Try the new ultra-comfy organic bamboo activewear range: Boody. This range is easy on the skin, hypoallergenic and highly breathable. Perfect for a range of activities, this gear will allow you to stretch, bend, twist, run, travel or brunch – all in ultimate comfort. Explore the range of organic bamboo eco-wear at www.boodywear.co.za and in selected Dis-Chem and independent retail stores.
]]>Boody bamboo fabric underwear and babywear provides skin-friendly, earth-loving socks, underwear and shirts to make you and your family feel good inside and out. Boodywear has an eco-certified manufacturing process with all garments ethically sourced from 100% organically grown bamboo, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
]]>Maak almal groen van jaloesie met die stylvolle en streelsagte klere van die eko-vriendelike babareeks Boody Baby. Dié reeks bied alles wat mammas nodig het – van bibs to babygrows. Die klere is boonop eko-vriendelik en perfek vir sensitiewe lyfies.
BELLA life dit:
Beskikbaar in drie neutrale kleure by uitgesoekte DisChem winkels, onafhanklike apteke en gesondheidswinkels. Vir meer inligting besoek hul aanlyn by www.boodywear.co.za
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Wanneer dit by onderklere kom, is gemak hoog op die lys. Boody bied jou die gemak en omgewingvriendelikheid maar ook die styl, alles in een kledingstuk. Dié handelsmerk is bekend vir sy bamboes-kledingstukke wat sag op die vel en die nartuur is. Hul mans-en vroue-onderklere maak opslae maar hulle vervaardig ook sokkies, boklere en babaklere. Meer inligting by www.boodywear.co.za.
]]>Entrepreneurs Nick Stein and Richard Frankel have taken undies to a new level by bringing popular Australian eco-brand Boody to South Africa, writes Shirley le Guern.
Boody, launched in October 2015 in a few independent health shops and six Dis-Chem stores, has put a whole new spin on smalls. After all, who would have thought of buying underwear made from bamboo or even considered purchasing their knickers and babywear from a pharmacy instead of an upmarket department store or boutique?
The answer is Mount Edgecombe-based entrepreneurs Nick Stein and Richard Frankel, who took undies took undies to a new level when they brought the popular Australian eco-brand Boody to South Africa two years ago. They already had two established businesses. One was Girly Things, which supplies lingerie and sleepwear under private label to major retail chains such as Woolworths and Miladys.
The pair’s entrepreneurial journey began with a decision to return to South Africa in 2005 after a five-year stint in Australia. Instead of taking on the job market, they decided to pool their complementary skills to launch their own business. Frankel, who managed production for Australian lingerie and sleepwear company Gazal, had extensive experience in the apparel and lingerie business. Stein, who had worked in the banking and financial consulting sector and was human resources director for a large American IT that operated in Australia and across 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, had the finance, logistics and business skills. ‘’That’s why we work so well together. We don’t step on each other’s toes. Richard oversees the design, product and sales side and I am on the finance and logistics side,’’ Stein says.
A third Australian partner, Herschel Aronstan, also came on board, adding to the mix his 35 years of experience as the owner of a large sleepwear factory in Cape Town. The partners started out with ‘’arecce’’ to South Africa in late 2004. The timing couldn’t have been better. Local clothing production was in a major decline, especially when it came to lingerie, and retailers were increasingly sourcing product from abroad. Their business partners’ connections opened the door to Woolworths. Frankel’s experience in producing Gazal’s designs in China, where technology and fabrics were ‘’far superior’’, proved invaluable.
Having settled in Durban, they stared working from the spare bedroom of their Berea flat with little more than a trestle table and plenty of passion. They admit that there were challenges. These include raising the funding to pay for large orders upfront and managing the import quotas on Chinese goods. ‘’The success of our business has been not thinking that a challenge spells the end. We looked for better solutions and what we could do to adapt,’’ says Frankel. Another even bigger problem was the unpredictable currency fluctuations which hit hard in 2009 with the global recession.
