Prancing Leopard

Posted by Carolyn

on July 30, 2009

Editor’s Note: A couple weeks ago I went on a day long yoga/raw food/Blueprint Cleanse retreat to Southampton with my friend Jennifer. As we changed into our yoga clothes, Jennifer put on the cutest lavender onesie that everyone was oohing over. So of course I asked her to do a little guest post for TDO, and it turns out- there’s a lot more than what just meets the eye.

With all of the ultra-high tech fabrics in yoga garb these days, it’s nice to find a line that is breaking from the lulu-standard. Enter Prancing Leopard Organics, active wear that’s made with super soft, organic cotton for the fashion-forward, exercise enthusiasts among us. In fact, founders, Bert and Sevda Holland, are committed to sustainability,using 95% hand-harvested fibers and giving back to the community.

Comfortable and functional, the newly launched line of Prancing Leopard Organics apparel includes a fresh new take on workout clothes, including jumpsuits and harem pants, that infuse styles which can easily be worn on casual, non-gym days too. I had the pleasure of lounging poolside as well as partaking in a yoga and pilates class all the while wearing the Aix-en Provence Jumpsuit. I will admit, this was my first time sporting harem pants and I didn’t know how I would feel about them, especially in a yoga class, but to my pleasant surprise, it felt like I was wearing a maxi dress, as it is free-flowing and not restricting, but with the ease that pants allow for athletic activity. I actually enjoyed the comfort-factor so much, that I wore the jumpsuit the entire day instead of changing back into my sundress. The lime green lining and pockets were added details that I appreciated.

Behind the seams, Prancing Leopard Organics is one of the founding members of Organic Team, a worldwide effort towards improving textile standards with a goal of creating a broader awareness of socially and environmentally responsible textile choices. Its “Be Good” mission goes beyond the common thread, with a commitment to giving back. A portion of Prancing Leopard Organics’ online sales are donated to the buyer’s yoga, pilates or dance studio of choice, and 2% of the company’s overall profits go to The Snow Leopard Trust, a foundation dedicated to saving the rare and beautiful animal. And finally to top it off, Prancing Leopard Organics has organized a not-for-profit Artisan Product program, which supports women in underserved communities. In a nutshell, Prancing Leopard Organics is the yoga (read: union) of style, functionality, and goodwill.