Born out of the need for good quality, well-fitted and stylish work wear, the homegrown brand Salt Attire is just what the working woman needs in her wardrobe today. If you’ve ever struggled with trousers that fit everything but your waist properly or a skirt that fits right at the waist but falls flat at the hips, you’re not alone. Before launching the brand, Salt Attire talked to over 500 women shoppers and understood their requirements for fit and comfort, especially when it comes to a professional setting and all-day clothing.
“While conducting our research, we discovered that most brands in India often follow size charts of UK or US. Since India is a big export hub for the garment industry, everything from the measurements to sizing is based on western proportions (mostly UK/EU). Items produced for consumption in India are sized and fitted by leveraging UK size charts. This leads to undesired consequences in fit and the look of the clothing item. If you found a dress or a top which looked great on the hanger but after trying it on, the fit was not right, it was most likely a result of improper sizing,” says Salt Attire founder Dipti Tolani. Taking into account the Indian woman’s fit and aesthetic requirements for the workplace, the brand went on to create its own body measurement ratios based on research done on Indian body shapes and sizes.
Image Source: Salt Attire
Along with getting Indian sizes right, the brand also attempts to problem-solve many fit issues women face with ready-to-wear clothing. “Our shirts are designed to be gaping-free. Our Pants and skirts are made with stretch fabric. All our clothing is modest, non-sheer with no plunging necklines or high slits that would make her uncomfortable at work,” says Tolani.
Evidently, the brand prioritises function over fashion. “Our customer would be spending 10-12 hours in these clothes and comfort, functionality, fabric & fit are her top priorities. Our design team has a simple philosophy, design a nine-to-nine wardrobe for the contemporary working woman. From our customer's point of view, we have anticipated her needs, her lifestyle, and her schedule to create designs which are functional, sophisticated and chic. We focus on clean cuts with finer detailing. We understand the need for functionality without compromising on the aesthetic appeal,” adds Tolani. In addition to more suitable size charts and options, the brand also offers an option to get your garments customised as per size, a huge plus for the world of work wear.
Dipti Tolani, Founder of Salt Attire
While Tolani’s corporate career before her current entrepreneurial one at Salt Attire plays a major role in having first-hand experience with work wear, her journey also gave her better insight into making a career shift rather smooth. “The most important aspect would be to make sure you understand the reason you are looking for a career change. Once you have the reasoning, a lot of things would flow from there. The other things to keep in mind would be to make sure you have a financial runway until the final switch is made. After all, no dream is too small and no aim too high, you just need to make sure you have planned well,” she says.