrap collection. And then we took the leftover remnants from some of our big custom prints, like the banana leaf and the vintage couch florals, and turned them into oversized zipper pouches. Even the scraps from a Dorothy-inspired bowling set ended up in those. Wherever possible we use thrifted furniture and fixtures!
What’s the wildest deep-cut Easter egg fans should be hunting for in the collection? Something only a true devotee would notice?
Zero Waste Daniel doesn’t do subtle very well, but I tried with this one. The store definitely has some deep cut decor nestled in there too. A few references from specific episodes are used as decor in the shop. Those might slip past casual fans. Some of the prints, furniture pieces, and even fabric choices are pulled straight from on-screen moments.
You’re creating wearable pop culture, but also something more. Pieces meant to be passed down, thrifted, rediscovered. How do you design for memory as much as style?
I think about what makes something worth keeping. It has to say something. Not just “this is cute,” but “this means something to me.” These pieces are for people who want to wear a story, not just an outfit. So we lean into the specificity. The quotes, the faces, the textures. That’s what lasts. They’re not just statement pieces; they’re conversation starters.
The Girls taught us how to live with flair, age with attitude, and love with your whole damn chest. What do you hope people feel when they put on a piece from this collection?
I hope they feel like they’re carrying the spirit of the Girls with them. That sense of boldness, wit, warmth, and unwavering friendship. Whether it’s a sweatshirt or a bomber jacket, I want people to feel like they’re part of something that matters. Like they’re walking through the world with Sophia’s bite, Rose’s heart, Blanche’s fire, and Dorothy’s strength all stitched into what they’re wearing. That’s what this collection is meant to hold, a little piece of all four of them, passed on to whoever needs it next.
