Meet Becky Mustacchio | Founder & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Becky Mustacchio and we’ve shared our conversation below. Her story has really touched all of us at the Shoutout team.  Her love and her ability to translate that love into a vision and product that can help others is something we are deeply inspired by.

Hi Becky, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When my husband died in 2014 my whole world felt like it came crashing down on me. We had three young daughters that were also grieving and I was trying to help them as well as myself the best I could. We were doing counseling, traveling, hanging out with family and friends. One day I was wandering aimlessly around the clothing section of the store and I came across a shirt that simply read “Lost My Heart” and that was so fitting for how I felt. I bought it and then I searched everywhere for more clothes that would help me convey how I was feeling without having to actually talk to people about it. I came up empty handed. After having luck my daughter’s and I decided we would create our own clothing and accessories that would not just help us but also help others that were grieving and that is how Grief Wear was born. This process helped my kids and I in our own grief and taught them how to start a business as well.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Grief Wear we want to help anyone who has experienced a loss to be able to express themselves and honor their loved one. Each item is designed with a meaning behind it. Every purchase also gives back to the “Mustacchio Grief Foundation” that my daughter’s and I are starting to help our community when someone loses a loved one. The “Mustacchio Grief Foundation” will help with headstones, mini-vacations, sports fees, tutors and more! Your purchase from “Grief Wear” will keep on giving! We also brand all of our clothing with the label on the left sleeve (whenever possible) because the left is closest to the heart and at “Grief Wear” we want you to “Wear your heart on your sleeve”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh this is a tough one since there are so many great places in Colorado but my top 5 would have to be… 1. Breckenridge-There are so many fun things to do here such as going to see the troll, riding the gondola, sledding, walking around the shops and people watching!
2. Any Hot Springs but the closest one is Indian Hot Springs and it’s affordable and they have some fun shops up there as well!
3. Colorado Springs is a must see if you have never been-You can visit Santa’s Workshop in the mountains, Manitou Springs is fun with cute shops and an old town feel, hike Garden of the God’s and eat at some fun restaurants!
4. Estes Park is great for hiking, shopping and they have a really fun racing slide in town!
5. Anywhere in the mountains would be hard to go wrong, even if you just went for a drive and grabbed lunch you would enjoy the scenery and the food at any mom and pop shop or take a picnic and eat at a river along the way!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people to thank in our journey that the list would go on forever! The group that helped us so much in our early days of grief was a place called “Judi’s House” in Denver, CO. “Judi’s House” is for kids who have lost a loved one and their caregivers. They do support groups and individual counseling each week for families. I cannot say enough good things about them and how they helped my daughters and I navigate and survive that first year after losing my husband and their dad.

I also would like to thank my kids, my mom, my circle of friends and my family for their loving support throughout the years!

Website: www.GriefWear.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/griefwear

Facebook: www.facebook.com/griefwear