The doors to our favourite retailers are firmly closed due to lockdown and even if they open, do we really need a new weekend party outfit anytime soon? The current situation has made us as consumers re-assess fast fashion, highlighting just how unsustainable the industry really is. 

A number of orders placed by huge global brands have been cancelled, totalling over $2 billion USD – these products have already been produced. This has left millions of garment workers in countries, such as Bangladesh, vulnerable, unpaid and out of work. “If Coronavirus doesn’t kill my workers, then starvation will,” said one Bangladeshi factory owner. 

Edinburgh start-up Mallzee (known as ‘the Tinder for fashion’), heard about the situation in Bangladesh with retailers rejecting orders and wanted to help. They came up with the idea of Lost Stock – the new mystery box delivery, full of items from your favourite stores.

A simple concept, Lost Stock is set to salvage wasted clothes and support starving and at–risk factory workers. Creating mystery boxes of clothing from a range of popular retailers such as Topshop and Gap, customers can get high-street hits for half the usual retail cost. Shipped directly to your door from manufacturers in Bangladesh, each box is £35. 

The company guarantees you’ll receive at least three items – mainly tops, to avoid any problems with the fit. Before purchasing, shoppers fill in a questionnaire to help pair you with products, answering questions around size, gender and preferences. It even goes into more specific detail on your favourite colours and prints. 

The items would have originally been destined for high street stores; however, the branded labels will have been removed when companies cancelled their orders. Every box ordered will support a worker in Bangladesh – and their family – for a whole week. 

To back the scheme and help to support struggling factory workers, you can gain further information and purchase a box here.