The perfect yogawear
Feb 16, 2022
The perfect yogawear: sustainability meets comfort
We yogis are do-gooders. This means that for people who do yoga regularly, values such as transparency, fairness and environmental awareness are very high on the agenda. This is because people with a strong moral stance often choose to practise yoga.
To be honest, we are not surprised. Because yoga is more than just a sport. Rather, it is a philosophy, an attitude to life. As different as we yoga practitioners are, we all have something in common. We are united by the desire to bring ourselves and our environment into harmony.
How about taking a holistic approach to this topic in the context of yoga? Because in addition to sustainable yoga mats and accessories, you can now also find numerous items of clothing that meet the highest demands of us yogis.
We would like to give you a few tips to help you find the perfect outfit for your yoga sessions.
What do I wear for my yoga workout?
The question of the perfect outfit arises with every workout. It's not primarily about how your yoga wear looks. It is much more important that your clothing follows your every movement and does not restrict you.
This is an issue for yoga in particular. Most yogis among us have probably had the unpleasant experience of the seams of a pair of smart sports leggings giving way or the elastic waistband constricting.
If you move a lot, it is important that your sportswear fits comfortably and that the material is flexible and resilient. If you find these wonderful qualities combined in a high-quality outfit that also looks good, you've hit the bull's eye.
What clothes do you need for your yoga session? Ideally, you should combine sports leggings and a comfortable shirt with (sports) briefs and a sports bra. The bra should offer enough support according to your cup size.
Breathable materials are ideal so that you can enjoy both sweaty workouts and relaxing sessions.
Why should I choose sustainable yoga clothing?
Sustainable yoga clothing is a real godsend for the environment. Because the manufacturing process focuses on conserving resources. Brands that are committed to sustainability are committed to responsible use of raw materials and energy consumption.
They also rely on a value chain that is consistently implemented from start to finish. This means: truly sustainable means that both the environment and the employees are treated fairly. No matter whether they are in the design department or at the sewing machine.
Besides the positive impact on your ecological and social footprint, sustainable yogawear offers you further advantages. Because the textiles used here are subjected to strict quality controls.
While fast-fashion products often contain a lot of harmful substances, these are not found in controlled garments. The designation yoga clothing sustainable therefore stands for safe textiles - completely without residues that are harmful to your body.
So you can feel good all around with a clear conscience and a pleasant body feeling. Utopia has compiled an overview of suitable offers.
What does the perfect activewear for yoga look like?
Sustainability is also a very broad topic in clothing. It is not always immediately apparent whether and how well the demand for resource-saving and socially just fashion production is really being implemented.
A good indication is a closer look at the so-called washing label. The small textile label in the garments gives you an exact breakdown of the materials used. A wide variety of materials are suitable for environmentally friendly activewear:
- Organic cotton: Cotton from organic cultivation is the classic among high-quality fabrics. The material absorbs sweat. Alternatively, it keeps you nice and warm during more relaxed yoga sessions - and outdoor yoga.
- Bamboo fibre: Bamboo is the all-rounder among raw materials. It can be processed into numerous things, such as everyday objects and food, and it grows again extremely quickly. Bamboo is also convincing in the form of fabric. Its properties are similar to those of cotton.
- High-tech fabrics: synthetic fibre is elastic, quick-drying and sweat-repellent. However, it is also somewhat discredited because synthetic material is incredibly resource-intensive to produce and is also harmful to the environment. Textiles made from recycled synthetic fibres offer a high-performance and reliable alternative. These save energy and raw materials during production and are often made from old PET bottles and the like that have been fished out of the oceans.
- Tencel: This fibre is extracted from wood and processed industrially. Due to a closed cycle during production, the material is particularly environmentally friendly. It also feels like silk on the skin.
- Merino wool: The wool of merino sheep is a true all-rounder for clothing. The material hardly absorbs odours, wicks away moisture and ensures a pleasant skin climate. However, it is important to pay attention to the origin of the merino wool: Without "mulesing" - a method in which the sheep's rear end is trimmed - is a decisive criterion here.
Admittedly, the choice is huge. But all of these textiles have their raison d'être. Which one suits you is a matter of taste. For example, if you prefer active sessions, you might benefit most from functional materials. For relaxation sessions, on the other hand, your fashion pieces should be more warming.
Yogawear Organic: here's what you should look out for
Now you are asking yourself what characteristics your outfit should ideally have? In our experience, the perfect yoga wear should ...
- ... fit comfortably and have a good cut. Too tight, too wide, too low neckline or waistband - you'll always feel comfortable in the right, sustainable sportswear. Try out different cuts and fits to find the ones that suit you and your needs.
- ... consist of a material that is pleasant on the skin. While some prefer natural materials, others deliberately opt for functional textiles. That is always a question of personal preferences and use cases.
- ... do not offer any unwanted glimpses. Unfortunately, there are many products in the sportswear sector that are not opaque. So always test out different movements in front of a mirror or a trusted person to check whether the fabric delivers what it promises.
- ... suit you. Whether muted colours, colourful patterns or statement slogans - underline your personality with your yoga clothes. Come as you are! Because what is more beautiful than being able to present yourself authentically?
- ... offer a fair price-performance ratio. Even if high-quality clothing made from sustainable materials may cost a little more, the price should be justified. A good indication is always provided by a transparent presentation of the manufacturer. For example, do they point out in the online shop that they invest money in aid projects, obtain their raw materials from particularly ecological cultivation or use an innovative manufacturing process? Then this can definitely explain the pricing.
Sustainable yoga clothing: money well spent
As you can see, sustainability is a holistic claim. For sustainable sportswear, too, this means that you can and should have a good feeling when you buy it. By buying good yogawear, you are doing something good for the environment and the people behind the products.
For you, too, of course, because investing in the perfect yogawear is also an investment in your own well-being. A nice side effect: high-quality yoga clothing is much more durable than the cheap alternatives. So once you've identified the right clothes for you, you can look forward to using them as you please for a long time to come. So treat yourself and your environment to a do-gooder outfit or two - you deserve it.
