We did the research to find yoga mat manufacturers making their products right here in the USA. Whether you want something for the studio or just working out at home, you should be able to find something that suits you with these options. Check out our findings below – we go into brand details, where to find them, and some tips to consider in your research for finding American made options.
Complete List of Yoga Mat Brands Made in the USA
The Hugger Mugger yoga mat is a nice option for about half the price of a JadeYoga mat. Hugger Mugger has been making yoga mats since 1986, and their Tapas mats are what started it all.
Pravanaca mats are a great eco-friendly option. They are recyclable and made in North Carolina, drastically reducing their carbon footprint vs. using materials and manufacturing overseas. Pravacana strictly sticks to the highest environmental standards in the US. These mats are meant for low-impact yoga and stretching, so if you sweat a lot, it could affect your grip on the mat. You can also custom design your Pravacana mat to put whatever print you want on there.
How to Find Yoga Mats Made in the USA
With the production of most goods now taking place abroad, thanks to lower labor costs, it can be harder and harder to find products that are truly made in the USA. To get a good American made yoga mat, you need to know how to shop for them. Here are our tips.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
Before we dive in, let’s define what it means for a yoga mat to be “made in the USA.” According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the “made in the USA” label only applies to products that are “all or virtually all” made in the United States. This includes every part of the manufacturing process, from the raw materials used to where the packaging takes place.
If you’d like to learn more about the FTC’s guidelines for this label, check out our “made in the USA” label guide.
Materials
When looking for a yoga mat made in the USA, the first thing to do is to research the materials used to make the product. Knowing and understanding where these materials come from can make a huge difference in narrowing down your true American-made yoga mats.
PVC
Most yoga mats are made with polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, a type of plastic. More than 65% of the world’s PVC comes from the Asia-Pacific. But while China and Japan do produce quite a bit of the world’s PVC, the United States is still one of the top few countries to produce this material. So, finding PVC-lined yoga mats shouldn’t be too burdensome, but you should definitely double-check the country of origin prior to purchase.
As a top tip, when looking for a PVC yoga mat, make sure the product you purchase is BPA-free.
Rubber
Rubber is another common material used on yoga mats to help provide the cushion needed for comfort. A whopping 90% of the world’s natural rubber comes from Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The United States does produce some natural rubber, but definitely not to the extent of these Asian countries. Finding natural rubber yoga mats may be more difficult than other materials, though not impossible!
Instead, if you are after a US-made yoga mat, you’d be better off looking for synthetic rubber. Of the 35 million tons of rubber the USA produces every year, two-thirds of this is synthetic. So, synthetic rubber may be easier to look for.
Jute
Jute is an eco-friendly alternative yoga mat material that is durable, non-slip, and comfortable. Unfortunately, jute is not typically grown or produced in the United States. It is a tropical plant that requires warm, humid climates to thrive, and the USA does not have very many regions that meet these requirements. Jute is primarily grown in countries such as Bangladesh, India, and China. Instead, American companies generally import jute fibers or jute products from these countries to use.
Cotton
Cotton yoga mats are becoming increasingly popular as they are soft, sweat-absorbent, and machine-washable. Cotton is a huge 21-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and as one of the top cotton-producing countries worldwide, finding cotton yoga mats should be relatively easy compared to, let’s say, natural rubber. However, it’s still worth keeping in mind that China and India still top the USA in terms of sheer cotton production, so check the labels before purchasing a yoga mat to ensure that it is made with US cotton.
Labeling
The next step to help you find yoga mats made in the USA is to look at the label. There are a couple of laws that help us with this. The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act mandates that companies disclose the fiber contents and country of origin for all textile products. Furthermore, Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the United States Code specifies that all imported products should be labeled with their country of origin. When looking for American-made yoga mats, you should look specifically for the FTC-protected “made in the USA” label.
Although, in theory, finding US-made yoga mats seems as simple as looking at the label, there are a few things to watch out for.
Unfortunately, the FTC does not police the usage of the protected “made in the USA” label as well as it should. Since there is no pre-approval process, it’s up to the individual companies to determine whether or not their products meet the criteria to use the label. And if you come across any misleading usage of this label, report it to the FTC, who will then investigate any such claims.
You should also pay particular attention to the language used on the labels. Some labels may seem synonymous with “made in the USA,” but they do not actually mean the same thing. Examples of such labels include “designed in the USA” and “assembled in the USA,” both of which mean only a portion of the manufacturing process takes place in the United States. Another label to look out for is “made in America,” where America can refer to either Canada or Mexico. Another label companies may use is “made in the USA with imported materials.” This label means the product is made with non-American materials, so it cannot be truly considered made in the USA.
A final thing to watch out for is the American flag sticker on labels. The use of the American flag on labels is not regulated, so just because you see this patriotic symbol does not automatically mean the product is American-made.
Other Tips
Here are a few extra tips to help you find yoga mats made in the USA.
Check the Company’s Website
When searching for information about yoga mats made in the USA, it’s a good idea to check the company’s website, particularly the “About Us” or product page. Companies that genuinely produce yoga mats in the USA would typically advertise this fact on their website, as it is a significant selling point.
However, if you can’t find any information, it’s essential to remember that companies are not required to disclose the country of origin of their products on their online or promotional materials. Thus, it’s safer to assume that the product is made abroad if no clear information is available.
Check Amazon
Product descriptions on online shopping sites such as Amazon frequently mention the country of origin. If you can’t find any information on the Production Description section of the product page, browse the FAQ section to see whether someone else has already inquired about the product’s origin.
Call the Company
If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to the company directly. Speaking with a representative over the phone or email would give you the most accurate information about the product and its origin.
