They’re finally here! After about a year of buying back our customer's synthetic, gently used yoga leggings, we've collected enough to begin making our recycled yoga leggings yoga mat bags! (Crotch not included LOL!) See if you spot your leggings!
We decided the best way to make better use of unwanted plastic leggings, rather than them going to a landfill, was to create something useful and beautiful, and also not something to be washed or worn often to prevent further spreading of microplastics. A yoga mat bag just made perfect sense :)
This beautiful bag is two of a kind, and made from four pairs of polyester yoga leggings. The inside is 100% organic black hemp canvas, to make the bag extra sturdy and of course, totally natural. It features a heavy duty metal zipper pocket, and an external pocket. The bag is hand sewn by Nadya in her home in Twentynine Palms, California. (The last image is not the bag you are buying, it is to show the size and shape.)
You might think the price tag is high for materials that are recycled, but the organic hemp inside, buying back leggings, a quality metal zipper, and paying Nadya a living wage does NOT come cheap, as it shouldn't. Thank you SO MUCH for supporting us as we try to keep plastic off our bodies and out of landfills! XOXO
Q - Why is it so expensive?
A - Clothes can only be made cheaply if people and/or the planet are being exploited. In 2022, the reality is we are extracting limited resources from the planet to make limitless things. The more plastic clothing made in slave like conditions overseas we support with our hard earned dollars, the more we tell brands that YES, we are down with limitless consumption. When we pay workers a living wage and consider that the planet cannot survive at the pace we are overproducing, clothing can't be inexpensive. We need so much less than we're told we need, therefore do not need to buy dozens of $6 items. It's always better to save up for ethical pieces. (This message is to those with some disposable income, not to those living in poverty.)
We pay a premium for high quality fabrics and labor. While an average top may cost $2.50 for Shein to make, we pay anywhere from $30-$50. That means on a $78 dollar top, profit may be $30-40, which must cover operating expenses (website fees, shipping, advertising, freight charges), taxes, and payroll to our fairly paid employees. Our end of the day profit is closer to $3-6. If we did this for the money, we'd be in the wrong industry. We do this to make an amazing heirloom piece you'll treasure for years.
Q - When are sold out items restocked?
A - We don't make the same thing twice, and this is why: our creations are art! An artist would not repaint the same piece over and over. And for you, our beloved customer, this means your piece is very unique and bespoke. No one else will have it. This is how we used to make clothes long ago-- items just for you that are meant for you and not mass produced to maximize profits.
Q - Where is it made and who makes it?
A - We only work with small family owned shops employing 8-10 people paying well above minimum wage in Los Angeles, CA.
Q - Is it sustainable and organic?
A - Anyone who claims true sustainability while producing a product is greenwashing, intentional or not. We are responsible. To be truly sustainable we should all be wearing undyed, unisex, 100% recycled fabric scraps, government issued uniforms for 5-10 years at a time. While we are not that, we are much, much better than most of the alternatives out there. Our fabric is 99% closed loop, low plastic, made with fair wages, GOTS certified dyed, water based inked, made in the USA, and we donate money to a new charity every month. We will never stop seeking more ways to be make a cleaner and more beautiful piece of clothing!
