A New Mat in Town
AUTHOR: Louise Khong
Yellow Willow brings together aesthetics and performance for its collection of luxe yoga mats.
As wearers of luxury activewear and lovers of yoga, Jessica Incledon and Sascha Martin spotted an opportunity one day during practice. “Looking around the room at yoga, I noticed everyone was having fun with the prints they were wearing, but the mats were kind of boring,” says Incledon.
That’s what inspired the pair to start the Sydney-based label Yellow Willow, their venture that makes patterned yoga mats that are as beautiful as they are functional.
Made from a combination of suede-textured fabric and natural tree rubber, the mats are available in four different prints. They are designed specially for hot and Bikram yoga; the more you sweat, the grippier they become.
“[My towel] would always bunch up over my mat and get in the way,” says Incledon. “You practice to focus and not be distracted by little things. It took away from the experience that yoga should be.” The soft fabric top absorbs any moisture, so there’s no need to use a towel as well. All mats are machine washable, and can be used for regular yoga and Pilates, too. “A mat really should be more than just a barrier between you and the ground. It changes how stable you feel and how strong you are when doing your poses,” says Incledon.
Yellow Willow ships Australia wide.
yellowwillow.com.au