California Apparel News

Carlsbad, Calif.–based Cozy Orange launched in 2013 with a mission to fuse active apparel with a sustainability message. Today, the company continues to evolve its eco-active focus to position the brand as a fashion-driven lifestyle collection.

“We wanted to bridge this gap between high-performance gear and fashion,” said Mark Wolz, Cozy Orange’s director of sales and marketing. “We’re moving beyond yoga, beyond the gym, into her everyday life.”

Central to the company’s sustainability ethos is Revive Eco, the company’s own fabric made from recycled water bottles. The recycled micropolyester has a soft hand and four-way stretch. The company also has a mesh material called Easy Fabric, which is a lighter-weight fabric with good drape that also has performance characteristics such as four-way-stretch and moisture-wicking properties.

“We were looking at how we can differentiate ourselves,” Wolz said. “Especially in the last two years, a lot more people have gotten into this space. It was important that we not only offer something different but we really wanted to make sure we offer beautiful products, beautiful collections that are eco-friendly and also last longer. Our price points are half of what some of the other leaders in the industry are selling for.”

Retail prices for Cozy Orange range from about $12 to $80. Cozy Orange is a vertical operation whose parent company produces spandex and neoprene for wetsuits.

“We’re based in Carlsbad. Our designs are created here,” Wolz said, explaining that California’s beaches and active lifestyle inspire the line’s look.

The line is carried by several yoga studios as well as on Zappos. The next step is to introduce the line in department stores and fashion boutiques.

“Yoga studios typically don’t have much of a retail space—some do, but most of them don’t,” Wolz said. “They’re focused on practice rather than product. Where we found success is bridging the gap between the studios and fashion and daywear.”

To meet the broad demands of fashion retailers, Cozy Orange has added contemporary pieces such as active dresses, sweaters and coverups.

“We make yoga pants and yoga leggings, but we don’t really care if you’re using them for yoga or to go out on the town,” Wolz said. “We just want you to wear our cozy fabrics.”

Cozy Orange has exhibited at the WWDMAGIC, Active Collective and CALA trade shows. For Los Angeles Fashion Market, the line is part of the new Shape show at the California Market Center.

For more information, visit www.cozyorange.com.