Maker Interview: Miakoda New York

This month we're giving ourselves time to manifest for an amazing 2016. We're aiming to take 5 minutes each day to get super clear on goals, and visualize for the future we want to create. Whether you have personal goals, a call to travel, want to start a business, or just want to step into a new place in life, try manifesting to help you get there.
Manifesting should be done with a clear vision and a calm mind. In a quiet space, rid your mind of any negative talk, and and focus on something special and specific you'd like to manifest this year. See it in detail, and walk yourself through it until it becomes so familiar that it feels real. Visualization techniques are used by some of the world's elite in many fields, so give it a shot! Give yourself 5 manifesting minutes for mindful meditation.

ENTER OUR MANIFEST GIVEAWAY!
We LOVE Miakoda New York for their effortless and comfortable style, delicious organic fabrics, and a strong stance on ethical fashion. We're giving away one beautiful, handmade Miakoda bodhi seed 21 bead mala PLUS a 2oz. Pink Salt + Rose Toner (+free shipping), worth over $40! A mala is used to help bring focus and clarity during meditation, perfect for your manifesting minutes. Our Pink Salt + Rose Toner is filled with the calming and inspiring soft scent of fresh roses to help calm your body and refresh skin.
​Read below for details to enter.

Maker Interview // MIAKODA NEW YORK Co-Founder, Julia Ahrens

T​ell us about your brand and the inspiration behind it.
Miakoda is an eco friendly and ethically made lounge wear company. Miakoda began out of our personal needs for high end, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free clothing. As we began incorporating a dedicated yoga practice into our lives, the principle of ahimsa; the practice of nonviolence and compassion towards all living things, began to guide our moral conduct. We transitioned to a vegan lifestyle and were eating healthy, organic plant based diet, but we weren’t conscious of the suffering and we were still supporting with the clothing we were wearing.
After discovering how detrimental the fibers and manufacturing practices used by most companies are, we decided to make the switch to organic, plant based fashion that is produced in ethical factories. We found it difficult to find clothing that was eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and something we would want to wear. In order to create more options for the conscious consumer (ourselves included!), we were inspired to start a collection of quality, high end, ethical and sustainable clothing. 
 
Why is your project/mission important to you?
As an ethical vegan and yoga practictioner, practicing ahimsa (the Sanskrit word meaning non violence) is very important to me. Its important that I know where my clothing is coming from—that is isn’t hurting any people, our environment, or animals.
  
What past circumstances or life events led you to your current path?
 I went vegetarian at age 11 and vegan in college. My sister and mother completed their yoga teacher training around the same time I went vegan and introduced me to the entire yogic path and ideology. I believe that all of these factors taught me to change my way of thinking. They made me think—what am I doing? Who am I helping? Who am I harming? Am I being compassionate to myself? What about the people and beings around me? I could no longer support the traditional fashion industry practices that include animal fibers (that are gathered in dangerous and violent ways), sweatshops and poor working conditions overseas, and terrible pesticides and chemicals that kill our earth.
 
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Does that relate to what you do now?
I wanted to be a variety of things as a child including: vet, artist, astronaut, and scientist. I would definitely consider myself an artist when it comes to design, so I guess that was spot on!
 
What is something that motivates you when you really need it?
Whenever I’m feeling stuck, confused, out of sorts, or really need some inspiration, pulling out my yoga mat and putting on some ridiculous music and just moving with my breath brings me right back to where I need to be.
  
Tell us your favorite way to wind down.
A cup of tea with a vegan chocolate chip cookie always does the trick!
 
What’s a go-to healthy snack that keeps you fueled for a busy day?
Right now I’m torn between roasted chickpeas and raisins and cacao nibs. It depends on if I’m in a savory or sweet mood, but you can never go wrong with either of those!
  
Current favorite (TV) show or book:
 I just started watching American Horror Story which captivates me in the most horrifying of ways, and I’m currently reading Brain on Fire which is so far really good!
 
What adventures or goals do you have in store for 2016?
My own personal adventure for 2016 is going to Costa Rica on my sister (and the other half of Miakoda)’s yoga retreat! A goal of mine is to take a surfing lesson there! In terms of Miakoda, my biggest adventure and goal for 2016 is launching our spring 2016 collection on a completely new and redesigned website that will be better than ever!

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TAKE OUR MANIFEST CHALLENGE

 ENTER TO WIN A MIAKODA BODHI SEED MALA PLUS PINK SALT + ROSE TONER  // +$40 value
​
FOLLOW @SIMPLECAREPRODUCTS ON INSTAGRAM AND TAG A FRIEND IN THE COMMENTS.

CONTEST ENDS 2/29 AND WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THROUGH INSTAGRAM

check out Miakoda New York online to shop and read more