Article: The Story Behind Our Mara Collection
The Story Behind Our Mara Collection
In 2019, we embarked on a wonderful collaboration with Kenyan design house, KikoRomeo. From the marriage of traditional influences and sustainable, organic comfort, our Mara Collection was born. These bright, joyful prints have become a staple of the Y.O.U Underwear range, a favourite with customers looking for a bold statement that gives back. Read on for some more insights into this unique partnership, and the difference that you can make by wearing Mara.
The Art of the Mara Collection
The stunning geometric patterns of the Mara Collection are rooted in Kenyan heritage.
Kenyan design house, KikoRomeo, has always worked closely with women’s groups and crafts people across Kenya to keep national heritage skills alive. The intricate patterns of our bespoke KikiRomeo prints were inspired by traditional Maasai beadwork.
Ann and Iona McCreath, the mother-daughter duo behind KikoRomeo, have always believed in the power of fashion to bring people together, and to bridge conversations between cultures. They have decade-long relationships with East African artists, investing in their careers, and supporting them outside of work. Their people-centred approach to fashion is what drew Y.O.U to them in the first instance.
Our Mara Collection was initially launched in bold black and fiery red colour ways. Since then, we have expanded to introduce our Mara Summer colours: bright blue, vibrant green, and sunny yellow. Mara spans our women’s underwear, men’s underwear and loungewear ranges, all designed to bring joy to your dressing, from the bottom up!
Each colour in our collection represents something different in Maasai culture:
Red symbolises bravery and unity, traditionally worn by the Morans (warriors)
Black is a traditionally holy colour, associated with protection from their God, Engai, as well as endurance and the hardships that communities survive through.
Blue represents energy and the sky, and the rain that provides water and nourishment to the people and land.
Yellow symbolises hospitality, as a colour traditionally found in the animal skins used on visitor beds.
Finally, green represents the health of the land. The cattle are most healthy when grazing on green grass.
Sustainable Manufacturing
Every item in this collaborative range, as with all of our organic cotton underwear and loungewear, is crafted with the planet in mind. We use ultra-soft, GOTS-certified organic cotton that is exceptionally gentle on your skin and significantly kinder to the environment. The breathable fabric ensures all-day, flexible comfort, making everything from our bralettes to our classic bikini knickers a reliable, everyday wardrobe staple.
Our Mara undies are dyed in our factory in Tirrupur, India. Fabric is fed through a rotary printing machine, where it is rolled through various colours and prints in order to create our colourful designs! Our manufacturers only use low-impact, GOTS-certified dyes that meet the EU criteria for eco-friendly garments.
Undies That Give Back
For every purchase from our Mara Collection, we provide a pair of underwear to girls in the Maasai communities of Oloishobor and Olorgesailie, as well as supporting the work of the Ajuma Foundation in Kenya, a brilliant organization working to empower vulnerable groups through education.
Enjoyed this blog? Read on to learn more:
Why is transparency so integral to Sustainable Fashion?
Author: Evie Tucker, Comms and Retail Team, Y.O.U Underwear
Images courtesy of Y.O.U Underwear and KikoRomeo
Sources:
About Us & Sustainability - KikoRomeo
Decoding The Maasai Colours — Google Arts & Culture
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