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Have you ever visited a city or country and left feeling changed? Like you had seen something that maybe you never thought you would or that few before you have been lucky enough to experience? That sense of exploration and ~wanderlust~ fills you up with the need to see and do more; to know how and why we exist and fuels something in you that maybe wasn’t there before. Wanderlust can be found, or discovered almost anywhere; be it some far away land or your own city, finding and discovering something that you didn’t know was there before. At Milochie, this sensation has come to us in many cities, and we felt it only right to honour this passion in our latest collection. Why wanderlust? you ask. Well, through the creation of this line, we have searched the globe far and wide looking for sustainable fabrics, ethical production methods and more, and it occurred to us that others would share our passion for these practices, as well as for the beautiful cities that inspired these prints. Choosing just four was nearly impossible, but if we’ve learned anything through travel, it’s that the impossible can often be found in distant lands with a bit of searching. With that, we’re beyond excited to introduce our latest collection, inspired by four incredible cities: Bali, Jaipur, Kyoto, and Stockholm. Why Bali? Bali is a place that knows no end to it’s beauty, endless flora and fauna, pristine jungles and beaches, ancient temples, and unique culinary flavours. Everything is just brighter in Bali. The artistic scene is abundant, everyone in Bali has their own expression, be it visual or physical. It’s also a world-renowned yoga destination. The wealth of flora and fauna as well as the rich colours, and deep blue azures, come through in our Bali print, bringing to life the unique culture and “life in colour” aspect that makes Bali so special.
Why Stockholm? “Beauty on the Water,” this Swedish Capital is made up of 14 islands and 57 bridges, and brims with beautiful, brightly-coloured buildings, incredible views and amazing museums. At the doorstep of this incredible city is the Tyresta National Park, a reserve of completely unspoilt beauty, and the inspiration for our Stockholm Print.
Why Kyoto? This former capital is located on the island of Honshu, but it’s a long way from the hustle and bustle Japan connotates. It’s renowned for it’s beautiful Buddhist temples, wooden houses, gardens and shrines. This print embodies the beauty of Kyoto giving the effect of traditional Japanese craftsmanship through stitched geometric lines, woodblock printed landscaped hills and origami shapes.
Why Jaipur? Tucked away in northwestern India, this city practically begs one to come and see it for yourself. Known as the Pink City of India, Jaipur is brimming with love, community and festivals. Painted pink because pink was the colour of hospitality, guests feel welcome in this majestic place, visiting incredible gardens, palaces, and markets. Our Jaipur print brings in that unique pink colour and characteristic elephant symbol of Indian culture.
See these prints in action and browse the Wanderlust collection here.
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This week, we’ve caught up with Milochie’s Founder and Designer – Angela Coram. Before her beautiful new collection is released, we thought it would be great to get her insight on what happens behind the scenes of the Milochie brand.
Does it involve working collaboratively or is designing a solo task? All Milochie designs start off solo, it’s not until the final stages that I’ll ask some of my close creative friends as well as yoga teachers and students for their opinions. Mostly, I check whether the clothing would be perfect for yoga and whether the patterns align with the theme I’m exploring. After all, a good design should speak for itself. Is there a place where you like to design for Milochie? If so, why? How does it help your creativity? I usually design at home. I always collect imagery or points of inspiration throughout the year and when it comes to designing for a new collection, I immerse myself in these images and start to scribble a few patterns and lines in my sketchbook. I need the quiet of my home where I can surround myself with all my inspirations and let myself feel the pattern and the story behind it. Your designs are so colourful and intricate. What are your influences? Are there any designers that inspire you? I’m always designing in my head. From walking through a park to browsing antique shops, any of these types of activities can influence my designs. Nature is my well of inspiration. When I find something interesting, patterns start to spring in my mind and that’s usually where it all starts. I don't draw ideas from any particular designers, I simply just sketch what inspires me and hope it becomes something beautiful! I studied design at university, and we were encouraged to get inspired by designers, but honestly, that just never worked for me. All of my mood boards and designs are inspired by what I see on day-to-day basis, from what influences me subliminally. When I’m working with a particular theme, I start to notice certain details more than before. For example, working on the Wanderlust collection, I became inspired by all things cultural and botanical. I reflected on the places I loved visiting and the features of those locations that made them really stand out to me. It was the hardest collection to narrow down to four prints!
