MINC Couture with a conscience

It’s not too often we Bangaloreans get a chance to make a fashion statement while saving the environment. MINC, the city’s freshest step in that direction, is a brand that is out to find the fine balance between being environmentally responsible and casually chic – all in one go. The feather in MINC’s environment-conscious cap is the usage of organic cotton for part of their collection.

Slowly gaining popularity with health and environment conscious consumers, organic cotton has over the last few years become a very ‘in’ fabric for apparel and furnishings. It is grown without pesticides and is free of any genetic modification. Apart from organic cotton, only natural fabrics like ‘regular’ cotton, linen, silk and wool that is handspun and handwoven find a hangar at this petite store. Their ‘green’ route includes the usage of vegetable and azo-free dyes.

As for the clothes themselves, the label manages a far-from-Carrie-Bradshaw, understated elegance. The colours are delicate and soothing — pretty pinks and blues, pastel mauves, lots of crisp whites and of course, quintessential black are part of the palette. The collection is a mix of shirts, tunics, skirts, dresses, trousers, jackets and waistcoats.

Their short skirts are particularly adorable (if your heading there soon, check out the pink and beige checked skirt with a sash). Their semi-formal wear — lots of blacks and whites if you like to keep things serious — is a great option if you like clean and contemporary designs. The Indian woman’s new national outfit — the kurti — finds its way here too, though we preferred to focus on the asymmetric tie-tops with embroidery, the very smart cord jackets and the pin-tucked formal shirts.

For the young ladies, the design ideology follows through. The stack a range of clothes with particular emphasis on te “tween-segment” (10-14 year olds) that is pretty and sweet, while carrying through with the whole trendy and classy direction.

Of course there is a price to attached to being environmentally conscious and eco-friendly. For instance, a tunic dress at MINC made of organic cotton, costs Rs 1320 white its ‘regular’ cotton clone is priced at about Rs 900. At first glance, it might seem like a big difference, but it only takes a second to realise it’s a pretty small price to pay for saving the environment. Wouldn’t you say!

Price range from Rs 600-1800
Open on all days from 10.30 am – 9 pm (9.30 pm on weekends)
Store No. 216, 2nd Floor, Sigma Mall, Cunningham Roads
Call: 41659461