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How Sports Partnerships Are Making Fashion’s Waste Problem Worse

Sportswear giants like Nike and Adidas churn out mountains of apparel and equipment for their sponsored teams each season, the bulk of which ends up in the trash. Now, start-ups and designers are trying to reduce waste by upcycling this unused merch.
upcycling, waste, football, sport, sustainability, Miami, Inter Miami, David Beckham
Reboot founder Gabriella Mas convinced Inter Miami CF, the Major League Soccer team part-owned by David Beckham, to be the first partner of her ambitious upcycling and waste elimination venture. (Reboot)

In a single season, Major League Soccer — North America’s top football competition — goes through 13,000 pairs of cleats and 5,000 balls. These products, along with thousands more jerseys, shorts and socks worn by players throughout a 34-game schedule, will largely end up in the bin after eight months in use.

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Daniel-Yaw Miller

Daniel-Yaw Miller is a contributing writer at The Business of Fashion. Miller is a New York based journalist, editor and advisor who specialises in sports, fashion and business.

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