Calling all boho yogini babes – nagnAta is the hip new yoga-lifestyle label out of Byron Bay, Australia. Sophie Teakle talks to designers Holly Dixon and Laura May Gibbs. Images: Ana Rita Sousa & Ivano Salonia – G’day Byron Bay
So nagnAta translates roughly as..?
“Nagnata” literally means ‘naked wanderer’ in Sanskrit, and our intention with the brand is to bridge a gap between aspirational design and product rooted in conscious creation. nagnAta is also about collaborating with a global community, to unite cultural awareness, creativity and spiritual expression.
How did she come into being? (picking up some seriously divine feminine energy here…)
Holly and I (Laura May) became friends in our early 20’s working in the fashion industry in Sydney, and found ourselves reunited in Byron Bay mid 2012. Holly had been in Bali doing her yoga trainings, and I in Mexico and Guatemala. Realizing we shared the vision for starting a yoga-lifestyle brand, seeds were planted to create one together. And although we each returned to our travels, we emailed profusely from afar, until we both felt this was destined to be. So we returned to Byron Bay, which is home in both our hearts, and created nagnAta.
What makes Byron such a magical place?
The land here is known as powerful sacred healing ground by the Aboriginal elders, with ley lines crossing through it and massive belts of obsidian (a black volcanic crystal that has immense energy to bring up ancient issues for resolution and strong transformative vibrations). People here are pretty tuned into the energy of the land – and those that aren’t are usually thrown into some kind of soul journey regardless! In reflection, when we’ve been called here it’s most often been through times of change, transition and healing, as the community in Byron is what makes this place so special – where the growing hub of creatives has created a collective consciousness. And the beauty of the land is like no-where else. Really, it’s been the perfect place to create nagnAta.
If nagnAta were a person, what sign would she be and why?
Probably a synthesis of our sun signs – Sagittarius (Holly) and Pisces (Laura May). Which would make her free-spirited, adventurous, optimistic and open to a challenge, as well as visionary, imaginative, intuitive and creative – a nice blend!
Describe her yoga practice in five words?
“Consciousness in all we do”
You’re just selling mat bags at the moment, what’s next?
A collaboration with women weavers in India, and a yoga-fashion range is also in the works.
The full collection is available now at Nagnata.com
