RIYADH: As the global fitness industry slowly gets back on its feet after the pandemic, brands are finding leverage through community engagement and mindfulness.
Rolly, a Saudi brand established in 2021, focuses on creating fitness experiences and products while offering sustainable practices from a “global perspective,” Yusr Al-Otaibi, co-founder of the brand, told Arab News.
Her sister, co-founder Yara Al-Otaibi, said: “In Saudi Arabia, it’s really important to set a standard because we’re no longer satisfied with the minimum or normal. We really want the best in terms of brand, products or initiatives.
Rolly seeks to create safe spaces and products for individuals to integrate movement into their daily lives. (Provided)
Saudis are no strangers to sedentary lifestyles. The days are punctuated by long car rides through hot, sunny streets. Only in the colder months can one find joggers and cyclists traversing Riyadh’s Wadi Hanifa or Jeddah’s Corniche. Although there are no recent statistics on the subject, according to the 2021 household sports practice survey carried out by the General Statistics Authority, 29.7% of people practice moderate physical activity.
Rolly seeks to create safe spaces and products for individuals to integrate movement into their daily lives.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Rolly, a Saudi brand established in 2021, focuses on creating fitness experiences and products.
• Rolly Experiences are curated wellness and fitness events that include mindfulness activities.
Yusr said: “We started with a question: why weren’t there sustainable products that look fun and also perform well? We took up the challenge.
After suffering a knee injury and interrupting her active lifestyle and gym routine, Yara discovered that conventional yoga mats caused more pain than support. An idea was born from the need of the two sisters for products and spaces that were comfortable, safe and encouraged all types of movement.
Yusr said: “We discovered a gap in the Saudi market and the Middle East as a whole, and we hope that through this we can raise awareness about the importance of the movement while caring for the Earth . »
Rolly seeks to create safe spaces and products for individuals to integrate movement into their daily lives. (Provided)
After three years of testing alongside physiotherapists, the sisters’ first product was born. Their plastic-free, moisture-wicking yoga mat is constructed with rubber and a top layer of vegan leather. The wide structure has been designed by Yara to ensure that it is suitable for most body types and fitness exercises.
They also developed a mat backing, made from local fabrics, to promote the idea that safe practice spaces can also be portable.
Yusr explained: “I think through the design of the product, Rolly has perhaps opened the door to a new category of products in the Kingdom in terms of fitness that are approached by both men and women, or whether you are a yogi, physiotherapist or Pilates trainer or a high school girl who loves movement.
We discovered a gap in the Saudi market and the Middle East as a whole, and through this we hope to be able to raise awareness of the importance of the movement while caring for the Earth.
Yusr Al-Otaibi, Co-founder of Rolly
Their company is built around the three core values of sustainability, performance and creativity.
Yara said: “As entrepreneurs, we truly believe that businesses that do not have social, environmental or economic responsibility in Saudi Arabia will not prosper.
“We focus on these three aspects that are (components of) international sustainability… It’s not just the fact that we have products that are sustainable; socially, we encourage people to move, which also has a sustainable aspect.
Rolly seeks to create safe spaces and products for individuals to integrate movement into their daily lives. (Provided)
By working with Friends of Rolly – who are local instructors – local fitness talent, investors, businesses and studios gain visibility.
The Jeddah-based brand launched Rolly Experiences this year, which the sisters say is at the heart of what Rolly does. Their curated events captivate their clients’ senses, whether it’s the weight of the mat they’re standing on, the music, or the environment they’re in.
Mindfulness techniques are incorporated to engage the mind as well as the body.
Rolly has successfully promoted mindfulness and fitness through experiential events, using lights to encourage spectator curiosity.
Yusr said: “People are now eager to know what happens next as our experiences move from one place to another.
“Coaches are people who also merge different types of sports and these things are very exciting. It’s very comforting to see and know that there is a demand for this product.
The sisters’ most recent event, called “Shells by the Beach,” hosted in collaboration with local studios and instructors, focused on locating and attuning to inner flow.
Yusr said: “We wanted it to be close to the beach so participants could feel and visualize the waves and recreate that feeling within themselves. The human body is 70% water, so it made sense to be there. »
Although they are currently based in Jeddah, they plan to expand to other parts of the region soon.
Yusr added, “The ultimate goal is to redefine the idea of fitness experiences in the country.
“People are interested in Pilates, yoga, etc., but they also want to have a new perspective to make it something new: a very high performance, high quality experience. »