Haveli is a brand that captures the spiritual essence of fashion; finding connection with divine feminine energy while honouring true craftsmanship and the uniqueness that comes with clothing that is not mass produced or replicated. Approaching sustainability as an integral basis of the brand, Haveli refreshingly stays true to the meaning of eco-friendly ‘You can bury our pieces and they will return to the Earth’ , not using it as a byproduct or tag line but truly finding the root of what it means to be sustainable, from fabric sourcing, local craftsmanship and even metaphorically through finding and developing on true inspiration for the collections.

We spoke to founder and creative director Mina Robertson about the journey of Haveli.

How did you start the brand? What was the inspiration behind the brand?

Haveli was inspired by my first trip to India where I experienced Shakti (divine feminine energy). During the trip I met the artisans who are now part of our team and saw the reverence they had for their craft- how it was ingrained in their heritage and the harmony between their creativity and the environment. Prior to that trip, I had been disenchanted by the fashion industry and the negative impact it was making on the environment and our communities. What I saw changed my perception and reminded me of what it’s really all about. I had a moment of clarity when all I could hear was “Goddesses wear Haveli”. I knew then that I wanted to create clothing that fostered connection to the divinity within and honoured the craftsmanship I had been exposed to. We could embody the ideals I wanted to see in a brand.

How did the name ‘Haveli’ come about?

Haveli means home. Havelis are the heritage homes of merchants on the old Silk Road where caravans would pass through with silk, perfume and craft from east to west. On my first trip to India, I stayed in a few restored havelis whose open courtyards and walls covered in frescoes were a source of inspiration. Besides just loving the sound of the word itself- I found the history of havelis enchanting and imagined the brand being a similar source of exchange for global luxuries and craftsmanship.

Do you take any inspiration from other designers or fashion houses when creating? Are there any brands you love or aspire to be like?

I find myself more often inspired by old portraits I find of women in India, China and all over Africa from the 19th and early 20thcentury- particularly those of the maharanis of Rajasthan and regal women of the Asante kingdom. The silhouettes, necklines, the draping. There’s a mysterious, powerful, chic-ness to these women. I also love Dries van Noten and 1930s Madeline Vionnet. I admire the ethos, authenticity and practices of Johanna Ortiz. The brand’s commitment to manufacturing sustainably in the founder’s home country of Columbia and exemplifying her culture so palpably through each collection on the global stage is really inspiring.

A tag line on your website is ‘Designed in Jamaica. Crafted in India’. How do you see the two cultures blending in your designs, if you do, and is this an intentional design choice?

To me, being Jamaican is to simultaneously celebrate our own distinct culture while embracing all the cultures that blended to create it. There’s so much dynamism to the Jamaican experience - which includes Indian cultural influences among many others. The design aesthetic of Haveli is definitely a mixture of contemporary Jamaican creativity (not just my designs but collaborations with Jamaican artists such as Joshua Solas who created our Sorrel Print) and traditional Indian silhouettes and textiles.

In today’s climate of eco-consciousness, how do you strive to include sustainability in your brand?

Sustainability is the foundation - it’s not an accessory business decision but an integral element of everything we do. We focus on both the human and environmental sides of sustainable production. On the human side, it’s about us investing in the sources of our inspiration. Honouring the heritage of the hand-made and doing our part to preserve generations- old techniques. Partnering with family- owned workshops that align with our values, who compensate creators fairly and produce in safe, clean environments. On the environmental side: we exclusively use biodegradable, natural textiles and natural and non- toxic dyes and colour fasteners. You can bury our pieces and they will return to the Earth. I feel comfortable dipping my hands in the dyes we use and knowing that the run-off from our production isn’t polluting the water sources of neighbouring communities.

The collection is really chic and elegant but with a modern twist. Was this intentional and do you design with a specific type of woman in mind?

Thank you. The overriding design mission is ‘easy elegance’- which is our aesthetic in 2 words. I start by thinking how I want her to feel. The comfort and freedom of movement of a piece which leads to confidence which is inherently sensual and sexy. Each piece is an answer to the questions: “how does she want to feel?”, “where is she going?”, “will this make her look effortlessly put together and intriguing?”.

What does Femininity mean to you?

Power.

What are your earliest memories of fashion and clothing? I often think our experiences of ‘dressing up’ when we were younger, whatever that meant to you individually, impacts how we dress and present ourselves as adults. Did you always have a good relationship with the clothing you wore growing up?

My earliest memories of fashion were watching my mother cut looks out of magazines, following her to the fabric store and taking it all to the dressmaker. I loved watching the process- the individuality and attention to detail. I still see her wearing some of the same pieces today (20 years later). That made an impact- the value placed on investing in well-made, timeless clothes.

My mother also always made sure my sister and I were really well put together- to paint you a picture, our ponytails were so snatched they gave us face lifts. Without her explicitly saying it, she was teaching us that how you do anything is how you do everything. It wasn’t just about dressing up - while we had fun expressing ourselves too - it was an exercise in caring for ourselves which I have definitely carried into adulthood.

It wasn’t until I started studying the fashion industry and learned about the impact it made on the earth and its communities that I developed a strained relationship with the clothes I wore. I began caring more about where, how and what my clothes were made with in early adulthood.

Do you feel social media plays an important role in the development of your brand?

Absolutely. It wasn’t long ago that fashion was only disseminated by a few publications and prestigious retailers with long payment windows and large order quantity requirements making it nearly impossible for small, indie brands to be known. I’m a Jamaican independent designer growing organically by selling to customers directly around the world. I owe a lot of that to social media.

I’m also motivated by how engaged our community is. In all the noise and distraction - we have to cut through with our “why”- what we’re about that makes us special. I also love how freely and honestly my brand and our pieces can be scrutinized. You have to deliver on your promises and be authentic. The direct exchanges push me to communicate even more transparently and consistently tell our story.

If you could have anyone wear a piece from the collection, who would it be and why?

I honestly can’t think of an individual- any time I see the confidence and elegance of a woman wearing Haveli I feel so fulfilled. It’s not just the beauty of the clothes on their bodies, it’s feeling that the divine femininity they're leaning into is their unique impression on the world.