WE'AR spotlight:

Will is a trained contemporary dancer, singer and a friend of WE'AR - splore stall helper, fashion festival and cycle style model, as well as a general good time spirit around the office from time to time! Will has worked with some of New Zealand's lead contemporary dance artists such as Douglas Wright and Shona McCullagh, and also performed in the Auckland Theatre Company's season of 'Cabaret'. WE'AR talk to Will about dance, yoga and why our clothes are perfect for a freelance lifestyle...

clockwise from left: Will wears kulu wrap and linen pom pom scarf, on the runway for NZ Fashion Festival, Thomas, Will and WE'AR GM Anya in Auckland HQ at the screening of 'morning light'  summer '12 campaign

What inspires you right now?
At the moment the work I'm doing - creating a show based on gender studies and also fashion in dance, the way it moves and how it becomes an extension of the body, creating different spaces around it. 


What projects are you working on at the moment?
I have recently returned from Wellington working on a choreographic development workshop with dancer and choreographer Anita Hutchins, followed by a few photo shoots. Later this year I am performing at the nationwide Fetish Ball which will be an eye-opener I'm sure! Then I am working with Okareka Dance Company on their show based on the history of K road, a venture I am thoroughly looking forward to, and also continuing to research my own works.


How have you been involved with WE'AR?
I love WE'AR, not only because I am friends with everyone there, I have also modeled in their fashion shows and am occasionally their menswear fit model. The clothing is ideal for someone in the dance industry because it pays to have something comfortable to dance in when you're jumping around and getting sweaty... and you can spruce yourself up with a beautifully tailored jacket (a la my Dean Bone) when you leave the studio for a quick drink on the way home!


How does yoga inform your dance practice?
Well to be honest it can be an absolute life saver - with all the dance work I do you often push yourself to extremes, whether it be in strength or flexibility. Not only does yoga keep me fit in these areas, it also creates a more flowing workout than going to a gym would, making the muscles you use more ready to react in a dance vernacular. Also a meditative savasana at the end of a long yoga class is a great way to remind me to love my body.


What to you is meditation?
That's a hard one as my brain tends to run full throttle ninety percent of the time! However I find the physical concentration and inward thinking that yoga requires a great way to escape and replenish my body. Also nothing beats some essential oils and curling up under the duvet with a good book. 

 clockwise from left: Will with WE'AR staff member Maria in store, looking jaunty down at Britomart for cycle style, as Viktor for ATC's 'Cabaret'

WE'AR will be stocking our winter range very soon, which includes our newest unisex item as seen on Will for NZ Fashion Festival- the kulu wrap! blankety warm woolen goodness to wrap you up in x x x

maria @ we'ar 

x x x

yoga mat run down: links to make you glow

glowing yoga practice in our raja shorts and
 popeye tee

at the beginning of the week a friend turned to me and said “your skin is glowing! What are you doing?” she was a colleague from my previous life in the world of beauty editorial and I racked my brain pondering my skin care regime. It was only after she left that I realized that the big change was I had upped my yoga practice. Without wanting to sound like an advert for glow yoga, I feel like I’m a shinier happier person too!  It’s a radiance we spot in a lot of our we’ar family, from our yogi and yogini models to those of you who walk through the doors of our boutiques in bali and cross street! Its hard not to glow with joy in our popping shades of tangerine, or our hooray for summer kaftans! so this week it seemed only fair to devote the yoga mat rundown to all things glowing...


glowing corn? thats right corn! the most beautiful corn in the world glows like jewels. it looks like something made in the future but its actually an heirloom  - nature you sure are delightful via  edible geography 


new gold certification for fair and safe conditions for those mining and working with gold keeps the gold trade tarnish free via ecouterre


passion pit - take a walk has been our anthem while running the last few days (good way to get your morning glow on!) if you feel like some music glow check this out via eco salon


love this yoga journal piece on the humble sun salute! with insights from shiva rea via yoga journal


another isnt nature wonderful posts. this time the glowing ocean via new scientist 


cleo is basically the word glow as a person. a friend of we'ar. a yogini, photographer, curator, stylist and  traveller. shes currently in melbourne and we'ar loving her blog posts via violet bones


reuse + recycle should be the first port of call for those things we think to throw away! this time plastic bottles become a glowing, beautiful canopy via not cot


glowing poles that charge electric cars? sounds interesting! via not cot 


we have watched this a half a dozen times at least glowing nature takes over a city for the night - uplifting and beautiful via vimeo 


how to build your creative confidence - amazing ted talk with david kelley, a light bulb moment for many and with applications more far reaching than drawing or design. yoga is afterall creative via swiss miss


and lastly (and slightly random) I’m personally charmed by this diy neon animal garland via design for mankind

anya @ we'ar

x x x 

RIO+20 summit

20 years on from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, government representatives will meet at a ‘Rio+20’ summit to discuss sustainable development. The "Rio Connection" campaign across the United Kingdom brings local government together with the public for events to encourage support for the Rio Declaration, which supports the transition to a fairer and greener economy...  

