Team:
Our Story:
It all started when I, Josu, was in college, around 2015. At that time, I was surviving on a scholarship, and buying clothes was a luxury I couldn't afford. So, in an attempt to look different, I started making tie-dyes. That's when the idea of making my own t-shirts was born, but I didn't have the time or energy to actually do it.
Until 2020 arrived with the pandemic: stuck indoors, bored, and with an existential crisis included. I rediscovered the idea of making t-shirts and, to make it more interesting, I also became obsessed with photography. I thought: "What if I start a brand and learn a bit of everything along the way?" At that time, I was already collaborating with Arroz con Mango, an organization that supports homeless people, and that's where I connected all the dots. That's how MALAVIDA was born: half chaos, half purpose.
In May 2021, I placed my first order for t-shirts without having any idea what I was doing (that hasn't changed much). I set up a website, sold to my friends, and on June 23rd, the first official sale came through. It was 11:00 pm and someone messaged me on Instagram. I cried with happiness, and since then, that's our birthday.
In April 2022, I saw the first MALAVIDA t-shirt on the street. I nearly had a heart attack, what a moment, seriously. Even today, I get just as excited every time I see someone wearing something of ours.
At that time, the brand was growing, and half of my closet was no longer enough to hold the inventory. So, in June, I decided to move out of my friends' place so the brand could have its own space.
By that point, I was sleeping little, working a lot, until Ney (a.k.a. the boss) arrived in March 2023 and my life got a breather. In May of that year, we surpassed 1,000 sales, another huge moment in my life. It sounds easy, but it's far from it.
And well, that's the beginning. The story of MALAVIDA continues to be written every day amidst chaos, good vibes, and dreams that are sometimes scary, but we pursue them anyway. If you want to see what we're up to, follow us on social media.
