Natalie Procter, founder and designer of New Zealand fashion label Mina, has created a collection that captures the essence of a dreamy escape.
The brand’s new spring and summer offering is full of vibrant shades of blue and green and sunshine yellow, fine stripes and florals, each in easy, relaxed shapes that have us wishing for holidays to arrive sooner.
Procter says the fabrics she chose for the season really drove the mood of the collection but her own recent trip to the Greek Islands and Turkey also played a part.
“My mood board of fabric evoked a distinctively European summer ambience,” says the designer, who first launched her label in December 2017.
“This set the tone for the creative journey. I think while I was fabric hunting, I was channeling a little Greek Island reprieve I had been patiently waiting for.”
Calling the collection her favourite to date, she says it also reflects the evolution of her own lifestyle. Leaving the city behind, she moved from Auckland to Mount Maunganui a year ago.
“The collection feels like long days in the sun, and late-night outdoor dining in a layer of salt and sunscreen,” she explains.
She says the high-waisted, straight leg, cotton ‘Mali’ pants in a nautical stripe are the piece that sums up the collection for her. She first sampled the pants almost a year ago, but they became indispensable in her own holiday wardrobe while travelling.
“They felt like summer, but also like a pair of pants I’d picked up at an op shop,” she says. “Maybe because they’re so comfortable, they have that lived-in feel and they have a real 70’s look.”
The playful and bright colour in the range further illustrates the label’s evolution, with Procter pointing out a neon-bright leaf print dropping in the label’s November resort capsule range, is out-there compared to her earlier work.
“It’s hands down the boldest print we’ve ever done,” she admits.
“The 20-year-old Wellington fashion student in me, who strictly only wore black and beige, shudders at the amount of colour. But I’ve never had so much fun wearing the resort ensemble through Europe earlier this year. The shirt with a bikini underneath and a pair of shorts or some fresh white linen pants will be perfect for this summer in NZ.”
One of the key pillars of Mina is a commitment to sustainability. As part of that drive, Procter aims to use deadstock fabrics where possible.
The term deadstock refers to the practice of buying up fabric that is ‘leftover’ from another brand’s run. As Mina’s website explains: ‘Somewhere in the world an international fashion house produced a fabric in bulk and the leftover one hundred or so metres becomes ‘deadstock’. The brand creates small runs of garments, which means it is able to use fabric that has already been produced.
Procter says she uses fabric from local wholesalers, and a number of garments in this summer’s range are created from deadstock. Which means if you love something, you’ll need to snap it up!
“Aside from the fact that deadstock fabrics are a more sustainable way of sourcing fabrics, there’s something to say about ‘limited’ pieces, especially in a time where there’s mass consumerism everywhere you look,” she points out.
Using natural fabrics is also a priority.
“Not only are natural fabrics better for the ‘after life’ cycle of garments but also the way they wear and feel on the body,” says the designer, that runs a Grey Lynn studio and store and also wholesales her line through selected retailers.
“Natural fabrics are super breathable on the body as opposed to a synthetic fabric like a polyester, which does the opposite. It’s like wearing plastic essentially.”
Procter says she’s looking forward to the imminent warmer weather to make the most of the crisp and light designs in the range.
“The Beach Shirt in sunshine yellow I’ll be throwing over my togs or wearing with my summer slips. The tie-waist Tilly Dress in cornflower blue is such a flattering style and a real Mina original style. It’s my go-to dress in the middle of summer for anything from work, to a BBQ or a summer wedding.”
