Yoga Journal Blog: Samadhi & the City


Ancient Wisdom, Modern Life
Exploring the tradition in these times

Teacher Tells All
Insights into a teacher's life

Yoga Journal Conferences
Join us for yoga immersion

Archive Blogs

Cambodia Seva Challenge
Off the Mat and Into the World with Seane Corn

Samadhi & the City
Archive of our city blogs

Yoga Journal Makeover
Soulful transformations through yoga

Yoga Mom on the Move
Parenting yoga blog

Outtakes from India
Join Seane Corn and Ashley Judd virtually as they travel throughout India with YouthAIDS

Live from Estes Park
Once in a lifetime visit by BKS Iyengar


Subscribe to Yoga Journal
Blogs by RSS or by Email

 Yoga Buzz
Email Yoga Buzz

 Yoga Diary
Email Yoga Diary

Subscribe to Yoga Diary by Email
Archives

« San Francisco: Reaching Beyond Asana | Blog HomePage | New York: Kids Get Bent »

Los Angeles: Bamboo Styling

sworn virgin bamboo.jpg

With all this talk of sustainable materials, bamboo has moved out of the realm of tiki and into flooring, furniture, house wares and now, yoga clothing. Los Angeles-based Sworn Virgins just launched a line of bamboo-jersey yoga clothes and the fabric is soft-as-silk, breathable as cotton, wicks moisture and they even claim the anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties of this woody grass (the same quality that allows it to be grown without pesticides) also prevents odor.

But not all bamboo fabric is created equal. According to Sworn Virgins owner Alex Amini, Bamboo textiles are made by breaking down the wood with caustic chemicals until what’s left are the cellulose fibers which are then turned into yarn and later knitted into fabric. Sworn Virgins sources their bamboo yarn from vendors who guarantee their manufacturing process is as low-impact as possible. Almost all bamboo comes from China but once they get the yarn, Sworn Virgins knits, designs and manufactures locally in Los Angeles.

The fall line includes camisoles and racer back tops which come in rich colors like Chianti, nickel, midnight and cafe and they offer a variety of yoga pants—from tight ballet leggings, to more relaxed, bootleg bottoms. Then there are their flirty dresses—all with 5 percent spandex, which gives the fabric a bit of support. Like bamboo, spandex is 100 percent biodegradable. What more could you ask for?

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blogs.yogajournal.com/blognew/mt-tb.cgi/139

Comments

I think bamboo clothing is a lovely alternative to conventionally grown cotton, which uses lots of pesticides. Bamboo fabric is silky and soft, and it's good for our planet. Unfortunately, eco-friendly duds are more expensive, so I'm saving up to replace my regular cotton/spandex yoga wear with some bamboo, hemp, or organic cotton pants and shirts. Also, my next yoga mat will be a non-PVC mat. It seems to me that one way I can live my practice is to buy products that support green companies.

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.

By submitting your comments, you indicate your acceptance of Yoga Journal's general Online Privacy Policy and the Blog Comment Registration Policy. )




Subscribe and
Get 2 Free Issues
+ 2 Free Gifts!

Give a Gift »

Join Yoga Journal's Benefits Plus

Join Yoga Journal's Benefits Plus Liability insurance and benefits to support teachers and studios.

Learn More »

Enter to Win Great Prizes!

Enter to Win Great Prizes! Prizes include a spa vacation in Vermont, a stained-glass window depicting the seven energy centers of the body, Yoga DVDs, a yoga vacation in San Francisco and more...

Enter Now »
Full Name:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email (req):

If I like it and decide to continue, I'll pay just $15.95, and receive a full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 64% savings off the newsstand price!

Offer valid in US only.
Canadian subscriptions | International subscriptions

Your subscription includes
2 FREE GIFTS:

Yoga to the Rescue:
Poses for Stress

The next time you find your nerves frazzled, use this rejuvenating flow sequence to relieve the effects of stress.

Yoga to the Rescue:
Poses for a Headache

Got a pounding headache? This sequence of supported poses can send it packing.