Though she initially went to Massey University in Pōneke/ Wellington to study photography, the founder quickly turned her focus towards making clothes, choosing to switch her degree to Fashion Design. “After a few visits to the fashion building for some of my papers, the hecticness of moodboards, fabrics, and the sound of steam presses and sewing machines drew me in,” she says. Though her degree may not have directly contributed to her business acumen, Procter attributes her strong work ethic to her years of studying. “I can reflect on how naive I was moving into this industry, but I think that naivety is what has helped me to build [Mina] from the bottom and learn along the way.” 

When Procter made the leap to officially start Mina, her mother Michelle was by her side, acting as a second pair of hands sewing and pattern-making. Initially they thought that this collaboration would be a temporary arrangement to get the brand off the ground, the pair would soon form a proper working relationship, with Procter assuming the roles of director and designer and her mother managing the production side. “I remind myself daily how lucky I am to work alongside my mum. I’ve inherited [her] ‘get s*** done’ mentality so we’re a pretty productive duo,” she explains. “We both learn from one another and our skills complement Mina nicely. My grandmother (mum’s mum), Wilhelmina, would be very proud of us I think.” 

Though it hasn’t been completely smooth sailing for the brand, having only been running for two years when COVID-19 hit, one of Procter’s most significant achievements was hiring a few employees once the brand had grown a bit. “To be able to have an amazing team working alongside me is something I never dreamed of. I thought it would just be Mum and I for forever,” she says. Proctor’s team remains small but Mina’s commitment to conscious production and consumption means that they only release a limited number of capsules per year, ensuring that her employees can keep up with production demands.