The launch of their second business, Boody, was another ploy to both adapt and spread risk. With many retailers dealing directly with the Chinese to eliminate the middleman and bring down prices, they were on the lookout for a related opportunity that did not compete with their existing business or those of their customers. They discovered Boody about three years ago. ‘’We travel back there every year and keep tabs on what is going on in this market,’’ says Frankel. ‘’Our partner in Australia saw this brand starting to become more prominent and told us about it. We approached the owners in Australia.’’ Boody was launched locally in 2015 with a range of adult basics, undies and socks. Dis-Chem was looking to expand its organic offering and Boody opened up a whole new product category.
From the original six stores, the have now grown the Boody distribution network from 17 outlets a year ago to over 100 today. They have also just introduced a Boody babywear range and are about to launch in 10 stores in Mauritius. The reason for this success, according to Stein and Frankel, is that consumers are shying away from synthetics and gravitating towards natural textiles.
Distinct Brand
Even though South Africa lags behind international trends, demand for fabrics that are both skin and eco-friendly is gathering momentum. ‘’What really attracted us was that there was nothing like this product here. It had a story to tell, said Stein. ‘’It’s not just another underwear and clothing range. ‘’We started to talk to the Australians about a year before we got into stores. It took a bit of time to map out how it would work. ‘’We felt that, as a completely new and distinct brand that needed to find credibility in the market, we needed to identify a pharmacy group that would be our reference point.’’ It also came with another first – a display stand made from recycled car parts that accommodates a full range of 286 pieces as well as a guide to health benefits.
Retailers are coming round to the idea that, because bamboo clothing helps in managing conditions such as eczema and thrush, it is also a perfect complementary product category in the healthy living/healthy environment niche market. Boody clothing is made from fabric created from organically grown bamboo fibre and is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal as well as ultra-absorbent. Moisture wicking properties pull sweat away from the skin to avoid irritation, making it perfect for the hot South African climate. Bamboo is sustainable, it requires no pesticides and relies only on rainwater to grow. With this comes a far more discerning customer, though. ‘’We were pleasantly surprised at the market that already existed in South Africa. It’s a very loyal and well educated one. ‘’We field a lot of queries and it is quite interesting to see what customers want to know. There’s no pulling the bamboo over their eyes,’’ says Frankel.
Boody is not the only clothing containing bamboo out there, but Stein says the differentiator is its Ecocert certification, which vouches for organic, sustainable growing and ethical manufacturing processes. ‘’We decided that we needed to establish Boody as a brand within South Africa over a longer period before we introduced a new category such as babywear. ‘’ We also wanted to wait and learn a few lessons from the Australians and see what worked and what didn’t,’’ he says. New ranges are also in the pipeline. With some consumers already using Boody for low-impact exercise, the logical next step has been to launch Boody Body, a range of functional gym wear. A sleepwear range – Boody Bed – is expected to follow in 2018.
]]>Hein Kaiser
It’s NOT often that anyone waxes lyrical about underwear. After all, if you’re not Madonna in the 1980’s, very few people see one another’s undergarments, let alone share fashion tips outside the pages of glossy magazines. Enter Boody, an Australian eco-wear brand that is not only fit for purpose in a functional sense, but, it’s fashionably fabulous in more ways than one. Boody’s promise of a totally eco-friendly value chain and, its classic design and, quite frankly, the way it feels when you wear it, warrants further curiosity.
You can’t buy Boody in a fashion outlet now. Rather, when looking for it, find it in a health-care store. It’s all part of the brand’s promise that beyond its environmental conscience, the underwear is healthier for you. Nick stein, the entrepreneur who discovered Boody and brought it to South Africa, says that the garments are hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial. ‘’It’s knitted from fabric derived from organically grown bamboo, harvested in an environmentally responsible manner with the theme continuing throughout the value chain.’’ He adds that it also takes about 99% less water to cultivate bamboo than it does to grow cotton.
Stein, who has been involved in the garment manufacturing business for most of his career, says that while on business in Australia he discovered the brand. ‘’The feel of it, along with its ethos, immediately grabbed my attention and bringing it to South Africa became a non-negotiable for me,’’ he says. ‘’I fell in love with it and had to share it.’’ He came home with the distribution rights and two years later, Boody is available in Mauritius, most of South Africa, online and he plans to take the brand to the rest of southern Africa. ‘’We already have one retail outlet in Zimbabwe, with more to come as the good news spreads.’’