this video made us at WE'AR happy! by reflecting on progress and positivity rather than the negative aspects of the issue, what a great way to get excited about the Earth Summit in Rio and perhaps think of ways we can band together for positive change for the future...

read more about whats been happening at www.stopclimatechaos.org

the team @ we'ar

x x x

fyi... WE'AR have a few sustainable awareness group events in the pipeline! keep in touch via facebook and twitter to hear about how you can join us! 

WE'AR spotlight: Erica Davis

Erica Davis is a photographer and Bikram instructor - WE'AR met Erica after coming across her beautiful photographs for Magic Carpet Yoga Mats, and were delighted to hear she is living in Auckland and teaching at East West yoga studio. From teaching and taking photos in Honolulu, love, yoga and bicycles brought her here to NZ. We ask Erica about her blended passion for beautiful images and yoga...

Self Portrait Half Moon Backbend Big Sur California 2009

Tell us about your yoga journey to New Zealand...
I visited Auckland for about a month last year and I was able to meet Nikki and check out her studios in Ponsonby and Newmarket.  This year my boyfriend and I were getting things together with visas (he's Australian) and we decided New Zealand would be the best choice.  The allure of touring on our bicycles here also weighed heavily into the decision.  So we moved here from Portland, Oregon and settled in immediately.  I've been teaching 4.5 years and can say traveling is an infallible part of growing as a teacher.  I'm happy to call New Zealand home for the time being.


Why yoga photography? 
I originally went to Photography school earning a Bachelors Degree in Still Photography from the Brooks Institute.  It was there in Santa Barbara California that I found yoga.  Whatever I was doing physically I would photograph it. 
Once I had graduated and became a professional teacher and photographer it was only a very short period of time before the two passions weren't exclusive. Creativity is inspired by movement for me. I started dancing when I was very little and grew up riding bicycles and those things have defined who I am and the aesthetics I create. Yoga became my muse while in training and its been a constant since 2007. Yoga and photography are an obvious match
for its clear demonstrational aspect but also for the potential beauty there is to create.  Especially when done outside. Put a human in a beautiful natural landscape and to me the scene demands a little yoga. Getting yourself to a level thats in step with the sun and moon and earth under your feet while breathing and being still...I don't know what's better really.  So to me that should also be photographed.  


What are some projects you are working on at the moment? 
Photographing the city. Doing stuff with the Magic Carpet Yoga Mats outside. I need to take them out to a beach and give them a good practice. 
I am interested in photographing studios here in Auckland, I've heard there are some nice spaces. Right now my boyfriend Kaspar is my favorite yogi to photograph. He's a new yogi and its cool to see his postures change. 


What feelings do you wish to invoke with your photographs?
 Fun. I'm always tying to have a good time. So that's what I want to take pictures of. The fun stuff I do with my life. I like photographing with natural light and I definitely like taking pictures of people the most. With my yoga photography I'd like to be able to stir an emotion with my images that makes someone want to do something about themselves. Move themselves. Into a shape, into an asana. And find the potential in their own body.


Why do you choose to practice Bikram yoga? 
Hatha yoga, clear concise instructions and heat. It's challenging, its healing, its rewarding.   We're all practicing hatha yoga in some way or another and I happen to like the way Bikram teaches hatha yoga. 
Bikram also reaches a lot of people who wouldn't normally try yoga. I've met so many different kinds of people practicing and teaching this yoga. I like getting to know an eclectic group through trying yoga together. And it holds true all over the planet. Being a part of the Bikram yoga community is like having friends and family around the world. But I really love all yoga.  It makes me feel good no matter what style or tradition. Bikram Choudhury's combination of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises makes me feel the best. 

