These yoga clothing brands are off-the-beaten path and welcome inspiration to your spiritual wardrobe.

It’s time to branch out from the usual. Sure, LuluLemon has the design, performance, and aesthetic we have all come to love and appreciate, but there are more (and better) fish in the sea. Expand your yoga clothing to include independent designers, more unique designs, and a touch of eco-consciousness. The following 6 yoga clothing brands are sure to inspire your wardrobe and spark enthusiasm for yoga and increased spirituality.

6 Unique Yoga Clothing Brands

1. Teeki

Perhaps the most standout yogawear brand out there, Teeki sells yoga gear with very unique prints – imagine: a constellation meets a tiger meets tie dye meets ancient Egyptian encryptions. The illustrations, patterns, and visuals on their yoga pants and tops inspire the kindred spirit in all of us and are a true delight to the senses. If you want to set your downward dog self among everyone else in your yoga class, get Teeki gear now! Even better Teeki’s designs are the company’s commitment to sustainability. All of its products are made from sustainable or recycled goods. Every pound of Teeki products conserves an equivalent of half a gallon of gasoline. And all clothing is made in the U.S.

2. PrAna

PrAna offers a selection of yoga tops and pants. The designs are light-hearted and fun. Devoted to inspiring a free-spirited lifestyle, PrAna reflects this purpose not only with its designs but also with its committed to sustainable practices. The sustainable clothing company uses organic cotton, recycled wool, hemp and recycled polyester in its production processes. It also uses responsible down from used bedding products collected through charities in Europe. PrAna now wraps most of its garments in 100 percent  recyclable bags, having cut down the number of plastic it used in its packaging by 74 percent.

3. Nina B Roze

Originally from Ukraine, Nina Berenboym moved to L.A. in 1992. A former ballerina and educated designer Nina was so passionate about art, movement, and the mind-body-soul equation, she jumpstarted her own activewear brand. Her creations are inspired by the Victorian era, full of femininity and elegance. Nina’s signature design, the Heart Butt™, is a best seller.

4. Alala

Sleek comes to mind when a woman walks by in ALALA gear. She’s fresh off the mat but her style is on point, almost too on point. ALALA screams New York City – bold colors, lean fit, black mesh, and crisp corners. The luxury activewear brand is sophisticated, authentic, comfortable, and functional, fully embodying the balance modern women seek in their everyday lives. Named after a Greek goddess, ALALA signifies a battle cry or call to arms. As its namesake suggests, in ALALA gear, you’ll surely make your mark.

5. Yoga-Paws

Let’s face it, sometimes you just want to bust a yoga move and a yoga mat is nowhere to be found. Enter: YogaPaws, clothing you wear on your hands and feet for comfort and stabilization when you’re on the move and neither want or have your yoga mat in tow. The gloves for your hands and feet fit a lot like biker gloves – your fingers and toes are exposed while your palms are lightly padded. Not only do YogaPaws boost your outdoor or on-the-move performance, they also make a fashion statement.

6. AloYoga           

AloYoga is one of my favorite yoga clothing brands. I love the bright colors, intricate patterns, and diversity, and I’m a huge fan of the various mesh leggings designs (I’m so into the mesh trend) as well as the iconic (and apparently patent-pending) Goddess legging, which bear a colorful design from the waist down to the upper knee, then turns completely black, grey, or white down to the feet. AloYoga is also a stickler about flattering designs, which is something we can all be thankful for!

Related on EcoSalon
Yoga Pose of the Week: Yogic Breath
Benefits of Yoga: Not Just a Pretty Pose
Yoga vs. Pilates: Is there a Perfect Practice?

Yoga Image from Shutterstock

The post 6 Unique Yoga Clothing Brands (When Black Yoga Pants No Longer Cut It) appeared first on EcoSalon.

This week’s Link Love it’s World Environment Day and Nepal is setting the treehugging record. Cheap wine can be good wine. Yoga pants are the new blue jeans? Rihanna’s too sexy for the UK and everything you need to know about French style!

Nepal aims to set world record for tree hugging on World Environment Day [via the Indian Express]

How to buy good, cheap wine. [via Eat Drink Better]

Are yoga pants threatening the American tradition of denim? [via Well+Good]

Rihanna’s perfume ad banned in the United Kingdom for sultry, nearly nude pose. [via NY Daily News]

Style secrets of the French. [via Elle]

Related on EcoSalon

Yes Means Yes Means What? – Miley, Rihanna and Me: HyperKulture

Oui! 5 French Country Decor Tips for Your Francophilia

Levi Strauss CEO: Stop Washing Your Levi’s Jeans Immediately

The post Link Love: Rihanna’s too Sexy + Style Secrets of the French + How to Buy Good, Cheap Wine appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now.

