Staying Dry, Sustainably

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environment, IAIOS, natural yoga clothing, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, sustainable fashion, sustainable living, sustainable yoga clothing, winter clothing, winter yoga clothes, Yoga With Paul

During winter, I’m always adding layers, and am grateful for the near-magical properties of synthetic fabrics like Lycra and GoreTex that keep me comfortable, dry and warm both in and out of the studio.

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

However, it occurred to me that it is a bit strange to rely so heavily on manufactured materials, while making a conscious effort to seek natural options in terms of food, grooming products, etc.

Is it hypocritical to eat organic and wear Spandex? Should we be swapping our hi-tech parkas for oil-skin rain slickers?

The short answer is — there is no short answer.

After doing some reading (I recommend this interesting article) on the costs and benefits of natural versus manufactured fibres I realised it isn’t simple. Natural fibres like wool or cashmere still incur an environmental cost, and often raise animal welfare concerns.

Meanwhile, fabrics like Lycra, nylon or acrylic, are produced from fossil fuels, are non-biodegradable, and are made using dangerous chemicals.

This raises ethical as well as practical questions. It is imperative to stay warm and dry. We need sport-specific clothes for yoga, cycling, running, etc.

Yet we also need to think about our impact on the planet and our fellow creatures.

Here are a few ideas:

• Buy fewer but better-quality items, avoiding things that wear out quickly
• Use Ebay, charity shops, etc to buy and sell/donate items
• Seek clothes made of recycled plastic, like Sloppy Tunas swimwear
• Buy natural-fibre clothing from brands like IAIOS, which uses recycled wool

Read more: Sustainable winter warmth, Cosy up with recycled clothing

New Sloppy Tunas Shorts!

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men's fashion, recycled fashion, recycled plastic clothing, Sloppy Tunas, Sloppy Tunas all-terrain shorts, sustainable fashion, swimwear, yoga wear, Yoga With Paul

Sloppy Tunas, the brand that makes cool, colourful swimwear out of recycled plastic rubbish, has brand news shorts up its sleeve.

Photo via SloppyTunas

Right now it is taking orders for its first all-terrain short, designed for men and women!

Created for dry land, but equally at home in the water, the new shorts have loads of great features to make travel and every day living that little bit easier.

They are water resistant, with a waterproof zip pocket to hold your phone and wallet; they are light, fast-drying, and odour resistant; like the swimmers, they are made from 100% recycled plastic, making them environmentally sound and vegan friendly.

Whether you’re hanging out at the lake, hiking, hitting the beach or on a yoga holiday, these shorts are a practical, comfortable, stylish option you can feel good about wearing.

Pre-order yours now!

Sustainable Winter Warmth

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ethical fashion, London markets, recycled bags, recycled plastic, Sloppy Tunas, sustainable clothing, sustainable homewares, Yoga With Paul

Keeping cosy can be good for you, and the planet. We all know cutting back on the central heating is a good green habit, but it’s hard to do if your feet are freezing!

Images courtesy Just-Nerissa.co.uk

Just Nerissa is a local brand that creates exactly what you need: rugs and throws made from recycled plastic bottles. Yep, like Sloppy Tunas swimwear, these pieces are a small step towards stemming the tide of plastic rubbish — and they look great.

Named in honour of founder Janet’s mother, Just Nerissa is based on the belief that little things matter. None of us can solve the world’s big problems, but we can all do something towards making things better.

Accordingly, Just Nerissa products are ethnically sourced, fair trade, and designed to make life warmer, in every sense of the word.

“When shopping with Nerissa you can be assured of the following,” says the website.

• Fairtrade suppliers
• Recycled materials, so my products are fairer on the environment
• Local, British suppliers when possible; to help minimise carbon footprint
• Fair prices – I keep margins reasonable, providing value for all

Janet is a regular at the Northcross Road Market in East Dulwich on Saturdays, or you can order online.

In addition to rugs and blankets, Just Nerissa sells scarves and bags, among other things — the hand-woven recycled plastic bottle bag would be ideal for stashing yoga gear.

Know a great local, sustainable brand? Share in the comments!

Travel Gear for Yogis

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barefoot shoes, Moonchild yoga, Ohmme, PrAna, Sloppy Tunas, sustainable yoga clothes, travel yoga, travel yoga mat, Vivo Barefoot, yoga gear, yoga travel gear, Yoga With Paul, YOGO mats

Travel, whether for business or pleasure, can disrupt your yoga routine. Part of the challenge is making space for the gear. If you’re only away for a weekend do you really want to wrestle with a mat and an extra set of workout clothes?

Luckily, there is some fantastic streamlined gear available to keep your practice on track. Here are six products that will fit easily in your weekend bag.

YOGO travel yoga mat

Having your own yoga mat can make the difference between getting in a session or not, but conventional mats are much too big to carry on. The YOGO mat is a thin, lightweight mat that folds to fit neatly in your bag. It is made from sustainable natural rubber and YOGO plants a tree for every mat sold.

Multi-purpose top (women)

A sleek long-line crop top like this one from Moonchild is a versatile piece that can take you from the yoga studio to out on the town. Wear it as a base layer for daytime exploring then move straight into an evening yoga practice.

