Auckland entrepreneurs partner with surf brand O’Neill to offer new range of yoga wear

Auckland-based duo Lara Jane Maloney and Keli Dierings are making inroads into the lucrative yoga wear and accessories market by partnering with one of the world’s largest surf brands.

MUMU was launched by the Auckland entrepreneurs earlier this year and has now entered into a partnership with O’Neill - the American surf brand founded in 1952 by the man widely credited as the inventor of the wetsuit, Jack O’Neill.

O’Neill launched its range of womenswear yoga products 5 years ago and saw a good fit to partner with MUMU.

Maloney explains “it’s a big show of faith.

“O’Neill is a multimillion dollar business and they’ve chosen to partner with us just two months after our launch because they like what we do. It’s incredibly exciting.”

The partnership means some of O’Neill’s products are available on MUMU’s online store and the two brands are working on co-produced garments to release together. They’re also planning a series of events to get more people into yoga in New Zealand.

O’Neill NZ General Manager Jason Falconridge adds “we’re passionate about yoga and MUMU is doing exciting things in the industry so it was a natural fit to partner with them.”

The yoga garment and accessory industry is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide. Canadian yogawear company Lululemon alone has a market cap of $13 billion. It remains a high-growth industry and is one Maloney and Dierings plan to capitalise on.

Maloney added “we're going global. Our first shipment came directly to New Zealand so we could test the market and marketing strategies. We’ve figured out what works and what doesn't so now we’re ready to roll out to the rest of the world, especially to the United Kingdom and US.

“The O’Neill partnership has been a major boost too. It’s important validation and will help us tap into other markets around the world.”

Maloney and Dierings met through yoga - the former was a student of the latter who also teaches yoga to the New Zealand Warriors. Maloney developed the sales and marketing strategy for Composite Helicopters which helped them secure $170 million in pre-sales.

For more information go to www.lovemumu.com

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