Lululemon Athletica founder Chip Wilson raises women’s hackles by blaming women’s bodies for the shortcomings of his company’s yoga pants. [Via Christian Science Monitor]

Nutrient-dense fruits and veggies aren’t only good for eating. Learn about nine foods that are powering your beauty products. [Via Well+GoodNYC]

Made from plants, this artificial egg can be used in everything from cakes to mayonnaise – without a chicken ever coming close to the production process. [Via Veg Friend]

Meet the scientists working on color-changing wallpaper. No seriously. [via Wired]

Collaborative consumption (bike-sharing, car-sharing, Airbnb, etc.) is becoming a big deal. Find out how it could change how our cities function. [Via Governing.com]

Image: Naturopathica

The post Link Love: Edible Beauty Products + Plant-Based Eggs?! appeared first on EcoSalon.

I’m on day 14 of writing about all our designers for EcoSalon Shops! and I am no less inspired to write.

Today we feature RESTORE CLOTHING which is a label I cannot possibly say enough about. It will be way too much of a love fest for you to bear.

Designers Celeste and Anthony Lilore make up the label and have carved themselves a niche in the fashion industry to not only share their vision of social responsibility, but to produce what they consider “timeless, well constructed, essential garment collections.”

As New York City garment industry veterans, the duo designs some of the most comfortable yoga and lifestyle apparel on the market – from yoga pants, tanks and hoodies – all pieces fit like a charm.

Me and Laura Jones of the Sustainability Across America Tour on Cape Cod in our RESTORE pants!

The two are also heavily entrenched in the industry when it comes to sustainability – whether it’s New York City’s Garment District, organic farming, or empowering and connecting environmentally conscious businesses – they are very involved in the susty scene.

Anthony Lilore

Anthony was also instrumental recently in giving me a tour of the New York Garment District as part of the Dumbing Down American Design series. Walking around with Anthony is like being with the godfather – he knows everyone!

I could go on. They are the bomb and you will have the wonderful opportunity of meeting them and purchasing their clothing at EcoSalon Shops! on June 4th.

You won’t be able to miss them. They’re the cheery couple that never stop smiling.

Celeste Lilore and fellow EcoSalon Shops! designer Nina Valenti of NatureVsFuture

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While some sites carry tried and true lines we’ve been following for years, others are peddling cutting edge sustainable fashion – making conscious consumption more provocative than ever.

Here’s a list of what I consider the top 10 eco boutiques. Have at ’em!

Beklina

I just can’t convey how much I love this site, from the photos to the clothes. Always clean and easy to navigate, Beklina loves their indie designers and is willing to experiment with styles other boutiques are hesitant to try.

Love the Lina Rennell and Mociun offerings as well as these vegan moccasins by Manimal.

Beklina’s site says “Our fashion is modern organic, reflecting Northern California’s grace and beauty,” says Beklina, who believes clothing and design can be “precious, radical, nurturing, healing and wonderful.”

Guess it’s working cause whenever I go to their site, I’m instantly happy.

Embodies

I met Embodies owner Kenlynn Wilson last year at a trade show in New York. I could tell by the look in her eye she was the real deal when it came to being serious about eco.

She bases her criteria on a few things: What fabrics are used in the clothing, where the items are manufactured (and under what conditions), what types of dyes are used in the clothing as well as the packaging the clothes are being shipped in. Curating with a careful eye, Wilson’s due diligence yields a great stable of fashion-forward eco-designers.

Look for Alabama Chanin, Calleen Cordero cuff bracelets and select Linda Loudermilk.

Greenloop

Besides running a fabulous online boutique, Greenloop owner Aysia Wright is commonly used as a resource for both designers and the eco-community. She’s everywhere.

Having just wrapped up her Project Green Search in L.A., Wright’s returned to her home base of Portland, Oregon where she recently moved the brick and mortar Greenloop inside Seven Planet.

Check out the site for a veritable who’s who of eco-designers including Del Forte denim, Charmone shoes (crazy close-outs on them as I write) and Loomstate.

Arboretum

Guided by William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s Hannover Principles on our inter-dependence on nature, Arboretum owners Kate Morison and Andrea Barrett have created their own eco-study of beautiful designed clothing and accessories to show us.

Both women hail from Sonoma County where, they say a connection with the land is a part of their everyday life.
“From the rugged coastline to the majestic redwoods, we have drawn vast inspiration from our environment. Our inspiration and shared vision led us to build an Arboretum.”

Love their picks of Stewart and Brown, Rag & Bone and Prairie Underground.

Clary Sage Organics

After a busy day wearing my blogger and retailer hats, I want to slip on lounging wear with comfort and ease.

Clary Sage is my go to brand for comfy but stylish yoga pants, camisole tops and my very favorite, Convertible Wrap (feels delicious).

In addition to their own line, they have an “After Yoga” section with easy slip on skirts, tunic t-shirts and go-to hoodies.

Just when you thought you were completely satisfied with their clothing selections, they offer a great range of Lotions and Potions including my favorite body care line, Farmaesthetics and perfumes by Tsi~La (Ylang Ylang is mmm…). Search the site for your own new favorites.

Kaight

Kate Macgregor, the founder and owner of Kaight has carefully edited her boutique for men and women that dig clothing and accessories “thoughtfully designed” with organic and sustainable textiles.

Like most of the eco-boutiques listed here, Kaight specializes in emerging and independent designers who use organic, recycled and sustainable materials.