 Sam O'Keefe Handstand Grant St Beach Western Australia 2011

 Omar Elliot-Green and Megan Mancini Locust Portland Oregon 2012

 Erica and Kaspar Kitchen Yoga Dillworth Building Auckland New Zealand 2012

check out more of Erica's work on her website: 

http://ericadavisphotography.com/#/page/8931/photographs/

WE'AR now have a pinterest yoga board! for all our favourite yoga images x x x and remember to keep posted with the WE'AR facebook and twitter for all store news as well as our upcoming Bikram challenge blog series...

maria @ we-ar

x x x

yoga mat rundown: the week of warm

we'ar snuggly and warm in our bamboo cocoonlets.

 this week auckland hq has been hit with a bit of a chill so we have been raiding the boxes of soon to arrive winter samples in order to keep warm!  the knit dress, new to store warm socks and cinnamon julep have all been on heavy rotation, and the metropolis hoodie pulled out for the morning run! Its also the time of year that we’ar auckland regulars are off on their trips overseas, stopping in store for a little india dress or a pair of how short shorts to recline on some sunny beach in! so it seemed totally natural that this weeks yoga mat run down be dedicated to all things warm...

something to warm the heart : a meeting in central park with the oldest living yoga teacher in the world via elephant journal

the best kind of summer vacation: 7 volunteer vacations in warm climates via treehugger

a beginners guide to bikram: fitness challenge bikram yoga (ps the studio featured here are offering free classes for your mum this Sunday in their auckland studios)  via nz herald

the designer with the flame red hair vivienne westwood shares her tips to sustainable living in style  via ecouterre

its heating up as more brands pull out of supporting APP after fresh allegations of habitat destruction surface via idealog

is there anywhere warmer than bali? we’ar think not! new to our pinterest is a board dedicated to the yummy warmth of bali via pinterest

we may all be warming up, and the water may be flowing (oh dear icebergs please don’t melt too quickly) but these beautiful water shots are making us feel it might not be all bad. Nature you sure are beautiful  via notcot

for those of you in a warmer climate : roasted butternut squash and chickpea salad with tahini dressing

via tastespotting

sexy yoga time gets conan all hot and bothered: nina dobre verses conan as a yoga wall via yoga dork

something to get warmed up for your next practice: a practice via youtube

lastly something for mumma: warm her heart this mothers day with a home made card via etsy

anya @ we’ar

x x x

habitat for humanity 2012: belinda nash

Habitat for Humanity helps projects both locally and abroad, and this year WE'AR is proud to support Belinda Nash in promoting her 'Reconciliation Build' team to get to Sri Lanka and build their Whare Toa - to unite Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities in one village. This August, 300 Kiwis and people from around the world are descending on Sri Lankan shores to make a tiny but significant contribution to world peace...

Sri Lanka’s population has been decimated after three decades of civil struggle and natural disasters, including the devastating 2004 tsunami. Today, more than 300,000 people still live day-to-day without any home to go to.

Belinda and the Reconciliation Build team are holding a fundraiser on May 17th at the Nathan Club Auckland to help raise money for building supplies needed to construct 24 new homes. So your $15 can buy you a night of fun with great kiwi music, a few wines and a silent auction with some great prizes! 

WE'AR love the passion and inspiring message Belinda is sending with the plan to build one house with one family to unite a community - check out her touching and charismatic blog iheartprocrastination - too cute!

you can buy tickets to the 'building houses, building hope' fundraiser at iTICKET, or make a donation through Habitat for Humanity here - Belinda needs $5000 dollars to get to Sri Lanka and WE'AR looking forward to hearing all about the amazing experience... visit the facebook page for more updates x x x   

Love and Light

WE'AR always keen to hear whats happening locally in the artistic community - we meet yogini Leigh Fitzjames who tells us about her solo show 'Love and Light' at Te Karanga Gallery on K Rd this friday. WE'AR met Leigh when she came in hunting for costume ideas flicking through the silk raja pants, so plenty tank and batwing top. 

Love and Light on stage…

by Leigh Fitzjames

Three months prior to departing for drama school in New York, I knew I had to find some closure to the life I was leaving behind in Auckland city. So, I compiled a one man show which would highlight some the present joys and challenges I have in my life at present: performing, writing, collaborating with artists, romance, finding solitude, inner strength....YOGA...

Love and Light is a 40 minute show that features spoken word and song in homage to Bikram Choudhury, leader and icon of the self titled hot yoga practice.

The story centres around a woman, Celine, who has fallen in love with Bikram and is trying to access the love of her guru. Clenching on to the lessons she has learnt from class, she searches for his love via the mat, by looking in the mirror, sending emails to a non-responding address. She creates a self inflicted ‘30 day challenge’ within her apartment to explore these lessons in her own ‘torture chamber’.

Full of word play around the Bikram script, Love and Light is a tongue in cheek stab at the westernization of an ancient eastern practice, which I personally embody as a practising, Eurasian woman. In light of the recent documentary ‘Yoga Woman’ and finding more Bikram studios emerging in Auckland, this show seeks to connect with the stories that are attached to our community of yogis.


'Love and Light' 
8pm Friday May 11th
Te Karanga Gallery, 208 K Rd
Tickets $10 on the door (cash only)

maria@we'ar

x x x

please contact maria@we-ar.it if you want us to spread the word about an event or project happening in your community! share the love through we'ar!