Inside Our Zero-Waste Collaboration with SXD
When we think about sustainability in fashion, the conversation often starts after something has already been made: recycled fabrics, secondhand shopping, or donating clothes at the end of their life.
Shelly Xu wants us to think much earlier.
A graduate of Harvard Business School’s MBA Class of 2021, Xu founded SXD while at HBS, transforming her vision for a more sustainable fashion industry into a company built around a deceptively simple question: What if products were designed so they created virtually no waste in the first place?
The result is a new approach to fashion, where waste is addressed at the design stage. Instead of treating fabric scraps as an inevitable byproduct, Xu and her global team of designers create patterns that use nearly every inch of material, transforming efficiency into an aesthetic of its own. SXD's patented technology can then scales these zero-waste designs across sizes and fabrics with the click of a buttonThrough SXD’s zero-waste design process, each piece uses approximately 30% less material while creating zero fabric waste.
The foundation for SXD was built at the Harvard i-Lab, where Xu discovered a community that supported her vision for a more sustainable, human-focused company during her first semester at HBS. There, she connected with Adrian Gill, Harvard i-Lab Brand Experience & Creative Director, and gained access to the mentorship and resources that helped transform her idea into a company. Reflecting on that experience in HBS’ Climate Stories Episode #9 – “Shelly Xu (MBA 2021) Reducing Waste Through Beautiful Design,” Xu shared, “The i-Lab provided the foundation for my startup.”
That early connection has since come full circle through The COOP, where Adrian now serves as Chief Marketing & Brand Officer and played a pivotal role in bringing this collaboration to fruition.
Together with SXD, we created a limited collection that brings Xu’s zero-waste philosophy into everyday objects. The collection includes zero-waste Vertical Totes, Geometric T-shirts, and Curved Aprons, each designed to minimize waste while maximizing function, versatility, and visual impact.
Recognized for its innovative approach to reducing textile waste, SXD was named a winner of the MIT Solve Global Climate Challenge in 2024. Through SXD’s zero-waste design process, every 1,500 totes produced saves the equivalent of 116 trees.
More than a collection, it is an example of how thoughtful design can reshape the way we create and value the products we use every day.
The SXD x The COOP collection is available now at the Harvard COOP, MIT COOP, and online.
Sometimes sustainability starts with buying less. Sometimes it starts with buying better. And sometimes, it starts with asking a different question altogether.