More and more people are choosing to live more mindfully. This very often includes their own yoga practice. Wolfgang Wuchs, founder of the sustainable yoga brand Lotuscrafts, tells us in an interview how he sees this trend.
The idea for Louscrafts came to me during my trip to India in 2010. I had lost my salaried job in 2009 and then wanted to do something of my own.
The lotus flower can be found everywhere in India, and one flower in particular appealed to me, from which I then derived our logo.
In the beginning, there wasn't a grand plan to turn Lotuscrafts into a proper yoga brand. Initially, I just wanted to sell yoga cushions and meditation cushions made of organic cotton, and I even filled the first cushions in my living room. Sales went very well from the start, and that's how Lotuscrafts gradually developed into what it is today.
Sustainability has been a central theme since the company's founding; for example, the meditation cushions were GOTS organic certified from the very beginning, which was quite unique at the time. My vision, however, was not just to sell sustainable products, but to make them accessible to a wider audience. We strive to achieve this through direct sourcing and the associated efficient cost structures, ultimately allowing us to offer our customers very fair prices.
Natural rubber currently offers the best option for combining sustainability and performance in yoga mats. The material is completely organic and therefore readily biodegradable. However, we are constantly searching for new material options and hope to bring further innovations to the market in the coming years – the perfect yoga mat has yet to be invented!
Fair production and fair treatment of all manufacturers, partners and employees are important values of Lotuscrafts, and it is also about expressing the yogic idea in everything we do.
Where it makes sense, we try to manufacture in Europe; our meditation cushions are filled and finished in Germany, and we also work with suppliers from Portugal and Romania.
Unfortunately, for many products, manufacturing in Europe no longer makes much sense because the necessary infrastructure is no longer available – for example, there are no longer any producers of natural rubber yoga mats in Europe. This makes it all the more important to have clear regulations and testing procedures, such as those stipulated by the GOTS standard, to guarantee high social and environmental standards for all participants in the supply chain.
We naturally view this development positively; our brand vision is to inspire people to practice yoga and meditation, and we hope to contribute to that. The increasing connection between fitness and yoga is particularly exciting right now, as is the trend surrounding meditation, especially for people who want to experience its positive effects independently of yoga. Not everyone who starts with yoga or meditation will delve into the deeper philosophy behind it, but the immediate positive effects can still be experienced, and for many people, this will open up new interests and paths.
Of course, we also have some imperfect Lotuscrafts products in our shop. Click here .
1. Where does the name Lotuscrafts come from and what idea is behind it?
The idea for Louscrafts came to me during my trip to India in 2010. I had lost my salaried job in 2009 and then wanted to do something of my own.
The lotus flower can be found everywhere in India, and one flower in particular appealed to me, from which I then derived our logo.
In the beginning, there wasn't a grand plan to turn Lotuscrafts into a proper yoga brand. Initially, I just wanted to sell yoga cushions and meditation cushions made of organic cotton, and I even filled the first cushions in my living room. Sales went very well from the start, and that's how Lotuscrafts gradually developed into what it is today.
2. At Lotuscrafts, you produce yoga mats and accessories for personal yoga practice. What role does sustainability play for you in the company in general?
Sustainability has been a central theme since the company's founding; for example, the meditation cushions were GOTS organic certified from the very beginning, which was quite unique at the time. My vision, however, was not just to sell sustainable products, but to make them accessible to a wider audience. We strive to achieve this through direct sourcing and the associated efficient cost structures, ultimately allowing us to offer our customers very fair prices.
3. Your yoga mats are made from natural rubber, among other materials. Why this particular material, and are there any differences compared to "conventional" yoga mats?
Natural rubber currently offers the best option for combining sustainability and performance in yoga mats. The material is completely organic and therefore readily biodegradable. However, we are constantly searching for new material options and hope to bring further innovations to the market in the coming years – the perfect yoga mat has yet to be invented!
4. Are there any other materials you use for your products?
Natural cork is my current favorite material; our cork block, in particular, is very popular with our customers. It's the product where we've come closest to perfectly combining aesthetics, feel, functionality, and sustainability.5. Topic: Fair production at Lotusctafts: Where are your products produced and how important is fair production to you?
Fair production and fair treatment of all manufacturers, partners and employees are important values of Lotuscrafts, and it is also about expressing the yogic idea in everything we do.
Where it makes sense, we try to manufacture in Europe; our meditation cushions are filled and finished in Germany, and we also work with suppliers from Portugal and Romania.
Unfortunately, for many products, manufacturing in Europe no longer makes much sense because the necessary infrastructure is no longer available – for example, there are no longer any producers of natural rubber yoga mats in Europe. This makes it all the more important to have clear regulations and testing procedures, such as those stipulated by the GOTS standard, to guarantee high social and environmental standards for all participants in the supply chain.
6. And one last question: Yoga has become increasingly trendy in recent years. What are your thoughts on this development?
We naturally view this development positively; our brand vision is to inspire people to practice yoga and meditation, and we hope to contribute to that. The increasing connection between fitness and yoga is particularly exciting right now, as is the trend surrounding meditation, especially for people who want to experience its positive effects independently of yoga. Not everyone who starts with yoga or meditation will delve into the deeper philosophy behind it, but the immediate positive effects can still be experienced, and for many people, this will open up new interests and paths.
Of course, we also have some imperfect Lotuscrafts products in our shop. Click here .
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