The fashion industry has a massive waste problem and is considered by UN to be one of the largest polluters globally.

The number of garments purchased each year by the average consumer increased by 60% compared to 2000 and, according to The New York Times,
nearly three-fifths of all clothing ends up in incinerators or landfills
within a year of being produced.

Additional studies claim that today the average person wears a garment only seven times before disposing it (Wall Street Journal), for an average lifetime of only 3 years (UN).


OUR SUSTAINABILITY.

Must Had was born from the belief that a truly more sustainable fashion industry depends on reusing the waste we generate, focusing on RESCUE, REPURPOSE and REVALUE.

The linear model of extracting, producing, consuming and discarding makes less and less sense in accordance with the predictions of resources scarcity
that future generations will have to deal with in a not so distant future.

For this reason, our digital ecosystem promotes a circular business model that values the know-how of brands, artisans or designers who, through a variety of upcycling processes, give a new life to pre-owned clothing,
leftover fabrics, unsold inventory or other wasted materials.

UPCYCLING.

In the fashion industry, upcycling is the act of repurposing
textile waste into new products
of higher quality or value than the original.

By upcycling, we revalue what would have normally been considered a waste.
Doing so, we avoid the production of new materials and their associated environmental impacts
such as the greenhouse gas emissions, the enormous consumption of water and energy,
and the discharge of chemical substances in the environment.
Last but not least, this regenerative approach also reduces the dumping of waste into landfills and incinerators.

The benefits of upcycling go way beyond the environmental sustainability.
In fact, this technique contributes in supporting small artisans, brands and designers, by encouraging creativity, craftsmanship and innovation.

“Extending the life of clothes by just nine extra months of active use would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by around 20-30% each.”
Source: Wrap

TRANSPARENCY.

TRANSPARENCY.

Transparency is one of our main pillars.

To build trust and loyalty with our customers, for every product on our store we share pictures and information of the rescued waste, the regeneration process and the refashion brand.
All clothing and accessories on Must Had generally have a percentage of rescued materials that ranges between 70% and 100%.

Such percentage is often very complex to calculate accurately, so we work with our brands based on estimations and target to always fluctuate within that range for all products.

PRE-ORDER.

PRE-ORDER.

Many pieces on Must Had platform follow a method of manufacturing named “Pre-order”, which means they will be crafted only once an order has been placed.
This is the most sustainable way of buying fashion because the goods are only produced when they are required, rather than in large batches.
This method prevents overproduction, reduces the amount of waste and guarantees high quality items.

Readapting the fashion system in relation to today’s needs takes time.

For this reason, we are working hard to accelerate the process while looking positively at the future.