Love their Ashley Watson bags, Melissa Shoe selection as well as Dream & Awake vintage dresses.

Tobi

In addition to their traditional shopping, Tobi offers an Eco-Tobi site which I hope continues to grow.

If you can’t get to the actual brick and mortar shop in San Francisco, their 1-to-1 shopping experience can be had onlinewhich involves live chat with one of the owners to get style advice or sizing questions answered before you buy.

Lots of great natural body and hair care lines including Pangea, Hamadi and Pure Fiji as well as basics from Alternative Apparel and tried and true lines by Edun, Prairie Underground and Stewart and Brown.

Jessa Brinkmeyer, owner of Pivot

Pivot
This Chicago-based online boutique is run by Jessa Brinkmeyer on the premise that being eco doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Brinkmeyer says “A big part of building an eco-smart wardrobe is finding pieces you can keep and love.”

Very true. By picking even one sustainably designed article of clothing from Pivot, you’ve in fact begun your journey.
You might want to start with a great fitting She-Bible cardigan or Lara Miller sweater that will stylishly last you for years.

Sodafine

Sodafine has got to be one of the sweetest shops going.

Based in Brooklyn, the boutique’s owner Erin Weckerle focuses her buying on “innovative and unique handmade clothing, accessories and gift items.”

Weckerle also carries a selective collection of vintage clothing, (I recently was gifted a beautiful vintage slip from a friend who stopped in there) as well as lines utilizing eco-friendly fabrics and sustainable labor practices.

The site says “Many of the items you’ll find at Sodafine are made by individuals who call themselves artists and see their production of clothing/accessories as just one facet of their artistic process”¦We are eager to assist young artists and craftspeople with information(and inspiration) for marketing their wares. We intend to provide an interesting model of the intersection of art, craft, and fashion at work in everyday life.”

And they have.

Check out great pieces from Feral Childe, Popomomo as well as Sodafine’s own in-house line.

Kind

Kind states that their boutique is for “Living happy, living gently,” which makes me love them all the more.

Mixing sustainably designed as well as vintage finds with things for your nest, Kind is a one-stop shop with quality pieces, consciously handpicked to really reflect their store.

Check out clothing by Mika Machida and Nixxi as well as shoes by Neuaura and Olsen Haus.

The post Top 10 Online Eco-Boutiques appeared first on EcoSalon.

Considering that the average American now consumes over 28 gallons of bottled water each year, all packaged in single-use plastic, it’s a good thing that many companies are now incorporating recycled PET (the stuff those bottles are made out of) into their lines.

Yes, recycled PET has made its way onto the mainstream runway along with a bevvy of other smart eco-friendly materials. But it’s not just about innovative technology or drool-worthy duds from the likes of Linda Loudermilk. Stylish picks in eco-friendly materials are well-suited to daily life – everything from yoga to yardwork. Check out some of our favorites:

Outerwear

A longtime household brand in the sailing and yachting community, Henri Lloyd has also made its way onto fashion lists. Now the company known for its all-weather sporty yet fashionable jackets is another big name to join the list of brands that use recycled PET.

Henri Lloyd has teamed up with Japanese textile factory Tejin Fibers Ltd. (a factory that also works with brands like Patagonia and Nau) to launch the first program worldwide for the collection and recycling of used marine apparel, as well as incorporation of Eco Storm recyclable, waterproof fabric made from recycled polyester fibers. Henri Lloyd’s 2010 Blue Eco Range of sailing wear will feature the new material, and we’re hoping it spreads to more of the brand!

Workout

Yoga-based apparel company prAna has an extensive line of workout gear, perfect for your morning asanas, that uses recycled polyester fibers. Favorites include the Lolita Pant and the Bella Sport top.

Beyond recycled PET, prAna is a sound and environmentally conscious company. In 2005 prAna launched the Natural Power Initiative to raise awareness about renewable energy amongst customers, retailers and the outdoor industry. This year, the Natural Power Initiative is expected to prevent the emissions of 17,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

Footwear

Ok, so I’ll go ahead and admit that these shoes aren’t made with recycled PET, but they’re too distinctive and eco-friendly to go unmentioned. Although it might not save any plastic bottles, El Naturalista’s Recyclus line does use recycled rubber and footbeds. In fact, the line is built on the idea that the entire shoe should be recyclable at its end of life.

“The name will be Recyclus; you will only need to pull a thread, and the sole, the in-sole, the leather, and the laces will separate into independent pieces to be deposited in special recycling bins that we will offer to stores.”

Bag

Hopefully your new year is going to be filled with lots of plans for intriguing adventures, which means you’ll need a sleek bag that can still carry a lot. Welcome the Motil Ped by Nau. The shell, lining and shoulder webbing are made of 100% recycled polyester. With a laptop pocket and ample zipper pockets inside, this can be your go-to back for any occasion, be it casual or fashionable.

For the home

Complete your sustainable wardrobe by adding a few key items around the house. As always, consuming less means more, but if you’re home is in need of a little freshening up, the Teppas stackable containers (made, natch, with recycled PET) from IKEA are a fun way to kick off a more organized lifestyle in the new year.

Main image: Adria Richards

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