prAna

"prAna, an ancient Sanskrit word for breath, life and vitality of the spirit, has helped guide our actions and lift our aspirations since day one.”

The prAna brand started out 17 years ago making clothing that worked well for climbing and yoga, scouring the world for design inspiration. They cut and sewed clothing in a garage and shipped it to customers in surplus fruit boxes gathered from the local grocery store. For hangtags, they ground up old newspapers, added essential oils and cut out the handmade paper with a pizza cutter. Their first employee slept on a hinged bed that turned into a shipping table by day!

They’ve grown a lot since then, but most of their original employees are still there. They try to participate in business with like-minded folks who want to promote conservation and create positive change, which reflects the same intention as the old days. Organic cotton, fair trade and wind power initiatives are on the short list of what they support. Friends and inspirations like climber Chris Sharma, yogini Shiva Rea and of course their valued customers help inform the designs and keep them legit.