Proyog is India’s answer to sustainable design and skin friendly yoga / sportswear. We talk to Priyanktha the Design Head who founded the venture along with Malika Baruah. Priyanktha talks about the inspiration behind Proyog; its design, HYPERBREATH™ and future plans.
As the design head, tell us a little about yourself and the core design team.
I have been in the fashion industry for over 15 years. I am passionate about form and drape and love experimenting with dyeing and fabric manipulation techniques. Malika (my co-founder) and I, form the core design team. We share a similar aesthetic and love working together.
Malika Baruah
Why only yoga wear? Was it a conscious decision.
Both of us practice yoga for a while now, and a couple of years ago when we went out to shop, we found it very challenging to find clothing options that were not synthetic sportswear. We also felt that if yoga comes from India, the onus of true yoga wear cannot be on the world. Hence, Proyog was born.
What is PROYOG’s USP?
Naturally breathable, Proyog is meant to liberate. To free the body so the mind can focus. It is the polar opposite of synthetic. Soft and stretchable, neither too tight nor too loose, Proyog moves along with the body as you breathe in and out of asanas. Designed with care, our clothes are perhaps the most comfortable you can ever find.
The design in PROYOG – fabric, garment styles.
We return to the roots. We go back in history to draw inspiration from the fabrics, styles and principles of the early yogis.
Our materials are natural and sustainable. Our trademarked HYPERBREATH™ fabric is non-restrictive and designed in a way that the practitioner is barely aware of its presence. It draws from cotton and modal, two of nature’s most breathable fibers. A proprietary blend of fiber, yarn and fabric structure, HYPERBREATH™ offers all the airiness and comfort serious yoga practice deserves.
How do you define the PROYOG aesthetic and consumer?
Proyog is a mix of tradition and contemporary design. It is a technical product that is natural at it’s heart. At Proyog we see design as a wholesome value, it includes the performance of the garments as much as the visual aesthetic.The consumer is a discerning person. Someone who values quality, usability and sustainability and of course a consumer that loves comfort.
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way when it comes to starting a sustainable design brand?
The biggest challenge as a sustainable design brand is in convincing people about the virtues of organic cotton and other sustainable fibers. However in our experience, the moment people try our clothes and feel the fabric on their skin they become converts.
Tell us about your proposed showcase at the By Hand, From The Heart.
We are really excited to be in Chennai with By Hand, From the Heart. Since we do not have a retail presence in Chennai, this is a great opportunity for the yoga community in Chennai to experience Proyog.
What’s next for PROYOG?
Proyog aspires be a 1 stop shop for all your practice needs. We will be getting in to yoga mats and mat bags very soon.
At the Makers Market exhibition in Chennai this October, meet the maker!
By Hand From The Heart: MAKERS MARKET – Festival Special – 19th Edition
Date: Friday – Saturday, 7th – 8th October, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m
Venue: Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park
Address: 132, T.T.K Road, Alwarpet, Chennai – 600018, Tamil Nadu. India
LINKS: 19th Edition Makers Market Event Page | Facebook|Instagram|Twitter |Blog
LINKS: 18th Edition Makers Market Event Page | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Blog