Style File

Texas sisters craft cool fashion line focused on summer's hottest trend

In 2014, Houston sisters Erin Breen and Katie McClure jetted off to India in search of adventure. What they found was inspiration for a fashion label with an ethical edge.

Mirth Caftans is a breezy line of caftans for the easygoing woman with a keen eye for style. In the debut collection, muted color palettes, premium textiles, and expert fit combine to create a staple garment fit for almost any occasion.

“Caftans are versatile and easy,” McClure says. “They’re the right amount of casual and cool, and they’re the piece or two that you’ve been looking for in your wardrobe.”

Ethically made by Indian textile artisans using age-old techniques, this garment gives back too.

“We donate 5 percent of our profits to a school in India that was started by Deepak Chhipa, the block printer we work with on some of our fabrics,” McClure says. “We aim to bring some mirth to these kids by helping to fund the school.”

Available in Austin at Sunroom, the debut line can be purchased via Mirth Caftans' web store and will soon be available online at Anthropologie. While the heart of the brand is the effortless, chic caftan, expect more from this inspirational Texas duo in future collections.

“We are headed to India in a few days to source fabrics and trims, and we’re meeting with embroiderers, bag makers, and belt makers,” McClure says. “Our hope is to continue to grow and evolve organically, and bags are a natural fit with our brand and lifestyle.”

Mirth Caftans founders Katie McClure and Erin Breen.

Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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