Every time I watch The Devil wears Prada, I feel a wee bit envious of Andrea Sachs. She seems to have the perfect life- she has a job “a million girls would kill for”, is surrounded by all things fashion, day in and day out. And the best part, she has a Nigel in her life who gives her a complete wardrobe makeover, and that too for free!
However, not all of us are lucky enough to be her. And we are definitely not all Kim Kardashian that we can shop without a care in the world. For most of us, budget shopping is the way to go. But that does not always mean buying from the streets. There are a host of international fashion brands that target young people like us, who want to keep it stylish without spending a bomb on their clothes and accessories. While some of them already have their stores in India, others are yet to open. And we can’t wait to have them here!
Read on to find out about 10 such everyday-wear brands that Indians are eagerly waiting for.
Bershka
Bershka is a Spanish clothing brand founded in 1998. It is owned by the Inditex group, which also owns brands like Zara, Pull and Bear and Oysho. The brand primarily aims at adventurous young people, who are up-to-date with the latest trends, both fashion and otherwise. Hence, their clothes are super-stylish and affordable.
The brand consists of a wide spectrum of clothes, ranging from casual wear to sports and from basic garments to more fashionable ones. The women’s wear section has two product lines: Bershka and BSK. While the former has a wide range of denims, evening wear, casual wear and latest fashion-wear, the latter is essentially for the younger people. Their collection is based on the latest trends in music, rock stars, etc. The men’s section offers denims, casual, sports and fashion wear. Bershka offers a wide range of footwear and accessories as well.
The brand is well known for their state-of-the-art architecture, contemporary furniture design, modern graphics, in-store lighting and music that make it a “concept” store. This makes your shopping experience memorable.
Uniqlo
Uniqlo is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer, established in 1984. The name Uniqlo was born as a contraction of “unique clothing”. True to its name, the brand makes clothes that are suitable for all categories and social groups, transcending age, gender, occupation, ethnicity and other such barriers. Being simple and essential yet universal, the wearer can easily blend the clothes with his own style. This unique concept is the brand’s USP.
Uniqlo caters to men, women and kids and babies, with a combination of both elaborate and simple garments. From dresses, to tops, bottoms, active wear and accessories, you’ll find everything under one roof, that too at very reasonable prices! Uniqlo has revolutionised thermal wear by introducing a fabric which absorbs the moisture from your body and converts it into heat to keep the wearer warm. This is known as HEATTECH.
C&A
C&A is a Dutch chain of fashion retail clothing stores, founded in 1841 by brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer. It’s a one-stop solution for all your fashion needs for the entire family at an affordable price. Its sub-brands include Baby Club [infant wear], Palomino [kids wear], Here+There [teenage wear], Clockhouse, Rodeo [sportswear], Canda [casual wear for men and women], Yessica [women’s wear], Your Sixth Sense [tailored and formal wear for women], Angelo Litrico[casual wear for men] and Westbury[formal wear for men]. The brand is well-known for nailing the look of the time. They literally scout the streets to identify the latest trends in fashion, and then design their clothes based on that.
Celebrities such as Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian have partnered with the brand to launch their own clothing lines.
Folk
Folk is a London-based label founded in 2001 by Cathal McAteer. The USP of their clothes is well-tailored, simple yet off-beat designs. Although it may sound contradictory, but the fashion brand purposely steers clear of following the on-going fashion trends. They’ve never had a theme for their collections either. That’s what sets them apart from their competitor brands, and the same applies to the wearer also. Folk offers affordable clothing and accessories for both men and women, without comprising on the quality.
Toast
Toast is a British fashion and lifestyle brand. It started off as a mail-order pyjama company, but over the years, the founders Jessica and Jamie Seaton have developed it into a flourishing apparel and home ware company which is partly owned by the French Connection group. Their clothes, such as the long tees, slouchy flared trousers, maxi dresses, fitted dresses with flared, full and swingy skirts, are synonymous with a relaxed and creative way of life. The wearer can wear them and laze around their homes, looking sheek. The fabrics majorly used by Toast are organic cotton, linen, cotton poplin, smooth, light linen and cool cotton jersey.
The women’s wear category includes beachwear, casual wear, nightwear, shoes and accessories. The menswear section was introduced in 2010, while the House & Home collection was added in 2007.
Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe is a US based clothing retail chain store. It’s a women’s wear brand which targets teenagers and women in their twenties. The brand, which gets its name from the French dessert of the same name, focuses on affordable clothes and accessories for their target market. A typical “Charlotte Girl”, as the brand calls it, is passionate about fashion and wants to look fabulous in all walks of life. She is adventurous, smart, independent yet a little shy. She’s an inspiration for the others. The brand strongly believes that there is a Charlotte in every girl.
The product range includes dresses, tops, skirts, leggings, intimate wear, active wear and accessories. Charlotte Russe also caters to plus size women.
Bec & Bridge
Bec and Bridge is an Australian fashion label which caters to modern girls. Since its inception in 2003, the founders of the brand, Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston have struck a wonderful balance between aspirational and achievable fashion through their designs. The clothes are meticulously detailed, and at the same time, commercially viable. The sleek silhouettes are contemporary, bold and confident, and are available in a fresh and vibrant colour palette. Bec & Bridge’s claim-to-fame is revamping old jeans into something new and fresh, which they started doing in the initial years of the brand. They dyed and hand-printed the jeans. It gained immense popularity and has now become sort of an identity of the brand.
Aritzia
Aritzia is a Canadian women’s fashion boutique that was established in 1984. It targets women in the age group of 14-30. Aritzia has a host of its own exclusive brands, which are sold in their stores. These include TNA, Talula, Babaton, Wilfred, Wilfred Free, Community, Le Fou, La Notte, Sunday Best, Paradise Mine, The Castings, SIXELEVEN and Auxiliary. Other popular brands such Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nike, Levi’s are also available at their stores.
Aritzia clothing line includes t-shirts, sweaters, dresses, leggings, jeans, intimate wear and accessories such as bags, mobile phone covers, shoes, etc.
Olivia+Joy
Olivia+Joy is an American handbag brand. Founded by designer Blanca Lesser, the brand offers classic yet edgy handbags in a variety of designs and colours. Lesser was always fascinated with removing or adding embellishments to the bags. And that’s how the brand was conceptualised. The most striking feature about their bags is that despite being designer, they aren’t marked with logos or monograms. Olivia+Joy bags have impeccable quality and feature unique twists on traditional silhouettes. They’re not meant for just one season either. Blanca Lesser designs bags which will last you for years to come. The designer takes inspiration from both the runway and what celebrities carry on their arms, and takes into account her customer’s feedback on what they look for in a handbag. She also adds a touch of vintage style to her designs. Priced at under $100, Olivia+Joy bags are indeed a real steal!
Finder Keepers
Finders Keepers is an Australian fashion label, founded in 2007 by Melanie Flintoft. The brand has a strict ethos of offering quality high-street designs at affordable prices. It caters to women in the age group of 18-30. The designs are unique yet a playful take on fashion. There are eleven collections that Finders Keepers produce annually, and each of them has garments which range from casual daywear to sophisticated evening wear.
The label has caught the attention of retailers and celebrities alike. It is stocked by some of the most prestigious retailers worldwide such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Top Shop, Nordstrom, and ASOS. Celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian and Demi Lovato have been spotted wearing the label.
Here’s hoping that these brands listen to our pleas and open their stores in India soon!