Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma DeStasio.
Hi Emma, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Has Been Collective started in New York, born out of two very different but deeply connected lives, mine as a professional ballerina, and my dad’s as a retired pro snowboarder. We come from disciplines where your worth often feels tied to youth, to pushing limits, to always being in your prime. One day, some called my dad a “has been.” What was meant as a dig ended up sticking with us, not as an insult, but as a reflection point.
We started talking about what it really means to be a “has been”, to have put in the work, taken the hits, gotten back up, and still shown up. That conversation snowballed into a brand.
The name flips the idea of a “has been” on its head. It’s not about being done, it’s about experience. It’s about the falls, the fails, the breakthroughs, and the stories that come with them. To be a Has Been means you put in the time, earned the scars, and kept going. And that’s something worth wearing.
Two years later, we’re finding our rhythm. What started as a late-night idea turned into screen prints in a small warehouse in Connecticut, local drops, and now real traction. We’re selling merchandise in climbing gyms, connecting with a community that gets it—athletes, creatives, and people who see themselves in the message.
We’ve kept things small on purpose, focused on quality, intention, and pieces that hold up. Every drop feels like a snapshot of where we’re at and what we’re learning. It’s still just me and my family, doing the work ourselves, building something real, one shirt, one story at a time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a brand means learning everything on the fly, finances, production timelines, inventory management, all while trying to stay creative and true to the message. There’s been a lot of trial and error, a lot of late nights, and spreadsheets that made no sense until they suddenly did.
On a personal level, this past year has been the most challenging of my life. I took my first-ever break from ballet after walking away from a toxic contract that left me mentally and physically drained. It forced me to sit with a lot, my identity as a dancer, my relationship with movement, and what it means to not be in your “prime.” That uncertainty bled into everything, but it also deepened my connection to the brand.
Has Been Collective became a space to channel those questions. To remember that your value doesn’t disappear when you’re not performing at your peak. That experience—earned honestly and sometimes painfully—is what makes you.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But every bump has shaped both me and the brand in ways I wouldn’t trade.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Has Been Collective, I wear a lot of hats—I’m the co-founder, creative director, and director of operations. I lead the creative side of the brand: everything from design concepts and product development to art direction, styling, and storytelling. I also handle the logistical side—managing inventory, fulfilling orders, and keeping the day-to-day running behind the scenes.
My background as a professional athlete definitely shapes how I approach the work. I think in terms of movement, emotion, and discipline, which influence both the aesthetic and the message behind what we make. I’m drawn to simplicity that still says something. I feel that really sets us apart as a brand, theres so much heart behind this mission. We all come from different walks of life, but the one thing we share is that struggle is inevitable. Life will knock you down—sometimes hard—but humans have a funny way of finding a way through. Of adapting. Of getting back up. That quiet resilience is what I try to reflect in every piece we make. Honoring the climb, as much as we celebrate the peak.
Every piece has a reason to exist. Every drop reflects where we are in the process—both as artists and as people. It’s deeply honest, and I am beyond proud of it.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I moved to Salt Lake in February, so I’m still getting my feet wet, but so far, I’m loving it. The slower pace, the access to the outdoors, the little pockets of community—it’s been a good change. I’ve been mostly chasing wide open space after hitting the classic NYC burnout. My partner’s been living here for a while, and what started as a long vacation kinda just turned into me staying.
What I love most is how easy it is to reconnect with your body out here, climbing, yoga, just walking around with a little more space. The landscape is unreal. I also really appreciate how supportive and tight-knit a lot of the creative and climbing communities are once you find them.
What I don’t love? I miss walking everywhere. Walkable cities have a special place in my heart. Maybe one day SLC will get there.
Pricing:
- Tees- $32
- Hats- $22-30
- Beanies- $19
- Hoodies- $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hasbeencollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hasbeencollective/
