This one is for the yogis, the yoga virgins, the introverted house dwellers, and the socialising errand runners. For those of you who exercise daily or prefer to watch people exercise from a cafe window… this ethically made loungewear brand is for each and everyone of you.

Let me introduce you to Sooti: a brand built on the foundation of sustainability and fairness in the workplace. Shireen, founder of Sooti, has bound her two homes (India and New Zealand) together to create an activewear and loungewear company for people and planet. That’s literally what ‘Sooti’ symbolises: thread.

“When I am stressed my heart and mind wander nostalgically to Kolkata, and the summers spent in my grandma’s backyard. I can close my eyes and feel her soft sari sweeping against my skin, and in that moment I am calmed.”

Shireen has put together a collection of pieces that instil this idea of serenity and calm. Although her garments can be worn during an intensive and sweaty calm-free workout, the ethos of Sooti is to be in the moment and be present with what is.

I’ve been wearing and trialling Sooti for over a month. During that time the garments have seen many yoga sessions, lots of trips to the bulk bin shop, and even a few parties. I’m a sucker for multifunctional pieces, and although I never thought I’d be the type of person to wear yoga pants out of the house; Sooti is different.

Materials & Making

Sooti is run from two corners of the world: New Zealand and India. While Shireen runs the day-to-day business here in New Zealand, her mother, Sujata Kamra, is on the ground in India. This means all materials can be hand-picked, and quality is not compromised.

The organic cotton comes from Chetna Organic who work with small to medium sized farmers. These farmers produce organic cotton and make a sustainable livelihood without the dangers of conventionally grown cotton chemicals.

Other materials include recycled polyester and spandex for stretch. Although spandex is not a natural or sustainably sound material, the percentage that makes up the garments is always minor. Research is going into alternatives, but at the moment there is no natural alternative to spandex that allows for the required stretch of loungewear that makes it wearable. I’ll keep you updated!

All factories who make Sooti garments are FairTrade certified, and again, having Shireen’s mum on the ground means she can visit and ensure that worker standards are consistently met.

Easy shop site

The shop section is split into helpful categories that allow us to shop depending on our preferred method of exercise or garment type. My particular favourite is the ‘activity’ section which allows shoppers to search by activity type- I haven’t seen this on any shop site before.

Yoga and pilates
Dance and barre
Outdoors

Sooti offers free shipping in New Zealand and just $15NZ for international customers too! Often shipping costs limit ethically minded consumers, so I’m very thankful.

Packaging

Shireen sends her garments in gorgeous muslin bags that can be reused for all sorts of things. I’ve used mine as travel cells, for carrying dirty shoes, and storage cells in my craft cupboard. The courier bags are also 100% home compostable, making the shipment plastic free.

End of life consideration

When I first discover a brand, I ask where their products end up at the end of their life. Sooti is new to the ethical fashion scene, but at some point (hopefully in many decades time) customers will wear out their clothing and need a way to responsibly dispose of their Sooti garments.

In the future, Shireen intends to create a Facebook group for on-selling and swapping wearable but no longer needed Sooti garments. On here she can also educate on ways to repurpose unwearable garments e.g. turn them into stuffing for cushions, vegetable ties for vines, or donating to mechanics who always need spare rags.

Product reviews

I’ve trialled the Sooti underwear (in fact, I’m wearing them right now! TMI?) and will be sharing them in another ethically made underwear blog soon. But for now, here’s a review of the pants and camisole.

Alta Dhoti Pants

I used to exclusively wear tight compression activewear pants to practice all types of yoga. Since wearing these loose fitting ethically made yoga pants, I’ll stick to these unless it’s an intensive yoga session that may be more like a workout. The loose fit (I wear a size M as I like them really baggy, but I could fit a size S) is breezy and comfortable in all yoga poses, but they don’t look too ‘hippy’ when I wear them out and about. Even though I have worn these pants around 10 times in the past month, I haven’t had to wash them- just spot wash. Their breathability means they don’t get stinky!

These are made from 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex.

Camisole

A good camisole is a staple in most wardrobes, and this is a goodie. I thought the underarm seams were a bit baggy at first, but after the first wash, the fit was great. As you can see, I opted for a more baggy fit as opposed to the usual tight top look (this is a size M). This means I am comfortable wearing it out and about as a top on it’s own. There is a little logo on the back in the middle centre- this is the one thing I would improve about the camisole.

This is also made from 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex.

Shireen and I caught up for coffee in a quaint Auckland Cafe before we began working together. It was very clear she’s serious about an alternative to active and loungewear that isn’t Lululemon. I love Shireen’s intentions, and her genuine purpose for the brand is clear and so needed. It’s an honour to practice yoga and complete errands in clothing I know was made by people who are treated as every human deserves.

Need loungewear or activewear for any sort of activity?

Shop Sooti here.

As a rule, I only work with brands I love, use, and can whole heartedly back. I send the brand a large list of questions to answer first, and trial the product properly before saying yes to anything. This is a sponsored blog (I can't pay my electricity bill with free products), but 100% my own words, photos, and opinion.