What do you enjoy most about designing for Milochie? I love the complete freedom at the start of the design process, where I have no distinct image in my mind, but a huge sense of possibility. I don't begin with a visual design in my head. There will be elements I’ve already decided on that I want to involve, but the outcome is always a surprise. It’s so exciting seeing a pattern on a piece of clothing as it completely transforms when it becomes 3D.
How does sustainability find itself in your process? The initial idea for Milochie was to create activewear that offers the same great style as what is on the market but invested with more heart and meaning, most importantly with materials that aren’t readily used in the industry. I don't want customers to compromise on style for the sake of it being natural and eco-friendly, so it has always been important to me to set out with the challenge of applying both. It’s during the pattern cutting stage of the clothing that I consider the materials I am working with and how best to use them. For the Wanderlust collection, I spent many months developing Miloflex®, our new activewear fabric that is great for yoga and fitness, which, refreshingly, is eco-friendly. This was the lengthy and difficult part of the process because tencel®, the main fibre in Miloflex®, isn’t used for activewear alone because usually it’s too thin and not stretchy enough for easy movement. However, many developments later, with a lot of patience from the manufacturer, we got it to work just right.
The newest collection, Wanderlust, from Milochie will be out from April. For now, why not browse through our existing designs here?  Amanda Taveras
Tell us a little about yourself My name is Amanda Taveras, I am 32 years old, originally from South Carolina and ever since college I have been true to my Dad’s gypsy nature, living in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Boston, Minneapolis and currently in the process of relocating to Detroit. When did you discover your passion for yoga? I have been a lover of yoga and its benefits ever since I attended my first vinyasa yoga class in college. I couldn’t explain why I felt a sense of bliss and peace after every class, but I knew I needed to learn more about this ancient practice. Then living in the amazon in Venezuela, I met a Shaman while traveling through the Amazon jungle, and he taught me the importance of meditation and finding stillness in my daily life. How has yoga changed you/your life? Yoga has completely changed my life, how I view myself, how I interact with others, my priorities in life, and my overall wellbeing and health. When I moved to Minneapolis and did my 230 hour Yoga Study/Teacher Training Certification at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis it was the best decision I ever made. Before I even finished my training, an opportunity to teach had already presented itself at the apartment where I lived. Since then I have started my own business bringing yoga to different luxury apartments and corporations in downtown Minneapolis. What is your greatest passion? I feel so blessed to teach yoga, helping students connect on their mats and challenging them to push themselves is one of my greatest joys. Becoming the best teacher I can is currently my greatest passion, learning as much as I can to then share it with my students. Why are you a Milochie ambassador? I was immediately attracted to Milochie’s focus on using natural materials that are created by craftsmen working in a fair environment where both sides share the benefit. It is so hard to think about that the clothes that are easily available are made through child labor and an unfair work environment. How do you #LiveFairBuyFair in your everyday life? I try and do the least amount of harm as possible to mother earth. My friends call me the bag lady because I am always giving away cloth bags to my neighbors so they will stop using plastic/paper bags. I do my shopping at the local farmers market, and ride my bicycle as much as I can throughout the year. What does #LiveFairBuyFair mean to you? It means supporting businesses that create positive relationships and benefit our planet rather than harm it. What is your motivation for being an advocate for conscious clothing? I believe the beauty of our yoga community is that we are constantly lifting one another up, encouraging one another. I feel that I can help spread the word about Milochie and its mission through my practice. Plus the clothes are beautiful and perfectly designed to get bendy and upside down! What’s your favorite yoga pose? My current favorites are heart openers. I love when I am warm in a practice and feel my back and chest opening and finding new space. It always feels so wonderful and freeing. Who is your favorite person to do yoga with? My favorite people to do yoga with are my two favorite teachers, Patrick Beach and Dice Ida Klein. I practice with them online on a weekly basis, and I am planning on attending a teacher training with Patrick in February and one with Dice in July. What’s a fun fact about you, that most people don’t know? I use to be a classical and jazz pianist. Currently I don’t play much, but everyone who is close to me wants me to pick it back up!  Helen Garner
