FIT grad and NBC Fashion Star alum Daniel Silverstein decided early on that he would do something about all the waste in the fashion industry. “Knowing what I knew about the waste issue, I could not be a conventional designer without making an effort to clean up the act of the industry,” he says.

Sustainable fashion is the name of the game at Zero Waste Daniel, a Williamsburg storefront that carries gender-neutral apparel and accessories—all made from scraps.  

“The most exciting thing about being in Williamsburg is how welcoming the neighborhood is to my business. The clientele is local, but people from around the world who are fans of the mission and business are always coming through to stop by, share their stories with me and even pick up a piece or two.” —Daniel Silverstein

Garnering its tea-making cred by starting with a yearlong pop-up in London, Bellocq Tea Atelier has now thoroughly steeped in Northern Brooklyn—drawing a crowd very interested in signature blends. Founded and run by Michael Shannon and Heidi Johannsen Stewart, Bellocq has gained a devoted following.

The company sources tea leaves from all over the world (sometimes working with single estate tea gardens) and blends them on site using the whole leaf. 

“Tea is inspired by specific moments that we want the customer to own and put their memory on.” —Heidi Johannsen Stewart 

What started as a hobby 10 years ago for Maximum Henry Cohen—who later added friends Giovanni Urgelles and Jesse Morsberger to the mix—has become a full-fledged lifestyle brand. Maximum Henry operates out of a Greenpoint studio where the three also live. Studio appointments are available, but the company makes most sales online.

“People in Greenpoint want something that doesn’t fit a store-bought model. There are a lot of young professionals working out of this neighborhood.” —Max    

Maximum Henry’s most popular products, accounting for 90 percent of its sales, are belts made with Belgian vegetable-tanned leather.   

Owner Kate O’Riley has been running her Greenpoint shop since June 2013. She carries a mix of labels as well as her own line of handmade clothing, which has landed her fans as far afield as Japan.

“People think New York is such a big city, but there’s a small-town vibe here in Greenpoint. There’s a real sense of community.” —Kate O’Riley 

Handmade business card holders and wristlets. 

The vegan beauty line started six years ago out of founder Anit Hora’s Bushwick apartment. After studying Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, the holistic aesthetician and herbalist started making herbal tinctures and treatments on her own.

The facial steam, followed by the mask and serum, is among the simplest and purest of skin-care routines. These products are also the brand’s best sellers.

“It’s great to be in this community [Greenpoint] where you’re surrounded by artists and creative types.” —Anit Hora 

Woodworker Phil Gautreau left his health-administration job in 2012 to take on his decades-long hobby full-time. At Makeville Studio, each builder works independently. There are also public classes for those who dream of workshopping their own projects. 

Serving boards are among the most popular products at Makeville. Most of them are made from reclaimed wood—some of which comes from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Other products are made from discarded wood from the shop and Big Reuse in Gowanus. 

“I love the vibrancy and diversity of New York City, on the sidewalk, in the subway, in our shops. Working in Gowanus, it’s still rough around the edges and a little gritty, and I hope it stays that way.” —Phil Gautreau

This bean-to-bar chocolate maker operates out of Red Hook, where its proprietors carry out the chocolate-making process in house. The cacao beans are sorted, opened, cracked, ground and refined, mixed and then hand poured and topped on-site. Raaka offers tours and chocolate-making classes on weekends.

Every recipe is different here, with each one working to honor the flavor profiles of the various single-origin beans Raaka uses.

“Red Hook very much feels like a small town in a big city. I like that it’s cut off; it’s worked out for small businesses. Plus, everyone is really nice here.” —William Mullan, general manager