Two villages in Portugal makes your clothes

Near Porto, in Portugal, two small family businesses work side by side for us. The first, in one village, knits our organic cotton from scratch and dyes it to our specifications. The second, in the next village, cuts and sews. We have been visiting both every year since 2009. We know the people by name. We share meals when we visit. They have watched our collections grow alongside their own children.During the Covid years, when organic cotton and bamboo became briefly impossible to source in Portugal, we found a second family workshop in Turkey — also ethical, also certified, also personal. About 5% of what we make passes through their hands today. The Mizar Kimono and a few Lilac pieces from past collections come from there.Most yoga brands buy fabric from a market — pre-made rolls, ready to cut. We don't. Every meter of jersey we use is knitted from scratch to our specifications. That is why the Sohang feels the way it does. That is why a five-year-old pair softens instead of wearing thin.A slower way of making clothes. Sometimes inconvenient. Always worth it.

The slow choices we keep making for sustainability

Sustainability for us is not a marketing department. It is a series of small, sometimes annoying choices we have made since 2009.We chose certified organic cotton when it was 40% more expensive than conventional or plastic fabrics. We still pay that premium today. We grow without external capital which means we cannot afford to overstock, so we don't. We use every meter of yarn we order, even when it means smaller runs and longer waits. We are 100% self funded and all the money is placed in ethical funds in a local bank.We focus on evergreen pieces, the Sohang, the Amrit, the Amba instead of seasonal collections. Some of these designs are over a decade old and still our bestsellers. A garment worn for ten years on a body is the most sustainable thing a fashion brand can make.Our fabrics are dyed with processes gentle enough for a baby's skin. We package in either recycled or biodegradable bags. We ship from our small warehouse in Cully (Switzerland) or our partner in Germany, never overseas.We don't tick every box. We are not perfect. But these are the choices we make, and we make them visible.

What materials we use?

We work with three fabrics. Three. Not thirty.Brushed Organic Cotton Jersey (220g, made in Portugal) soft, slightly thick, with a peach-skin touch. Our flagship. The Sohang, Yamala and Mahan are knitted from this.Mercerized Organic Cotton Jersey (180g, made in Portugal) lighter, smoother, with a subtle natural sheen. Our new Essence Collection uses this for models like Ankaa, Nashira, Maia.Bamboo Viscose blended with Organic Cotton (made in Turkey) cool, breathable, fluid. Used for the Lilii pants and the Mizar Kimono. Bamboo regrows in three to five years, without replanting and without irrigation.Most pieces include around 8% certified elastane, enough to hold shape over years of wear, without losing breath.We use every meter of yarn we knit. What we don't sew, we save for repairs and samples. Nothing goes to waste.

Three generations of women to design

Three generations of women.My grandmother Johanna sewed evening dresses by hand. Long, careful, beautiful work, a kind of patience that has all but disappeared.My mother, Cornelia, learned from her. In 2009, she founded Breath of Fire. The very first piece she designed, the Sohang, was created on the floor of her living room in Switzerland, with a yoga teacher friend named Christina. It is still our flagship today, seventeen years later.Today, I ( Pernelle) run the brand. I do not redesign what works. I extend it. The Essence Collection, launched in 2025, sits beside the Evergreen line. New silhouettes, same intention.We do not design for trends. We design for the body in practice, for the moment when the breath deepens, when the posture lengthens, when you forget what you are wearing.That is the test of a piece. Forgetting it on. Returning to it.

Breath of Fire Bencha Men's Long-Sleeve T-shirt — Grey — front view, 100% organic cotton lightweight yoga top with close fit

Breath of Fire Bencha Men's Long-Sleeve T-shirt — Grey — side view, tailored seams and subtle waistline

Breath of Fire Bencha Men's Long-Sleeve T-shirt — Grey — back view, long body lightweight organic cotton

Breath of Fire Bencha Men's Long-Sleeve T-shirt — Grey — styling detail, close-fit men's yoga top

Breath of Fire

Bencha Men's Long-Sleeve T-shirt — Lightweight 100% Organic Cotton with Close Fit

CHF 35.00

~~CHF 70.00~~ CHF 35.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: S S M L XL

In stock
Inventory on the way

Close, light, and quietly masculine — a long-sleeve T-shirt for everyday wear, layering, and warm-weather practice.

The Bencha Long-Sleeve T-shirt was created by Cornelia Kauhs, founder of Breath of Fire. Cornelia designed it as a true men's wardrobe basic — enough structure to flatter the silhouette, enough softness to forget you're wearing it. Well-placed seams and a subtly tailored waist enhance the masculine build, while the long body stays in place through every movement.

Since 2009, our small family atelier has been making yoga and loungewear in Portugal — small batches, natural materials, no shortcuts.

What makes it unique

100% organic cotton jersey, lightweight ~180g — fine, breathable, comfortable on the skin without elastane.
Subtly tailored seams — well-placed cuts that flatter the masculine silhouette without restricting movement.
Long body — stays tucked through dynamic poses, transitions, and everyday wear.
Single quiet shade — Grey, a versatile classic.

Best for

Yoga practice in cooler studios, morning sessions, savasana cover
Layering under the Mahan Pants or with denim for everyday wear
Travel, light packing, slow weekends

Honest note on fit

The Bencha has a close fit — if you prefer a more relaxed silhouette, size up. For a short-sleeve men's option in fine organic cotton, see our Sadhak Men's Yoga T-shirt.

Honest note on the label

You may find "92% organic cotton + 8% elastane" written on the inner label. This is a remnant from older labels we are using up to avoid waste. The actual fabric of this Bencha is 100% organic cotton — no elastane. Transparency matters more to us than perfect packaging.

Ethically made in Europe

Cut and sewn in our family-run partner atelier in Portugal, in small batches, by skilled hands paid fair European wages.
Material: 100% certified organic cotton.
Fabric: Fine organic cotton jersey, lightweight ~180 g/m².
Feel: Soft, breathable, naturally elegant against the skin.