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Helen Garner – the one question I get asked quite a lot on Instagram is WHEN I moved to Africa… so I guess that is my first comment. I am African, born and bred – my children are 7th generation South African. I have lived and travelled the world, but I always come home to Africa. I was born and raised in a small coastal town on the Kwa-Zulu Natal north coast… and I live in an old historic farmhouse with my husband, 2 kids and 4 dogs. My favourite place to travel… anywhere where I can get in the sea and swim and freedive (lets also use the adjectives WARM and HOT here too… my African blood is thin and mainly anything under 24 degrees is sweater weather for me). When did you discover your passion for yoga? I always kind of could “do” yoga – my body understands the poses pretty well… but it wasn’t until I got really sick with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) that I was told I could no longer exercise. I was a competitive athlete most my life and I really enjoyed training and the discipline of that… so it was devastating. I quickly looked for something to do – and figured I’d do yoga for a bit – because it’s not like yoga is hard, right???????? I started practising in 2001 and my life as I knew it was never the same again. How has yoga changed you/your life? I went from being self-indulgent and pretty sorry for myself, distracting myself with party after party to realising that this was “the addictions” and “the distractions” we learn to recognise and lose when we truly practice yoga. I quit my job in advertising which had gotten too fake and overstimulating and the antithesis of what I believed in… and took myself to India to complete my Ashtanga YTT in 2004 Learning to face my demons head on and deal with my stuff turned me from a passive victim into a grateful and conscious human. My circumstances didn’t change all that much… but my attitude did… and that made all the difference in the world. What is your greatest passion? I want to say so much here. My life IS yoga and I am very passionate about sharing yoga with everyone I can. It’s my dream that the world will start to see yoga (any form, any discipline… just YOGA) as something accessible and important and vital to a healthy and holistic life. Why are you a Milochie ambassador? I am very honoured to be a Milochie ambassador because I love who and what they stand for as a brand. I also love the fabric and the fit… the quality is very superior and the fit is awesome, and I am a fan of not worrying about my outfit going south when I am upside down or in a deep stretch!! What does #LiveFairBuyFair mean to you? #LiveFairBuyFair really sums up ahimsa to me… how our one action can have a ripple effect of positive or of negative on everything, and if we consciously choose to be fair and do right, it sends a beautiful ripple of good out into the universe. Using the power of love derived from Ahimsa points beings in the direction of freedom. What is your motivation for being an advocate for conscious clothing? I am a mum and it’s important to me that I grow humans who think bigger than their own circle and immediate needs. Which trust me, is an ongoing journey with young children… and at night after prayers they love more than anything to sing Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts words and actions of my own life contribute to that happiness and that freedom for all”) It’s not enough that we lie in bed and send love and prayers to the world… we have to remember THAT OUR WORDS AND OUR ACTIONS must contribute to that happiness and that freedom. I love that this mantra gets us involved and not on the periphery watching the world unfold. What’s your favorite yoga pose? I am most in love with ustrasana (camel pose). Its not the deepest of backbends… but to me it represents the gateway to depth. It also is the pose that builds COURAGE and there is nothing I love more than humans showing courage in their vulnerability… which is epitomised on the mat in camel pose. Who is your favorite person to do yoga with? BRADY my border collie. He is the one animal or human that is ALWAYS allowed in my studio with me. What’s a fun fact about you, that most people don’t know? I lived in Eqypt for 2 years (in Dahab, South Sinai) teaching yoga and competing internationally in freediving and I am 6 times South African Freediving champion. |
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Milochie activewear is a fusion of performance and style with ethical and sustainable production. No compromise; get the function and feel of high quality synthetic performance activewear without the damages to people and the planet. |
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