This past year, with the adoption of new lifestyles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift in health consciousness. Many people have likely started taking yoga classes or doing yoga at home using videos.
If you've been motivated by small physical and mental changes to continue with yoga, you might be thinking it's time to try out proper yoga wear. But with so many brands out there, it can be hard to know where to start.
Here, we introduce four recommended yoga brands that will not only boost your motivation with their ease of movement and stylish designs, but also make you feel more confident when wearing them.
Table of Contents
- 1. About the brands handled by KIT
- 2. Recommended Yoga Wear Brands
- 2-1. Beyond Yoga
- 2-2. Mandala
- 2-3. Onzie
- 2-4. Dharma Bums
- 3. How to Choose Yoga Wear Brands
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1. About the brands handled by KIT
KIT carefully selects brands based on the comfort, style, and functionality of their wear, with a particular focus on brands where women play an active role.
Because the wear is inspired by the sensibilities and power of women who love yoga and workouts – including female owners, designers, and staff – it offers designs and comfort that truly cater to women.
2. Recommended Yoga Brands
KIT carries a wide variety of activewear brands, and from that selection, we've picked out four that are perfect for yoga.
Let's take a look at each brand's philosophy, goals, and product features.
2-1. Beyond Yoga
This is an athleisure yoga brand loved by Hollywood celebrities and models.
Jodi Guber Brufsky, who previously worked in Hollywood entertainment, became a yoga instructor and felt compelled to "convey a positive message about body image through yoga wear." She then launched this brand with Michelle Wahler, who came from the fashion industry.
Beyond Yoga continues to empower women by emphasizing the importance of self-love and embracing one's true self, rather than focusing on body shape or size.
【Product Features】
The signature "Spacedye (SD)" series offers an incredibly soft and comfortable feel. With extremely high stretch, it's wear you won't want to take off once you try it on. It's perfect for both yoga and everyday wear.
In addition to classic colors like black and gray, cute colors such as pink and chai are added each season.
The 'Alloy' series, which shines with glitter, is cute yet made of a firm compression material, making it perfect for activities with a lot of movement, such as Jazzercise and studio programs.
Some products are available in five sizes, from XS to XL. This is great for those looking for smaller or larger sizes.
2-2. Mandala
Established in 2001 in Germany, a leader in eco-friendly practices, this is a sustainable yoga wear brand.
The founder, NATHALIE PRIEGER, a designer who had a long and distinguished career in European fashion brands, was a pioneer in incorporating environmentally conscious fashion early on.
KIT resonates with the philosophy that if you wear something for both yoga and everyday life, it should be sustainable and environmentally friendly. This led KIT to become the first authorized dealer in Japan for this brand.
【Product Features】
The wear, filled with the designer's innate sense and trend-infused prints and meticulous details, is elegant and exceptionally gentle on both the environment and your skin.
The "Fancy Leggings" series, made from recycled plastic bottles, has a smooth feel.
The "Join the Class Leggings" series features a soft fit made from Tencel material.
Additionally, many items are made from OTS certified organic cotton.
2-3. Onzie
This incredibly popular yoga wear brand, originating from Venice Beach, LA, features designs that make you happy just by wearing them, making your usual yoga and workouts even more enjoyable.
The founder, Kimberly Swarth, is a yogi who mastered exercise therapy, and the brand is run by women who love yoga, Pilates, and dance.
【Product Features】
The delicate designs and vibrant colors of the apparel, which fully leverage feminine spirit and ideas, are beautiful and easy to move in.
Most leggings and sports bras are amphibious and made from quick-drying material that is highly resistant to chlorine. They can be worn for hot yoga, where you sweat a lot, or as swimwear in the pool.
Also available are quick-drying tank tops, and comfortable and cute long-sleeved tops perfect for this season.
2-4. Dharma Bums
This yoga wear brand was born in Australia out of the frustration of not being able to find ethical and sustainable yoga wear!
It holds the yogic ethical principle of "aiming for the happiness of both the wearer and everyone involved in the manufacturing process."
It's a brand that allows you to contribute to the environment simply by wearing it, making both people and the environment happy.
【Product Features】
The ethical brand Dharma Bums, led by a female designer, features unique, truly delicate, and beautiful original prints inspired by nature. The patterns do not stretch when worn, appearing exactly as intended.
From January 2020, all printed leggings have been switched to recycled materials made from used plastic bottles, and tops now use even more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials such as modal and bamboo.
4. How to Choose Yoga Wear Brands
What constitutes a good yoga wear brand?
Of course, some might think any yoga wear is fine, or that brand names don't matter. Everyone has their own way of thinking.
The yoga wear brands introduced here are committed to various initiatives for better products and a better society. These include high functionality like stretchability and quick-drying properties, fine-tuning designs for more comfortable yoga practice, supporting many women in their careers, and showing consideration for our planet and those involved in manufacturing.
In this new normal era, KIT believes that choosing what to wear, including yoga wear, is not just about expressing your individuality through design and color, but also about expressing your beliefs and principles (which is to say, your lifestyle!).
While "I like the design of this brand" is a universally timeless point for choosing brands and clothing, clothes chosen based on "I like this brand's philosophy" or "I like how this brand makes things" will likely inspire a different kind of attachment than those chosen purely for their appearance.
In any case, we hope that a "brand you can connect with" or a "brand you love," one that you cherish and wear for a long time, will be "a good brand" for you, and that by wearing it, you can lead a positive and enjoyable daily life, enhancing your yoga practice.
