A lot of suits are made for striking a pose, but a yoga one? That's stretching it.
Well, Raf Swiader has taken up the challenge, collaborating with celebrity yoga instructor Eddie Stern on a tailoring capsule that goes straight from the office to the mat.
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Stern, whose students include Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna, owns the Broome Street Ganesha Temple up the block from Swiader's small-batch menswear store, R.Swiader, on Grand Street. A yogi himself, Swiader began offering classes there three years ago, "and one thing led to another," he said.
"Eddie invited me to teach at his school. I already had deep respect for him, so I kept studying under him and learning his Yoga Sangraha technique. The practice changed how I see life and it influences how I design today."
Raf Swiader and Eddie Stern
Fashion-wise, Swiader and Stern are yin and yang, and they leaned into their shared belief that having an active lifestyle is no excuse to dress only in athleisure. After all, according to Stern, "the outfit sets the tone for inner alignment."
Consisting of a double-breasted blazer ($850), shirt ($325), necktie ($160) and two alternating bottoms ($400 to $450), this outfit is cut from his choice of textured Japanese cotton, so there's no stressing over wrinkles, even after sitting in lotus position.
For the Mitra pant, named after a Hindu deity, Stern said he modified an R.Swiader silhouette from last season, dropping the crotch and adding pleats and drawcords, which allow the legs to balloon out or fall straight for a more formal look. "Then I suggested we do the same trousers as shorts, adding a large cuff. I love cuffed shorts."
Raf Swiader and Eddie Stern
"And obviously it's all in black, because we're New Yorkers," Swiader joked. Proving there's some truth to that stereotype, Stern said his work uniform is almost exclusively black, and even though the capsule doesn't drop until Monday, he's already been putting it to the test.
He'll wear the jacket during meetings, whipping it off before class begins to lead breathwork exercises in either the pants or shorts. "They work and feel great," raved Stern, noting how the minimalist look helps him keep a steady, present mind.
Don't believe him? The pair will be modeling their pieces on launch day during a free yoga session at Ganesha. To book a spot, go to broomestreetyoga.com.
Raf Swiader and Eddie Stern
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