Skip to main content

KOZM Is A Yoga Brand Built With Men In Mind

kozm yoga brand for men chet yoga3jpg
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Frustrated by the lack of yogic gear options for guys, longtime yogis Troy Eckert and Derek Sabori decided to launch KOZM, a new athletic brand dedicated to broadening the practice of yoga for men.

“At the end of the day, it was the whole gamut: fit, style, aesthetic, the ethics behind the clothing,” Eckert said of his frustrations with male yogic apparel. “When I looked around, I didn’t see any clothing that truly spoke to me.”

“I wanted gear that mirrored the practice itself, garments rooted in thoughtfulness and flexibility,” he continued. “I was uninspired by the style choices and realized it was time to go out and make what I wanted, which is how KOZM was born.”

gray_2000
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While developing a fit and structure ideal for men’s bodies has been a major focus of the new brand, Eckert explains that’s just one part of what he and Sabori are trying to do. The other piece is about challenging the perception of what it means to be a man practicing yoga.

“It’s one of those things,” Eckert remarked. “It’s just so hard for guys to wrap their heads around yoga. They think they need to go to the gym or do crossfit to improve their fitness when, really, there’s a world of possibility out there.” 

“You go into the shala and I guarantee you will be completely humbled by how difficult it is,” he added. “Ultimately, we want to help make yoga not this thing that’s scary or embarrassing, but something that’s celebrated.”

js_sew
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Both Eckert and Sabori are also dedicated to building a sustainable brand, so are keeping a tight focus on local production and ensuring that materials are coming from responsible sources.

“If I’m going to wear yogic gear, I want it to be thoughtfully and responsibly made,” Eckert says. “From the garment all the way to who’s making the product, we want to offer our customers complete transparency.” 

In this spirit, KOZM products are currently only for sale through the brand’s website. These products include a selection of T-shirts ($42-44), caps ($32), yogic towels ($120) and bags ($42). Shorts will be coming this spring.

Editors' Recommendations

Cody Gohl
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Cody Gohl is a Brooklyn-based writer who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, including travel, fashion, literature, LGBT…
The Best Golf Clothing Brands for Men To Wear At the Country Club and Beyond
Lululemon Golf

For years, golf has struggled to appeal to a younger audience. The stereotype of the old white man golfing at a posh country club surrounded with high-grade security swiftly snubs out any thoughts of taking up such a sport.
Related Guides

Best Clothing Brands for Men
Best Athleisure Brands
Best Men's Workout Clothing Brands

Read more
This All-American Boot Brand Prepares Men of Color to Step Out into the Great Outdoors
season three brand profile 0

Established in 1890, California’s Yosemite National Park has awed visitors for generations. Whether looking out from the Tunnel View, down from Glacier Point, or up from the meadow at El Capitan, its vistas are expansive, uniquely American. Yosemite is the proper definition of a national treasure. Jared Ray Johnson has never been.

Related Guides

Read more
Goodbye Tailors: 3 Ready-To-Wear Fashion Brands That Actually Fit Short Men
Ash and Eerie Crewneck Sweater

Jeff — a former software engineer who is now a lawyer specializing in startups — got dumped on the eve of his wedding. He hadn’t been taking care of himself physically and mentally, and this wake-up call was just the motivation he needed to make a change. “I got a hair transplant, started working out, and completely rebuilt my image," Jeff, who prefers to not use his last name for professional reasons, tells The Manual. "I found it difficult, though, to find off-the-rack clothing that fit me."

Jeff lives in New York City, and at 41 years old has a successful career. Why should finding clothes be an issue? Jeff is also 5’1”. 

Read more