Author: Vijay Dutt
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: May 28, 2003
Yoga has been in vogue for some
time among the likes of pop queen Madonna and celebrities like Sadie Frost
but this month, it officially goes mainstream in Britain. It's a come-on
cue for yoga instructors in India and fashion designers like Rohit Bal,
Adarsh Gill and Ritu Beri.
Yoga expert Aina Wethal attracts
at her Pineapple Fitness centre at Covent Garden in London, disciples who
are as keen on fashion as much as they are on yoga. She believes that clothes
must flow when one is doing yoga, so they must be light and breathable.
High Street chains led by Marks
and Spencer (M&S) have apparently realised not only the craze for yoga
in the celebrities for "inner strength and realisation of peace" but also
their desire to wear flunky clothes, especially by women. So, chains have
cottoned on to the craze for comfortable gear.
M&S are about to launch a Yoga
and Pilates range of nifty clothes, called Mind and Body, in stores throughout
Britain. Reportedly, the range will go to their Indian stores in not too
distant a future. Julia Robson, fashion writer, said yoga clothes are fuelling
a fitness-gear scramble not seen since Jane Fonda's Workout topped the
video charts in the 80s.
Apart from M&S, other chains
from French Connection to Gap and even family friendly brands like Boden,
are featuring clothes in their ranges that are apt for yoga. They now join
the sportswear brands like Nike's and Adidas.
Surprisingly, these range of specially
designed clothes for yoga- obsessed are not very expensive, mostly priced
between £20 and £30.
So, if clothes were being designed
for yoga enthusiasts, mats could not be far behind. Gucci has them now.
But experts say it's for posing only as they are too slippery.
