Sweetening the stretch

I’ve seen a professional basketball player shop for athletic shoes. He takes his time. He weighs the shoe in one hand then transfers it to the other hand just to perform the same ritual. He twists the shoe inward then outward, pushes the heel forward towards the toe to see if it’s sturdy enough. He raps his knuckles against the sole, examines the padding on the front, middle, and back sole to ascertain cushioning and support. Then he makes sure that it won’t clash with his team colors. If there is anyone more serious about choosing clothing than the affirmed fashionista, it’s the athlete dedicated to his sport.

Sportswear technology has advanced at an incredibly resolute pace over the last few years, that it has enhanced the specialization of each sport, giving the athlete more choices and allowing him to be more careful about these choices. Springs, dry wear, lycra, streamlining, lightweight fabric, cleats, polyester, padding, rubber have all been put together to come up with designs destined to better the performance of athletes in their specific sports – swimming, basketball, soccer, rockclimbing, track and field, rowing, football, rugby, hockey.

Somewhere down the line, an enlightened mind thought that if these advancements have allowed basketball players to jump higher, swimmers to glide through water faster, soccer players to kick farther, why can’t they allow a yoga practitioner to stretch, twist, and sweat better? And so yoga wear was born, clothing specifically designed to meet the basic needs of the lotus lover: Comfort, freedom in movement, and moisture-absorption. As the popularity of yoga practice has grown in the last few years, so has the number of clothing manufacturers intent on acquainting style with the unaffected altruistic lifestyle.

The most recognized spokesperson for yoga wear is also one of the most active promoters of contemporary yoga. Christy Turlington, the ramp goddess-turned- advocate of the spiritual, has been very vocal about her devotion to the enlightening practice; her recently-published book Living Yoga: Creating a Life of Practice discusses the values of yoga, talks of pilgrimages to India and major lifestyle changes she has had to adapt on the path to becoming a yogi. Excepting a cover stint in Vogue where she had to do the "bow" (dhanurasana) and the "fish" (matsyendrasa) in Calvin Klein and Yves Saint Laurent gowns, she is a big believer of wearing the philosophy you preach. Her discovered affinity with Eastern philosophy and the natural resulted in a tie-up with popular sports brand Puma to produce Nuala, a clothing brand for the stretch set who hankered for comfy wear when doing their yoga poses. Nuala, an acronym which means "natural universal altruistic limitless and authentic," did so well, attracting even style-philes whose knowledge of yoga began and ended with a struggle to touch their toes every morning. With Nuala fast earning a reputation as a lifestyle brand, Christy decided to come up with a more specialized line for really serious yoga enthusiasts.

Mahanuala, Christy’s capsule collection of more technical, performance-oriented yoga wear, was created specifically to complement the dynamism and fluidity of contemplative sports such as yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Clothes are figure-flattering (Christy kept in mind all body types) and are made of both natural fibers and high-tech wicking fabrics (fabric made of lycra and nylon that allows for maximum sweat-absorption through capillary action). Footwear is soft and feather-light.

Just like Nuala, Christy’s new line promotes the asanas, the physical aspect of yoga. Maha stands for "movement affords higher aspirations" and strives to give the yoga practitioner more freedom, more comfort, and less sweat puddles while trying to center his or her body’s energy forces. Just like Nuala, the designs are logo-free and in muted colors to complement the simplistic lifestyle yoga encourages.

Another brand that promotes natural and healthy living is a Vancouver-based brand called Lululemon. "Be yoga," calls out the brand’s manifesto. "Breathing has you living in the moment and stretching releases toxins from your muscles. Do yoga so you can remain active in physical sports as you age." And to do yoga right, you have to dress right.

Lululemon is actually an offset conception of a sportswear brand that caters to testosterone-infused, male-dominated sports such as surfing, skating, and snowboard. The Canadian brand called Westbeach was created by sports enthusiast Chip Wilson who, in post-asanas enlightenment, realized the greater participation of women in sports, particularly yoga. In the mid-‘90s women had to make do with sports equipment and athletic clothing designed for males – at that time the main market of sporting goods manufacturers. Wilson realized that women’s athletic wear requirements had to be addressed; he closed down Westbeach and came up with pro-life, pro-fun, pro-health Lululemon in 1998. Lululemon was to champion the involvement of women in sports and promote the belief that yoga is the best way to maintain strength and athletic excellence into the advanced years.

So Chip Wilson did his research and did his yoga, and came up with clothing athletic wear that also features anti-microbial, wicking material fabric, a fluid fabric that is non-abrasive and allows the skin to breathe – an essential for the "Om" orator.

Malaysian brand British India has also realized the growing influence of the solemnly-held pose, and created a yoga collection as part of their Home and Body line. This season’s offerings are in the neutral shades of black, gray, and white. Moisture-absorbing cotton-polyester tank tops and leggings offer comfort and allow for free movement.

Just like in any other athletic endeavors, clothing can only do so much to ensure a sportsman’s success. Passion and heart are still the determinants of a make or break. In yoga where the main goal is enlightenment, clothing remains an accessory within the plane of the material. Real freedom and boundless movement come from that sacred energy source within the body that no amount of sweat can touch.