Yoga is still flying high on our exercise list, and a whole host of low intensity workouts are on the up too. As we achieve all of our gym goals, we’re in need of versatile and comfortable outfits that allow us to perfect our downward dog in effortless style. Here, we present three workout brands that combine cutting-edge technology with powerful design, so that we can feel and look good in one fell and perfectly-postured swoop.
Mahala Essence
Mahala Essence
‘I discovered the hot and humid atmosphere of Bikram yoga and it transformed my life,' says Mahala Essence founder Ambre Boukebza, of the practice which involves holding 26 postures in a 42°C heated room. The French yoga teacher realised that not only did she require technical and practical pieces adapted to her training, but also a stylish apparel line to continue the day post-pose. Made in Japan using authentic waving machines, Mahala Essence's jerseys and fleeces are crafted to the highest quality giving unique texture and touch, while bras and leggings are knitted in France using technically innovative fabrics.
The core collection is then created according to four different yoga practices (Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Bikram), each of which features a mascot inspired by the hip hop codes of the 1990s, sewn on the back of the silk bomber jackets. For SS19, the brand also offers cut out bras as well as hoodies and T-shirts in red or blue paisley to put on after a revitalising sunrise class.
Silou
Silou Pre Fall 2019
In 2017, former Givenchy and Calvin Klein jeans model Tatiana Kovylina launched her athleisure label Silou. The brand offers beautifully designed, gym-ready pieces for every body type, that are manufactured in a female-run factory in Lithuania. ‘Silou’s mantra is to embrace your own SILOU-ette,' says co-founder and CEO Phoebe Greenacre. ‘We want women to feel empowered in and outside of the gym and to take on any task that life throws us.'
Bras, leggings and bodies are made with soft Italian fabrics to highlight feminine curves, while supporting every type of workout. For summer, the pieces are imagined in vivid sunrise tones and offer extra comfort to keep up with an active lifestyle during the warmer season. The brand also makes sure to take care of the planet by only using eco-friendly fibres that are kind to the skin and the environment: ‘We are completely transparent about where we are on this journey, with the aim to be wholly sustainable by 2021.'
Vyayama
Vyayama Iceland Collection
From the Sanskrit word ‘to move’, Vyayama (pronounced ‘vai-ah-mah') was founded with the idea of offering a natural alternative to the synthetic activewear invading the market. About three years ago, the team started working with the closed loop fabric Tencel, a form of rayon, which has zero impact on the environment nor on the wearer. Sourced from sustainably farmed eucalyptus trees in South Africa, this botanical fibre is then turned into garments in family run workshops in Portugal.
The label offers a range of prints and cuts inspired by nature, as well as ultra soft and luxurious basic pieces which are both comfortable and sensual. For spring, it will introduce crop tops and leggings in vibrant colours made with Cupro, a vegan alternative to silk spun out of cotton. ‘We don’t think there needs to be a sacrifice of fashionability for sustainability,' says founder Rachel Bauer. ‘We hope that responsible choices for the body and the environment become the norm for clothing, not the exception.'
-
Take a bite: Laila Gohar and The Luxury Collection’s ‘Cakes & Candles’ are a sweet treat for the sensesLaila Gohar’s six cake-inspired candles draw on The Luxury Collection’s hotels around the world – where guests can enjoy matching edible confections
-
The Wallpaper* guide to party dressing with abandonDecadent get-ups to let your sartorial hair down this festive season, ready for a month-long marathon of hedonism and indulgence
-
C-Next Designers Europe hosted by Cosentino is forging the future of the interior design industry220 interior design professionals from 30 countries attended the invite-only event in Almeria for two days of factory tours, workshops and panel discussions
-
Francisco Costa on using fermentation to synthetically produce natural ingredientsThe founder of pioneering brand Costa Brazil talks to Wallpaper* about how he’s complementing fair-trade practices with cutting-edge biotechnology
-
The best gyms around the world for design buffs in 2018 -
Skate park design goes to the British seaside with Guy Hollaway’s F51F51 is Folkestone's brand new, dedicated, multistorey skate park, courtesy of the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust and Hollaway Studio
-
Community centre architecture redefined: Holborn House by 6a and Caragh Thuring opensHolborn House by 6a Architects and Caragh Thuring opens for the Holborn Community Association in London, bridging art and community architecture with people at its heart
-
Pink concrete skatepark is a striking urban landmark in the Chihuahuan DesertA team of architects, landscape designers, sociologists and urban planners came together to create La Duna, a fine example of skatepark architecture on the northern border of Mexico
-
Last chance to play: Yinka Ilori's colourful basketball court in Canary Wharf is a slam dunkArtist and designer Yinka Ilori applied his signature colourful geometries to his design for this new public basketball court in Canary Wharf, London
-
Building muscle: London architecture walks and runsTry these London architecture walks and runs for some physical and intellectual edification
-
Janne Tuunanen captures modernist architecture of renovated Helsinki Olympic StadiumPhotographer Janne Tuunanen captures the sharp modernist architecture of the recently renovated Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland in his latest series