Brands like the Body Shop and later Lush and some coffee brands became famous for their fair-trade credentials and environmentally-friendly value chains. Many other brands are starting to reverse-engineer processes and retrofit products with this kind of conscience. ‘’I believe that we are all starting to realise the importance of looking after our environment and the social aspects that lie behind the products and brands we support,’’ says Stein. Research backs up his statement as website Sustainable Brands reports on a 2015 study that says nine out of 10 consumers would switch to social and environmentally friendly brands. Earlier this year, Unilever released a report saying that nearly a third of consumers were now supporting brands with sustainable positive impact on social and environmental matters.
Boody has become more than just an underwear brand, too. Its baby range has become a hot ticket, given the fabrics healthier properties. ‘’We have seen demand grow across all markets and, with its added absorption qualities, the active wear range will take the brand into fresh territory.’’ Stein adds that later this year the brand will expand its retail footprint as the range widens. T-shirts, vests and underwear basics are already available along with infant clothing.
The proof is in the pudding, though, and taking Boody for a test drive, with a soupçon of scepticism, the verdict can be reduced to two words. Get it. Tested on a day of active work and play, the comfort, and the feel of the fabric against the skin beats cotton. The cuts are, while it has a foundation in basics, sexy and fitted. The look and feel makes it well worth paying somewhat more.
]]>You don’t need to compromise comfort for style. Enjoy the lushness of Boody, organic bamboo underwear and basics that are also kind to the environment. Check out the full range for men, women and baby at www.boodywear.co.za . Also available at selected Dis-Chem stores.
]]>Nick Stein and Richard Frankel, who brought the Australian eco brand, Boody, to South Africa in October 2015, have introduced a Boody babywear range and are about to launch in 10 stores in Mauritius.
Boody is made from fabric created from organically grown bamboo fibre and is hypoallergenic, antibacterial and anti-fungal as well as ultra-absorbent. Moisture-wicking properties pull sweat away from the skin to avoid irritation, making it perfect for the hot South African climate. Bamboo is sustainable, requires no pesticides and relies only on rainwater to grow.
Consumer demand for natural textiles
Launched in a few independent health shops and six Dis-Chem stores, the brand has grown its distribution network from 17 outlets a year ago to over 100 today. The reason for this success, according to Stein and Frankel, is that, globally, consumers are shying away from synthetics and
gravitating towards natural textiles. Even though South Africa lags international trends, demand for
fabrics that are both skin and eco-friendly is gathering momentum.
The display stand is made from recycled car parts that accommodate a full range of 286 pieces as well as a guide to health benefits and sizing and fits into just a quarter of a square metre of retail space, which makes it as ideal for small independent retailers, as it is for large chain stores. Its reduced retail space also makes it popular in health shops and airport pharmacies.
Retailers are coming round to the idea that, because bamboo clothing helps in managing conditions such as eczema and thrush, it is also a complementary product category in the healthy living/healthy environment niche market. Boody is not the only clothing containing bamboo out there, but Stein says the differentiator is its Ecocert certification, which vouches for organic, sustainable growing and ethical manufacturing processes.
New ranges are also in the pipeline. With some consumers already using Boody for low impact exercise, the logical next step has been to
launch Boody Body, a range of functional gym wear. A sleepwear range, Boody Bed, is expected to follow in 2018.
]]>Kit out yourself and your bundle of joy in Boody’s earth- and skin-friendly bamboo wear.
Eco brand Boody,
which opened in South Africa in 2015, has recently added a baby collection to the range of comfortable bamboo adult basics, underwear and socks. Choose from tops, bottoms and babygros, to bibs and wraps – all specially designed to be practical and comfortable for little ones. You can rest assured that Boody’s footprint on the earth is soft, and that the brand’s premium bamboo fabric won’t irritate your little one’s skin. The hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal
fabric is also thermo-regulating and anti-static, making it perfect for your baby’s sensitive, delicate skin. Bamboo is a naturally breathable fibre and its moisture-wicking properties pull sweat away from the skin to avoid irritation – perfect for the South African climate. For parents, the seam-free, form-fitting underwear and basics are comfortable and a must for active people. The range also offers tops (both short- and long-sleeved) and socks for men and women. The garments are simple, stylish, super-soft and practical. Boody is available at selected Dischem stores, independent pharmacies, health stores and boodywear.co.za.
