Dear Lil' Devas Blog

Hello, Rosie here. After using the bamboo braid in class for the last 3 months, I’ve realized that it has seriously altered my yoga practice – in SUCH a good way! Even though I didn’t realize it, making adjustments to my hair was distracting. With the bamboo braid done up the special way that I do it, I don’t think at all about my hair during class. The series of pictures below show how I recommend tying the braid “Yoga-Style” (watch the video to get even better instructions).

Here is what Mary-Ellen of Nanaimo, B.C. who also does her braid up “Yoga-Style” has to say about her new bamboo braid:

“Hey, huge congrats to you, Rosie, Vijanthy and the rest of the team involved in coming up with the braided hair tie-back. Fabulous product — the only hair-constraining accessory I’ve ever found that offers everything I’m looking for, including the quick switch requirements needed for yoga practice!!

The fabric is soft and conforming, and puts no tension on the scalp. The braid has a textural quality that brings it “off” the head and makes it satisfying — beefy- to handle. The colours are rich, the STRETCH is integral, not  dependent on lycra, and the length is so perfect for two wraps around the head or one around the head and two around my dreads when I gather them together at the back of my neck in an easy ponytail.

This final feature is EVERYTHING I need for hair-minding in yoga!!! It allows the hair to hang loose for inversions where the bulk of a ponytail under the skull is a liability and yet in seconds, with ease and poise, I can gather my hair up and have it behind me for forward bends and the like.”

Now, will this totally great stretchy band become waistbands or cuffs? Core-warmer hems? You’ve heard of WonderBread? Well, this is WonderBraid!And are rainbow ones or tie-dye ones coming?

Thank you all for solving a problem I never thought I’d get around!!! REALLY like the ease of the hair-down/hair-back option!

Mary-Ellen”

Tying the Bamboo Braid “Yoga-Style”

First Step for Tying Braid "Yoga-Style"

Second Step: after knotting as shown above, put it on as a headband to keep your hair out of your face

Third Step (the KEY): gather your hair into a ponytail and tie the remainding pieces of the braid around it. This forms a SOFT, lovely knot that lets you lie right down without adjusting your hair first for Savasana!

Step 4: You're very good to go!!

Hi, I’m Rosie Connor. My most beloved job here at Dear Lil’ Devas is designing our clothing. Part of that also involves making decisions about the fabrics that we use. I’d like to share with you my thoughts on how we source our bamboo fabric, and why we choose not to add spandex.

(A few notes to start)
In this blog article, for simplicity’s sake I’ll refer to Dear Lil’ Devas 70% viscose from certified organic bamboo and 30% certified organic cotton knit fabric as “our bamboo fabric” because the bamboo component is the most prevalent.

When I refer to Lycra®/spandex/elastane – they are one and the same; spandex and elastane are generic names, Lycra® was originally developed and trademarked by DuPont.

I don’t claim to be an expert about the issues below, but I hope that what I write will cause you to think a bit. Please realize that it is coming from a very sincere place in my heart. I feel strongly that I want to make the most benevolent decisions that I can and with that, there is a huge sense of personal responsibility.

Sourcing Locally and What it Means to Dear Lil’ Devas

Having the possibility to actually get locally-produced fabric is an unusual occurrence with textiles in this country – sadly, there are not very many companies left in Canada that produce their own fabrics from the point of importing the yarn to the finished goods.

Increasingly, we as informed citizens are realizing just how important locally produced goods are to the environment and to our economy. The fact that Dear Lil’ Devas bamboo fabric is finished locally by a supplier that we know first-hand (can meet with face to face) and trust feels really good.

With textiles, environmental claims are very difficult to consolidate or regulate. Different countries have different regulations for different terms that are used to describe textiles, and it all gets mixed up Online. This is one of the reasons that Dear Lil’ Devas is so blessed in having a local producer for our bamboo fabric knit, so that we don’t get mixed up in the sea of terms – but can actually experience the following for ourselves:

• Our supplier uses a low-impact dye process.
• Spandex is not added to the knit.
• The finished fabric isn’t treated with toxic chemicals to make it brighter, or more anti-bacterial.
• They import just the yarn to knit our fabric from so we are guaranteed “purity” (no cheaper materials have been illicitly substituted).
• Their workers are treated with respect and the workplace is a nice place to be (I must say)!
• And a big one: Our supplier produces the fabric on an “as-needed” basis. This is important from an environmental point of view, as well as on a humanistic level. Excess fabric and garments that are produced by many bigger companies in advance of sales adversely affect the economies of Southern countries, because they are “dumped” there.

The Broader Picture of Producing Locally

At this point in the state of our global economy, it is sure more expensive dollar-wise to source locally than to import finished goods, but that is changing. Retaining our first-hand knowledge (our institutional memory) and integrity is well worth the price. And in the long run, is it really more expensive? I believe that what we’re doing is investing in the future. It is really a blessing to be able to play a role in encouraging our local suppliers to continue to develop technology and make choices that are kind to the earth, to do their own sourcing responsibly, and to ultimately stay in business. We will need the infrastructure and their knowledge in the future!

