The question “What kind of world do I want for my daughter?” was the beginning of Mauro Wilson Estevão’s entrepreneurial adventure. The entrepreneur has now built up his own clothing brand Mausons, which not only wants to produce sustainably, but also wants to act sustainably. The market launch was therefore preceded by several years of research. Wilson Estevão spoke to FashionUnited about the latest innovations and shares his passion for entrepreneurship, sustainability and fashion.
The name Mauro may be a household name in the Netherlands, having become the focus of the country’s asylum debate in 2011. As a nine-year-old boy, Mauro Wilson Estevão was put on a plane to Europe by his Angolan parents. Via Portugal he finally reached the Netherlands, where he was taken in by a Limburg family. He built a life there for eight years. However, the Dutch state decides that he is not eligible for a residence permit and must return to Angola. Mauro challenges the decision. The story was picked up nationwide and sparked a discussion about asylum policy. In 2013, the asylum policy was changed and Mauro Wilson Estevão received a residence permit retrospectively. The entrepreneur, now 30, says he has transformed his painful past into endless strength and determination to make a positive impact on the world.
The path of the fashion brand Mausons actually began more than five years ago. At that time, the entrepreneur had put his life to the test because of the birth of his daughter, among other things. He wanted to leave a good world behind and has always had a passion for fashion and clothing. “I just couldn’t give it all a place,” he explained in a video call. “I love clothes and I know the consumer side, but I just didn’t know anything about the production.” However, the more he got involved with making clothes, the more certain he became that something had to change. “There were few alternatives to traditional products and materials that I could support,” he says. So he decided to create his own brand where it is transparent where the product comes from, how it was made and who made it. Also, every aspect of the business was examined to see how it could potentially become more sustainable.
The result is a men’s underwear brand made in Portugal with Lenzing fabrics made from beech wood fibers. “I wanted to take it easy on myself – I had no fashion experience – and stick to the essentials, both literally and figuratively. The basis is underwear. It’s the first thing you put on the day after getting up and showering. Underwear has always had the basic function of protecting its wearer. That is why I think it is particularly important that this basic product protects us and does not harm us.” The entrepreneur does not only mean this in relation to the impact of the product on the earth, but also on the wearers. In fact, the material he uses absorbs sweat into the fabric, which keeps the skin from drying out and reduces the risk of bacteria.
In addition to the product side, Wilson Estevão also looks at other sustainable aspects of the company. The products are transported as far as possible by bicycle couriers in the Netherlands and the packaging is compostable. Initially only the bags and the paper wrapping around the product were compostable, but recently Wilson Estevão made sure the cartons are compostable too. Also, in Portugal, the products are packed in one big bag instead of individually to save on materials. Wilson Estevão strives to make a positive impact throughout his organization.
The story continues below the picture.
The underwear brand Mausons wants to set an example and show how things can be done differently
The underwear is produced in small quantities. “I don’t want excess, so gone is gone,” he says. Wilson Estevão will soon be adding new models and colors to the collection, as well as socks, shirts and even women’s items. “I want to build on that base and eventually have two collections: a summer collection and a winter collection,” he says.
The entrepreneur also strives to collaborate with like-minded people who have a similar vision of sustainability. He recently started working with Project Cece and Sustainable Fashion Giftcard. In addition, initial talks are already underway with retailers interested in selling the underwear in their stores.
Regarding the future for Mausons, Wilson Estevão has several dreams. “My personal dream is that Mausons becomes a brand that people recognize. That they see the story of my company and be inspired by it. That they see: He has come a long way. The difficulties he had affect everyone, but in the end he made something beautiful out of it.”
On a business level, he wants to make Mausons a well-known player in the Netherlands, acting as a role model in the field of sustainability. As soon as the brand is established in the Netherlands, the entrepreneur also wants to consider the neighboring countries and Scandinavia for a roll-out. Last but not least, Mausons items must become affordable for everyone so that everyone has access to more sustainable offers.
This translated article originally appeared on FashionUnited.nl.