How to redeem your discount online
Browse the selection of fashion items online at boodywear.co.za. Add the products you want to purchase to your virtual shopping cart. Once you’re done shopping, view the cart items and type the promotional code “LLBB” into the gift card or discount code box and click “Apply” to receive 25% off the total amount. Now, click “Checkout” to proceed with your order.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Deal is valid from 15 July 2017 - 15 September 2017, and only applies to online purchases of full-priced items made on boodywear.co.za, using the
correct promotional code. This deal can’t be exchanged for cash, used with other special offers, gift cards, or vouchers, or in store at any Boody stockist
nationwide. Discount can only be used once per reader. By participating in this deal, you give Caxton the right to market other Caxton offers to you.
]]>BOODY BABYWEAR
Boody's eco-friendly and organic bamboo cotton babywear is so deliciously soft. Perfect for newborns, the range includes muslins, wraps and all the essentials. Boody Baby is also free of toxins, hypoallergenic, antibacterial and anti-odour as well as moisture wicking and thermo-regulating.
Shop the range at boodywear.co.za
]]>For your precious newborn, we suggest only the finest (and trendiest) baby kit. We're talking about Boody Baby, a fabulous range that stocks a collection of superbly soft organic bamboo wear. The popular eco brand has a variety of tops, bottoms, onesies, bibs and wraps made from a fabric that's as gentle on the skin as it is to nature. Not to mention it's hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, thermo-regulating and anti-static, too - making it the perfect match for your little one.
Details: www.boodywear.co.za
From: Get It (Northern Suburbs JHB) June 2017. P37
]]>Eko-vriendelike mammas kan nou hul kleingoed met Boody’s se sagte babaklere aantrek. Dit is omgewings – en velvriendelik en hipo-allergenies, reguleer temperatuur en is nie staties nie – perfek vir n baba se sensitiewe vel. Die rekbare materiaal verseker maklike beweging en maak di took maklik om selfs die kleinste baba aan te trek. Pryse vanaf R124.95, beskikbaar by sekere Dis-Chem winkels, sommige apteke, gesondheidswinkels en aanlyn by www.boodywear.co.za.
]]>The popular eco brand Boody, which arrived in South Africa in 2015, has added a trendy baby collection to the range of comfy bamboo adult basics, undies and socks. Eco Mamas can choose from soft, but practical, tops, bottoms, baby grows, bibs and wraps. Boody’s premium bamboo fabric is perfect for the South African climate, hypoallergenic, antibacterial and antifungal fabric. Boody is available at Dis-Chem stores, independent pharmacies, health stores and online at www.boodywear.co.za.
]]>Eco-friendly fashion brand Boody has recently launched a range of babywear. The collection includes tops, bottoms, babygros, bibs and wraps, which have been made from organically grown bamboo. The hypo-allergenic, antibacterial and antifungal fabric is thermo-regulating, which is suitable for your baby’s sensitive and delicate skin. Available from selected Dis-Chem stores, pharmacies, health stores and bodywear.co.za from R124.95.
]]>Rock-a-bye Baby
With winsome clothes of Boody Baby, your tiny tot will be swathed in a deliciously soft organic bamboo (made from yarn derived from EcoCert Certified organically grown bamboo that’s pesticide and fertilizer-free). And if those aren’t enough “green” benefits, the fabric is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal as well as thermo-regulating and anti-static, making it perfect for a baby’s sensitive skin.
For travelling with littlies, we’re going gaga over the muslin wraps which work as breastfeeding covers, swaddles, towels and much more.
]]>Eco-friendly (bamboo plantations use less water) and healthy for your skin (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and hypo-allergenic), Boody bamboo makes sustainability intimate. www.boodywear.co.za
]]>Getting your yoga on? Don’t don that old, oversized tracksuit – feel-good workout wear is all about body-hugging pieces in breathable fabrics and feminine colours, worn with confidence!
]]>At Boody, form meets function. The Organic Bamboo Basics Range for adults are cleverly designed, skin-healthy, eco-friendly and wonderfully soft. Boody fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. Affordable luxury, everyday.
www.boodywear.co.za
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Well said
‘Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.’ Buddha
GIVEAWAY
Bamboo babywear
Popular eco brand Boody has added a trendy baby collection to the range of comfy bamboo adult basics. Now, eco ‘Mamas’ can choose from extraordinarily soft but practical tops, bottoms, baby grows, bibs and wraps. Not only can they rest assured that Boody’s footprint on the earth is soft, but that the brand’s premium bamboo fabric is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal as well as thermo-regulating and anti-static – perfect for Baby’s delicate skin. Visit boodywear.co.za/apps/store-locator.
