WELCOME TO SHUG

Welcome!

The SHUG dream is finally being made into reality! The concept behind our brand is to create yoga wear that is stylish and comfortable and also is an aid in the management of one’s mental health, anxiety and general wellbeing. Mental health and wellbeing is something really close to our hearts here at SHUG Yoga. We are passionate about helping to make people feel relaxed, comfortable and confident both outwardly and within.

Chicky Read is the founder and creator of the SHUG Yoga brand and this is the path of how SHUG Yoga came to be created.

The idea for SHUG started when I was completing my final year of Sportswear Design at Falmouth University, in beautiful south Cornwall. I was set with the task of finding a concept that inspired me for my graduate collection. I had fallen in love with yoga and was finding its practice extremely beneficial with my own battle with anxiety. Anxiety is something we can all experience, it is a normal reaction to modern day life and manifests itself in many ways including a racing heart, shortness of breath, panic attacks and sweaty palms! It often comes in the form of mildly worrying and annoying thoughts or concerns about ourselves or perhaps future events. For many people these sensations can become overwhelming and seriously impact on our daily lives.

I had found the relaxation techniques of controlled breathing, stretching and meditation extremely helpful and enjoyable, however, I had found it difficult to find yoga wear to suit my style and functional needs. An anxious mind can often be over active and easily agitated. I was struggling to completely immerse myself within my practice as I was finding distractions with the garments I was wearing; things falling down, riding up, being transparent or just generally uncomfortable. I wanted to be able to wear something that not only looked great but also made me feel relaxed, confident, comforted and was not a distraction. The idea of SHUG Yoga wear was born!

I focused on creating yoga wear that enables a person to completely submerse themselves into their yoga practice. During the design process I realised how many factors there were to be considered from the colours, fabrics, textures and fastenings to the sizing and seams. Even down to how a garment is put on can help with the improvement of one’s anxiety, mental health and wellbeing. 

I finished my BA Hons Sportswear Design Degree with a good 2.1 and a whole heap of life experiences and I couldn't have been happier. It wasn’t just about the good mark, I have fortunately never been someone to chase the top grades, I try to focus much more on what I learn through my experiences and my ideas and where they can take me. I came out of university having found a direction and a passion for what I wanted to do with my life. My goal was to create a yoga wear brand and to help others, in any way that I can.

The creation of SHUG has been a whirlwind of emotions so far - stress, anxiety, pride, excitement and many, many more. It has been a huge learning curve and as with all business start ups it has been a slow and often frustrating process, learning to keep going, who to trust and finding like minded companies and people to work with. However I have had so many great people supporting, inspiring and encouraging me along the way; family, friends, mentors and interested customers. Their belief in this company, its concept and in me has made this journey so much more enjoyable and exciting.

Thank you to everyone who has been along this crazy journey with me! I love designing and being creative and I especially love helping people… its a no brainer for me to be pursuing this dream. So here it is, my pride and joy…...SHUG