In the beginning of my yoga journey, buying a mat did not pose any problems. Only two things mattered then – the cost and the colour of the mat; and the decision was easy. But as my practice deepened, the need to connect directly to earth, without an artificial barrier in between became important.
It was difficult to be happy with the mat I was using knowing that artificial mats become a burden to the environment. I felt the need to work in tune with nature and not against it.
Seated prayers in India never involve artificial materials. We use wooden planks, Dharbha grass or special mats made of natural materials specially designed for the purpose.
To me, Yoga is a sacred and spiritual practice through which I become one with nature. So how can I use artificial mats for the practice?
Thus began my quest for a natural yoga mat that would harmonize me with the elements of nature. I yearned to reclaim the connection to nature without compromising the integrity of my yoga practice.
Witnessing the scarcity of natural yoga accessories in UAE, I felt compelled to take action. My mission was clear – to introduce sustainable and handmade yoga accessories to the UAE market, to raise awareness, and to advocate for responsible yoga practice.
While the decision was straightforward, the realization was challenging. Two years of relentless research and unwavering support from my husband, friends, and well-wishers culminated in the birth of Flamingo Yoga Boutique. Our commitment is unwavering – to offer 100% natural yoga accessories to the UAE, and gradually, to the GCC countries.
At Flamingo Yoga Boutique, our journey is rooted in the harmony between yoga and nature, and we invite you to be a part of this transformative odyssey.
Hema Laxman, Owner
At Flamingo E-Boutique, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to a greener, more conscious world is unwavering and you can see how our products are good for the earth below.
At Flamingo Yoga & Wellness, we are committed to sustainability. We steer clear of plastic in both our products and packaging. Our eco-friendly packaging materials are not only kinder to the environment but also designed for reusability and recycling. Join us in making mindful choices for a greener world.
Our products are a breath of fresh air – literally! We've ensured that our collection is free from harmful chemicals. Breathe easy and embrace a toxin-free wellness journey with Flamingo Yoga & Wellness
Our passion for wellness extends to our planet. Our products are not only good for your body but also for Mother Earth. We've made a conscious choice to use eco-friendly materials in both our products and packaging. By choosing Flamingo, you're embracing a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature, one eco-friendly yoga accessory at a time.
We take pride in offering you handwoven/ handmade yoga products from the rural artisans in India. Each item is carefully crafted with love and expertise, making it a unique addition to your yoga practice.
With every purchase you make, you contribute to the livelihood and empowerment of these artisans. It's our way of honoring their skill and dedication while promoting fair and ethical practices in the world of yoga and wellness
At Flamingo e-Boutique, we harness nature’s gifts to craft our eco-conscious yoga essentials. From the soft embrace of cotton to the natural firmness of cork, and the gentle support of buckwheat hulls, our products are thoughtfully designed with both your well-being and the environment in mind. We believe that by choosing products made with love and respect for the earth, you’re not just enhancing your yoga practice – you’re nurturing the planet too.
We have a community of 48 weavers and they are the creators of our unique, eco-friendly and handwoven yoga mats and blankets. Each weaver spends half a day to a full day to complete the weaving of a mat/blanket. The entire process is labour intensive as they use manual looms driven by constant movement of hands or feet. No power is used in the process. Weaving is the only work they know and consequently their only source of income.
There are two different sets of yarns: ‘warp’ which is stretched in place in the loom and the weft which is the moving component, threaded through the warp during the weaving process.
We underestimate the amount of work that goes into the making of these blankets and yoga mats.
All the props that we sell through our website comes through these artisans. Nothing is automated. Each bolster, meditation cushion and eye pillow are filled by hand and stitched to bring us ease and comfort during yoga.
Through the images below, let me try to take you through the process from dyeing of cotton to the end result which is the blanket and yoga mats. These images were clicked during our visit to the weavers.
One noteworthy aspect of the weaving is the commitment to sustainable practices. A mini-water treatment plant is integrated within the weaving facilities, significantly reducing the environmental footprint
AZO-free dyes are meticulously applied in precise quantities and calibrated to achieve the exact colors. The steel rods visible here hold the dyed yarns. The image may capture a glimpse of the process, but does not do justice to the vibrancy of the colors. You find me here, all smile with joy of the moment and a deep appreciation for the beauty and simplicity that underlies this age-old craft.
These yarns are ready for the next stage of their transformation. After the dyeing, along with these steel rods, they are about to make their way into the drier, where they will evolve further on their path to becoming exquisite textiles.
The dried yarns are wound onto a frame as shown or beam in a process known as warping. This creates the warp, a set of tightly stretched, parallel threads that will serve as the foundation for weaving.The next image is a continuation from here.
The Smiling gentleman here manually rotates this wooden frame to get the threads stronger and longer for the warps. Warp is stretched in place in the loom.
These are some beautiful blue warps which form the lengthwise aspect on the loom in the next image. The warps are much stronger than the wefts.
This was a stationary loom, the person in charge was away for a break. But I loved the colours and decided to take the picture anyway.
Once the warp is set up on the loom, the weft threads come into play. The weft threads are woven horizontally across the warp threads in a process known as "weaving." The weft threads pass over and under the warp threads, creating the fabric structure and design.
This is the cotton blanket weaving. There is continuous movement of the hands and feet. There is no electricity at all. You can see the long threads or the warps clearly. Blanket weaving takes a day and is slightly easier than the mats.
Weaving is a lot of hard work and requires practice and precision. The artisans work hard day and night to bring forth the beautiful masterpiece which we see and love to own.
This is within the unit of bolster production, The bolsters and cushions are manually filled. Here we see the stitching of the Bolster covers which are done with precision by these youngsters
You can see that the machinery used for the mats are different when compared to the blankets pictured above. The mats take longer to finish – anywhere between two to three days of work without electricity.