We are giving away three hampers (each valued at R590) containing a beanie and bootie set, socks and a t-shirt. To enter, SMS the words ‘Bounce/Boody’ with your full name, contact number and postal address to 33282 by 31 August 2017.
The power of GREEN
‘Shinrin-yoku’ is a Japanese healthcare therapy that means ‘taking in the forest atmosphere’ or ‘forest bathing’. Popularised in the 1980s, it has become a cornerstone of preventive healthcare in Japan. This is why it’s good for you...
1 Being in nature for a few hours is good for your heart – it lowers blood pressure and reduces the levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.
2 Being in greenery decreases anxiety, depression, anger and fatigue, with some studies suggesting that children with ADHD who spent time outdoors in natural environments had a reduction in symptoms.
3 Having a view of greenery aids in recovery time – one study showed that people in hospital with green views took fewer painkillers and had fewer complications during hospitalisation than those who could only see concrete.
13 million
That’s how many of us will be wearing activity trackers supplied by our healthcare companies in the next five years.
]]>ORGANIC BAMBOO BEATS THE HEAT
Colleen Dardagan
Wearing a long-sleeved black vest on a midsummer’s day in Durban is tantamount to suicide by heat stroke. But if the vest is made of certified organic bamboo, is designed in Australia and distributed by two South Africans living in the city, the product must be cool. In an attempt to test the marketing message on a wholly organic clothing line that’s gone viral in South Africa, the Network team donned the vest on the hottest day this week – temperatures were north of 35 degrees. The garment did not raise a sweat.
Married couple and business partners Richard Frankel and Nick Stein, who have a long history success in the lingerie supply industry in South Africa, brought Boody, the Organic Bamboo Eco Wear, to South Africa in June last year, the duo also have the distribution rights for the rest of Africa.
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet. It requires no fertilisers or pesticides, and no irrigation compared with thirsty cotton which needs about 20 000 litres to produce just one kilogram of fibre. The plant is harvested like grass, and produces 30 times more a hectare than cotton. And the reason a February day in Durban is a breeze in the fabric is because it has a heap of ‘’micro-gaps’’ which provide ventilation and moisture absorption. The feel is soft, luxurious and light as a feather.
Stein and Frankel, who spent some years in Australia, returned to South Africa in 2005. With their combined business experience they started their lingerie distribution company, Girly Things, from the spare bedroom of their flat. ‘’It was about that time that South Africa’s textile industry collapsed. Most of the items we were distributing were made in China,’’ Frankel said. In 2006 when the South African government put the brakes on clothing imports from China, Frankel said, their company came to a ‘’screeching halt’’. The couple quickly evolved their business. Their success is made evident by the presence of their brands in South Africa’s top retail stores. The bamboo fabric range is a step further in the evolutionary process, they say.
Stein hails from the corporate environment and has extensive business management skills, while Frankel has a long-standing career in the apparel market. The years they spent in Australia had given them exposure to international markets which they said gave them an edge. Stein said locally produced clothing was starting to pose a challenge to imports, particularly with the weaker rand and because shorter lead times provided manufacturers with more flexibility to meet in-season trading opportunities. But in the lingerie business, the technology and expertise to make a bra, for example, largely did not exist in the country. ‘’It’s very expensive to set up,’’ Frankel said. ‘’In fact, it has been said if you can make a bra, you can build a bridge.’’
‘’The Australians really brought into the brand and it has just taken off. And there is so much more to come; a Boody baby and active wear range.’’ And now South Africans from all over the country are catching on too. ‘’There is a massive pool of consumers who are aware and wanting to support environmentally responsible products,’’ Stein said.
WORDS OF THE WISE
Business tips from Stein and Frankel:
For further information go to www.boodywear.co.za.
]]>The Eco Wear Brand that has taken USA and Australia by storm.
Available in selected Dis-Chem’s, health stores and online at www.boodywear.co.za
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