Multi-purpose top (men)

The sleek Cobra yoga tee from Ohmme is lightweight and quick-drying, meaning you can work up a sweat, give it a quick handwash in the hotel sink, and have a clean dry shirt in the morning. Its fitted design and quality fabric make it appropriate for all-day wear too.

Vivo Barefoot shoes

Keep your running, walking, hiking and cycling options open with ultra-portable, lightweight Vivo Barefoot shoes. Designed to keep you connected to the earth and on the move, they pack down to a fraction of the size of conventional trainers. Several models are made from recycled plastic as well.

 

Sloppy Tunas shorts

These superb swim shorts are made from 100% recycled plastic trash. They are super light and quick-to-dry so perfect for yoga on the road, or laps in the hotel pool.

Lightweight jackets

A good lightweight jacket can keep you covered while you dash to the nearest yoga studio, then take you on to meetings, sightseeing or social engagements. Sustainable yoga clothing brand PrAna makes the stylish Helmken Anorak for men and the sleek moto-style Snider jacket for women.

Share your tips for portable workout gear in the comments!

5 Great Last Minute Yoga Gifts

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BKS Iyengar, Dopper, eco yoga mat, Gossipyum, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, TKV Desikachar, yoga books, yoga Christmas, yoga gift ideas, Yoga With Paul

The clock’s ticking! With just a few days left till Christmas you might still want to pick up a few gifts for the yogis in your life. Here are five prime pressies that your loved one can enjoy long into the new year!

Eco Yoga Mat 

Where do yogis spend most of their time? On the mat. Help them get grounded in an ethical, eco-friendly way with an all-natural jute, U.K.-made yoga mat. There are stockists across Britain and Europe, and a limited range available online.

Dopper Reusable Water Bottle

Cutting out disposable plastic bottles is good for you, and essential for the planet. There are lots of options but Dopper is great because the bottle itself is made from recycled plastic, and part of the proceeds of each sale go towards supporting safe water projects.

Sloppy Tunas Swimwear

I’m proud to be an ambassador for these shorts made from 100% recycled ocean plastic. They are great for the beach — and great for the hot yoga studio in the meantime!

Moving in my Tunas!

Gossipyum organic yoga clothing

This British brand offers a wide range of super comfortable tailored yoga gear for men and women. It uses fabrics like organic cotton or beechwood fibre to create stylish, durable, sustainable clothes you can wear in and out of the studio.

Yoga books

Give the gift of wisdom and inspiration with a great yoga book like Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar or The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar.

Click here for more recommendations.

Share your holiday gift tips in the comments!

Cosy Up with Recycled Clothing

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ethical fashion, ethical winter clothes, Fair Trade clothes, Finisterre, Here Today Here Tomorrow, Mahala London, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, sustainable fashion, Yoga With Paul

Since becoming a brand ambassador for Sloppy Tunas, which makes cool swim trunks out of plastic trash collected from the ocean, I’ve become increasingly aware of that choosing recycled or sustainable clothing can make a big environmental impact.

Sloppy Tunas is my go-to sunshine and seaside wear, but alas, we can’t spend all our time on a beach! So I did a bit of snooping and found some great brands that are committed to planet-friendly fashion and will keep you warm this winter.

Finisterre

This British brand was founded by surfers and has everything you need to get through the wettest of winters. Think water-repellent dark denim, 100% wool jumpers and more. It is dedicated, to “our original design ethos of functionality and sustainability brought to life in an understated style and identity, always remaining committed to product, environment and people.”

Here Today Here Tomorrow

Incredibly comfy, cosy handknit clothing that supports artisans in Nepal. It is best known for fair trade hand made knitwear featuring bold geometric patterns and playful colours. All designs are made by fair trade artisans in Nepal using 100% wool.

Mahala London

Sumptuous handmade goodies like 100% Merino wool socks, jumpers, hats and more. Lots of the materials are recycled and it is all made with love, here in London.

What’s your top tip for sustainable winter wear? Share in the comments!

 

 

Yoga Holiday Wear Sloppy Tunas

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ethical fashion, men's fashion, men's swimwear, men's yoga wear, recycled fashion, Sloppy Tunas, Yoga Holiday With Paul, Yoga With Paul

You know my love of fashion, and sustainability, so you can imagine how thrilled I am to be a brand ambassador for an amazing new men’s swimwear brand: Sloppy Tunas.

In addition to keeping me well-dressed on holiday this week, this young company is doing something incredible: It turns plastic rubbish into super-stylish men’s shorts. Not just any plastic rubbish, though, but trash collected from the Mediterranean Sea. How cool is that?

If, like me, you love the turquoise waters of the Med, it is a fantastic feeling to know your chic beachwear has directly helped make it a cleaner, safer place.

It takes about seven plastic bottles to make each pair of shorts, so the more you own… the more you help clean up the environment!

Here’s how it works:

Our swimsuits are produced with 100% recycled polyester yarn made from plastic picked up from the sea, that’s why it contributes to preserving the environment and reducing pollution in the planet’s water. With a controlled and traceable production process, we recycle the plastic collected, turning it into plastic pellets, and then into high quality thread. The end result is a recycled polyester fabric meeting all quality standards.

To me, this is just brilliant. Our modern lifestyles create so many problems due to waste and over-consumption. It is great to see people turn this around and use technology in a creative way to help the environment and, not incidentally, make some great shorts.

The summer sale is on with a 20% discount on the website — grab your pair!