You can now support Massachusetts workers by wearing yoga pants
A Fall River-manufactured athletic apparel company just got its first Boston location.
Yogasmoga in The Prudential Center.
Boston yogis, rejoice: Yogasmogaopened their first Massachusetts location in the Shops at Prudential Center Saturday (about a week earlier than expected), founder and CEO Rishi Bali said. The activewear brand is based in New York City but manufactures all of its products at a factory in Fall River. It features a full line of men’s and women’s clothing, mats, and accessories.
“This Boston store is so special to us,’’ Bali said. “We’ve been opening stores in other locations, but [now] we’re really bringing items that are made by people with a lot of love in Fall River to one of the preeminent shopping destinations [in Boston].’’
Bali started Yogasmoga with his sister, Tapasya Bali, in 2010 after leaving Goldman Sachs. He said he left the finance industry because he wanted to create a company with a purpose.
“It’d been a personal passion of mine to put American workers back to work,’’ Bali said.
He also said that he was born in an area of India at the base of the Himalayas that is known as the “birthplace of yoga,’’ and he wanted to bring that ethos to his company. Yogasmoga focuses on “authenticity,’’ creating products in the U.S. and not allowing body retouching on any images.
“A lot of other companies take on yoga as a marketing initiative,’’ Bali said. “We are a yoga company.’’
Bali said he prides his company on their quality, that instead of relying on nylon or polyester, they make their own fabric at another factory in California. He said they chose to work there because of the state’s strict eco regulations.
He specifically picked Fall River when it came to manufacturing, too.
“The Boston region has been strong historically in athletic wear,’’ Bali said. “As an emerging company, when we wanted the best, we came to Massachusetts.’’
He said he was in the store on Saturday and Sunday and enjoyed talking to Boston shoppers about his products, specifically where they come from. Bali said he hopes to build more Massachusetts locations as early as next year.
“We love being at The Pru because it’s very symbolic for us,’’ Bali said. “It makes the product come full circle.’’
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