Sourcing Locally-Produced Fabric Allows Dear Lil’ Devas to Choose NO added Spandex/Lycra®

It’s not easy find knit fabric that doesn’t have spandex in it these days. Spandex is almost as common in our clothes as MSG and gluten are in our food.

Spandex is polyurethane – so basically a petrochemical just like plastic.

Choosing not to “enrich” our fabrics with Lycra® is an environmental commitment and a lifestyle choice that Dear Lil’ Devas has made right from the beginning. Fortunately our local producer of our bamboo knit respects this choice, and because they supply a good deal of fabric to companies who make cloth baby diapers, it is better for them too.

Here are the reasons that we do not add spandex:

• Spandex does not biodegrade.
• It shortens a garment’s life, becoming brittle with age and use, and therefore will be in the landfill that much sooner.
• Dear Lil’ Devas clothing “Allows Your Body to Breathe” – so, we’re not about to add spandex, then the clothing wouldn’t breathe anymore, and we don’t think that is very healthy.
• Finally, we won’t add it, because we just simply don’t like the feel of it!

Are you accustomed to wearing clothing that does have spandex added to it? Please read below:

• If you haven’t come across a knit fabric garment without spandex, you might think something is wrong when say, your Dear Lil’ Devas bamboo shirt, stretches a bit over the course of the day. Don’t worry, nothing is wrong!! Anyone who was around “back in the day” (before spandex), like your mother or your grandmother will tell you, “Just wash it cold and hang to dry, it’ll be all set to wear again tomorrow dear.” In my own experience it takes a couple of days of use before my long-sleeved tee needs to be “reset”, and I wouldn’t wear it longer than that without washing anyhow!

Our Core Values

I’ve come to the conclusion over the years that one thing we cannot do is please everyone. Especially when it comes to compromising our core values: to spread as much joy as possible (good vibes) through the use of beautiful fabrics, and lovely COMFORTABLE clothing produced in a very benevolent environment. Adding spandex in my view, would not be very benevolent. Not for the Earth, and therefore not for our customers who in our view must benefit from the thought and love that has gone into their Dear Lil’ Devas items.

I invite you to check out our Dear Lil’ Devas collection of bamboo garments and accessories: www.dearlildevas.com/bamboo.htm

When you place an order with Dear Lil’ Devas online, you’re given the option of “with hangtag”, or “without hangtag”. A hangtag is the printed piece of paper that you remove from your purchase once you’ve got it home from the store; and usually throw away.

This “with” or “without” option has been in effect since February, 2009. The response? – In 2010, 98% of your online orders were mailed without a hangtag! All of the information about your purchase is right here on our website (care info is on the label sewn onto the  garment itself), and unless the item is being given as a gift, there really is no need for the extra packaging.

However, when DLD items go out to be sold in retail boutiques and yoga studios, hangtags are included.

Early this spring it was time to make the hangtags for Dear Lil’ Devas bamboo short-sleeved t-shirts (we had an order from the new “p’lovers The Environmental Store” in Kingston, Ontario). The past winter had been so long, and thinking of t-shirts brought to mind the hot, humid summer – my favourite season, humidity and all!!

Looking up photos of summers gone by couldn’t be resisted, so, rather than making the hangtags, there I was having a trip down memory lane, and thinking, “Oh I just wish I could share these beautiful pictures with our customers.” But, the pictures weren’t relevant to Dear Lil’ Devas, other than that they make me really happy!

Satiated, I went back to the hangtags. Usually, we put a picture of the item on it’s hangtag, but this time, I wasn’t excited about the pictures that we had of the tee-shirts – (it’s a different story now after getting some wonderful photos of the tees on Andrew at the climbing gym), but at the time, I just had generic, albeit accurate pics of the tees, BORING!

But wait… why a picture of the tee-shirt on the hangtag when whoever is looking at the tee in the store has it physically right in front of them? If you’re in the store, you can feel the luxuriously soft bamboo fabric, and see the lovely cut (not your generic computer-generated pattern by the way; each pattern size and style was hand-drafted to be as intuitive a fit as possible). Really… why not a picture that evokes memories of that hot, beautiful time of year when a cool, moisture-wicking bamboo t-shirt becomes a necessity!? … Summer!

Below are the hangtags that go along with the t-shirts. I am so pleased with them, that just this once, I encourage you to choose the option “with hangtag”! They are folded (pic on front, writing on back) and on the inside there is no text or pictures at all, just To/ and From/ fields in case you’re going to give the t-shirt as a gift (can I tell you that men LOVE these shirts…).

