Fashion Meets Purpose: Exploring Payal Jaggi’s Ethical Brand Kinche

While fast fashion may attract many because of its ease of availability and prices, it fails to create a thoughtful statement. This is where fashion designer and entrepreneur Payal Jaggi stands out, not just for her designs but also for her commitment to sustainability. Based in Gurgaon, Payal is the founder and creative force behind Kinche, a brand uniquely celebrating ethical fashion.

What Inspired Payal to Start Her Entrepreneurial Journey

Payal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Annamalai University, India, and has completed a course in Fashion Design from IIFT India. Her journey in fashion began more than a decade back, as a stylist, image consultant and visual merchandiser. Payal’s love for travel and her work took her to cities like Singapore, Sydney, and California, where she was able to explore global fashion scenes. Her diverse experiences shaped her aesthetic and her understanding of sustainable practices. All of this became significant groundwork and inspiration behind her opening her own fashion label, Kinche.

Founded in 2012, Kinche started as a home linen brand, and later branched into creating upcycled clothing for women, using primarily kantha fabric from West Bengal. How she started working on women’s clothing is a story that Payal shared in an interview with Platform Mag. In the interview Payal said, “I wanted an eclectic jacket. I wanted a good, fitted jacket which will make me stand out, a statement piece. I love statement pieces. Again, my consideration for something being organic and environmentally friendly is always there.” When she couldn’t find it in India, she decided to make one for herself using an antique quilt. Soon it gained the attention of her friends, who offered to buy it as well. At first she thought they were joking, but soon realized it was a huge potential to explore. And that’s how Kinche was truly born.  

What Kinche Offers and its uniqueness

Kinche specializes in upcycled and sustainable luxury fashion. It transforms heritage textiles, such as vintage kantha quilts, gudris, phulkari dupattas, and old saris, into bespoke clothes. At Kinche you can find upcycled sarees, dresses, skirts, pajamas, and stoles and scarves.

The main focus is on creating jackets that make for a very strong statement piece. At the website, you can find a variety of jackets, such as short jackets, bomber jackets, blazers, long coats, and kediyas, in different prints and styles. Each piece is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind, often with gender-fluid designs.

Apart from clothes, you can also find home linen at Kinche, such as wool throws, blankets, kantha quilts, duvet covers, cushion covers, and even table linen. And accessories such as statement necklaces, and beautifully embroidered handbags and slings.

Payal’s Philosophy Behind Her Business

Payal’s philosophy of "fashion without harm" challenges fast fashion's wasteful tendenciesIn an interview she said, “I do not intend to add more fabric to the world, for me sustainability is reducing and repurposing.” With sustainability at its core, even the leftover fabric scraps are used to create quilts and pillows, ensuring a zero-waste approach. Payal doesn’t use any synthetic product in her manufacturing process. All her fabric is naturally sourced, she only uses azo-free and vegetable dyes, cotton threads and brass buttons.

Another thing that makes Payal Jaggi’s brand unique is her dedication to preserving tradition while innovating in fashionPayal incorporates Indian heritage into every piece. For instance, the vibrant kantha bomber jackets or the intricate silk blazers or the hand-embroidered kediyas carry stories of how each piece came about.

Payal also collaborates with artisans and housewives across India, empowering local communities while sourcing materials ethically. A portion of Kinche's profits supports charitable causes, amplifying its positive impact.

Building a Brand for a Sustainable Future

Payal’s mission remains to inspire responsible consumption without compromising on style. With Kinche, she is not only creating exquisite clothing but also fostering a culture of mindful fashion. She emphasizes buying less but better, favoring timeless pieces that resonate with personal and environmental values.

Whether it's a kantha jacket or an organic summer dress, each creation at Kinche tells a story of sustainability reimagined. For more, explore Payal Jaggi’s profile on Women Listed where you can find all her links to connect with her.

 

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