Andrew, the owner and genius behind Boulderz Climbing Centre in Toronto was kind enough to sport our bamboo tees, and new bamboo tank tops for men! Here at DLD we only take pictures of people to illustrate our clothing that we know and love. You’ll agree (as I’ve already heard from a lot of you) – we are VERY lucky to know and love Andrew! By the way, climbing is really really good exercise, and the range of movement similar to yoga. I encourage you to try it out – it’s quite probable that you’ll surprise yourself! Enjoy the pics! – and visit Boulderz if you’re in Toronto! www.boulderzclimbing.com/

Friday, May 13, 2011 in the neighbourhood of the Junction Triangle in Toronto at about 14:00 EST, SUMMER HAPPENED!! And, wow, we were there! The heat and sun felt so good. ( Pants in photos are our Classic Yoga Bloomers )

It may seem hard to believe, but a diagnosis of cancer for one of our Dear Lil’ Devas coworkers in February, 2011 launched us on an amazing journey that has enriched our lives in the most unexpected ways. I know it may sound callous – calling it an enriching experience, but the person who’s health is on the mend is the very first to say it! We have had miraculous results with the help of an alternative healer.

One part of the changes we’ve made has been to our diet. Many hours have been spent learning about food. Fruit has figured very high on the list of importance here, and that is how we came to learn of the elusive mangosteen.

Our healer, with great enthusiasm, told us of one fruit, a fruit that far outstrips others in it’s nutritional and antioxidant properties, but that is so difficult to get – having a short season and not cultivated here in Canada. In fact, only appearing in a certain few shops for a short time every year. And could we guess what it is called? She must have known that this fruit grew in abundance “back home” in Sri Lanka, which is where our coworker hails from and would be a fond childhood memory. So – a quest! Our coworker and her husband started checking every week in their shops, putting the word out to be given notice the minute the mangosteens come in.

It happens quite often that when I get to the studio, I’m greeted with excitement from the stitchers – usually it’s because a sample that was worked on turned out so beautifully, or because someone figured out an easier way to do one of the operations – it’s funny the things that give us joy; often very simple. Up to now, always things related to our DLD “wears”.

Last week when I came in, I was greeted with triumph and an outstretched palm. The mangosteen didn’t look like much at all – a small, tough-looking, roundish purple/black object with hard leaves at the top. Although we were excited to try them, it was decided to postpone until lunchtime, and if I’m honest, my curiosity was a bit dampened by how the fruit looked.

Well – yet another lesson of how it’s best not to judge a book by it’s cover… the taste!!!! Wow, I have never tasted anything so exquisite, and in one short week have come to crave after this fruit more than the most wonderful chocolate, which everyone knows is my favorite luxury – now displaced by the mangosteen!!!

And, the most interesting thing happened. In Sri Lanka, the way that the mangosteens are opened is with a sharp knife used to make a fissure around the shell/skin of the fruit, so that it can be manipulated to tear open – the shell is so tough that it would seem impossible to crack it open or peel it just by using your hands. Using a sharp knife to open looks super dangerous – I had the same sensation of fear as when I watched kids in Guatemala climbing coconut trees with machetes in hand… and was just thinking to myself that I’d have to make it clear to my little daughter that she’d need to always get me or her dad to open mangosteens for her… when another of our stitchers came in – (“back home” to her is Malaysia) and said, “oh you got the mangosteens!”, took the one proffered her, popped the top leaves off and squeezed it together (top against bottom), and if that fruit did not just split open, to the open-mouthed astonishment of the rest of us!!

Tremendous the richness of the cultural backgrounds of the people around us. This is a wonderfully simple example of how everyone’s experience can be of mutual benefit!!!

The Yoga Show in downtown Toronto was a huge success last weekend. Here are some pics that we took, and thank you all who stopped by to meet and visit with us! How lovely it was to see everyone in their DLD “wears”. Our sewers – those tremendous creators of our good vibes have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the pictures that we were able to take even amidst the busy-ness of the event. One person especially liked the description of himself as an “exuberant receiver and purveyor of DLD good vibes” – and I just LOVE it too – so here are some of you… (and some of us!)
Rosie Connor

Rosie finished with the set-up! Pheww - so happy!!!

Upright is all good.....

but inverted in Dream Pants is better!!!!

Our Dears - Senem and Corianna (on the Saturday)

Absolutely Beautiful

New Friends

Dropping in After Work

Knapsack Comeraderie

Knapsack Comeraderie 2

Welcome!!!

Beloved Little Guy!

It's Spring, Really - it is!!

Truly Caught in her DLD "Wears"

Completely DLD'd (decked) Out!

Hello, Rosie here, this is my very first blog article! I’ve often wished to be able to explain things that are on dearlildevas.com in greater detail for people who are interested, and hear your thoughts too, so hopefully, this is the beginning of some great discussions!

About a week ago, we received the following words from Gail:

I loved your packaging, by the way! My husband and I both were admiring your clever environmental solution! A Kashi Go Lean box turned inside out! I’ll share that idea with friends.

Thank you for the lovely and unique yoga clothes, Rosie.

The same day that I received that note from Gail, my daughter came home from school talking about how her class needs remotes for their Smart Board. She was frustrated about it, so we started to discuss ways that her class could raise money using something that many households could potentially donate for reuse.

Of course, then it dawned on me that WE need boxes at Dear Lil’ Devas, so I suggested to her that the kids in her class could bring in their empt