Fashion with Purpose: Tanja Merlo on N3YH’s Eco-Luxe Movement
In a world where fast fashion dominates and conscious consumerism often feels like an uphill battle, one South African woman is redefining what it means to create with purpose. As the founder of N3YH, an eco-luxe athleisure and sleepwear brand rooted in sustainability, elegance, and ethical craftsmanship, Tanja Merlo is not just designing clothing; she’s championing a movement. This Women’s Day, we sit down with her to explore how N3YH became a symbol of slow fashion done right, the empowering journey behind its creation, and why she believes women are at the heart of meaningful change in the fashion industry.
N3YH Activewear: Tried and Tested
When it comes to athleisure that balances style, comfort, and sustainability, N3YH is leading the way. This South African-born brand is redefining activewear with eco-luxe designs made from recycled fabrics and ultra-soft bamboo. With a focus on slow fashion and mindful production, N3YH isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling good and doing good too.
After trying out the N3YH activewear pieces for ourselves, we can confidently say the brand delivers on its promises. The leggings fit like a second skin — buttery soft yet supportive, with just the right amount of stretch for both a yoga session and a busy day on the go. The bamboo fabric is a standout; it feels luxuriously smooth, breathable, and incredibly gentle on the skin, making it perfect for anyone with sensitivities. Beyond comfort, the quality is evident in the stitching, fabric weight, and overall finish.
What impressed us most was how seamlessly the sets transition from activewear to everyday wear. We went from an early morning PowerBox session to a coffee shop before throwing on a blazer and boots to head to the office. It’s clear that every detail has been considered, from the flattering cuts to the eco-conscious materials. N3YH isn’t just activewear; it’s a lifestyle choice that champions sustainability without compromising on luxury. And the best part? N3YH know what the girlies want, and that is matching sets! We were rocking our leggings, sports bra and jacket that complimented each other just right – no effort required.
Q&A with N3YH Founder, Tanja Merlo
Founder’s Journey & Brand Origins
1. What inspired you to create N3YH, and how does the brand reflect your personal journey as a woman entrepreneur?
I’ve always had a passion for aesthetics, which led me to study Fashion Branding & Marketing in Los Angeles and work in the fashion industry in Switzerland. It was always my dream to have my own fashion brand, and I saw a unique opportunity to launch something different to the South African market. Struggling to find sleepwear that was both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, I began experimenting with fabrics and chose bamboo for its softness and sustainability. That’s how N3YH was born — from a desire to create beautiful, feel-good pieces that reflect both my personal style and entrepreneurial journey.
2. N3YH stands for N3 Yoga House. Can you share the story behind the name and how it evolved into a full-fledged eco-luxe fashion label?
What N3YH means is a question that I hear all the time. Its not easy to remember the name and not easy to spell. N3YH is a code word for this particular project in South Africa. It was project Nr. 3, Nr. 1 was my first yoga studio in Paarl called Yoga House (that’s why YH) and I opened a second one at Val de Vie that was N2YH.
3. Starting a brand rooted in sustainability isn’t the easiest path. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early days, and how did you navigate them?
The biggest challenge was to find that material, that is sustainable but soft on the skin at the same time. Bamboo is a natural material, its important what is touching your skin during the 6-8 hours of sleep. Bamboo does not need a lot of water to grow and grows back fast. We initially imported the fabrics from oversea, as Bamboo was not available in South Africa when we started and that was expensive. I did not like the fact that the fabrics is not made here as I want to source everything locally. Today we import the fibres from India and knit the fabrics up locally in Capetown. There is a lot of greenwashing out there in the industry, we do whatever we can to act as sustainable as possibly with our brand.
Empowerment & Women’s Day Themes
4. Women’s Month celebrates the power of women rising together. How has being a woman in business shaped the values and direction of N3YH?
Being a woman in business has deeply shaped the heart of N3YH — our team is small, all women, and built on mutual support and shared vision. I trained each of them myself, always believing in their talent and creativity, even without formal fashion or marketing background. I truly enjoy working with likeminded women; we lift each other up, brainstorm freely, and grow together — because there’s space for all of us to succeed. I believe the future is women supporting women, and I’m always inspired by and learning from those around me.
5. In what ways do you hope N3YH empowers women — not just as consumers but as change makers in the fashion industry? Perhaps you can give a word of advice you wish every woman to remember when she wears your clothes?
At N3YH, we hope to empower women by helping them feel confident, comfortable, and worthy — not just as consumers, but as voices for change in an industry that needs more authenticity and care. When a woman wears our pieces, I want her to feel grounded in self-love and proud of choosing fashion that aligns with her values. Looking good and feeling good should go hand in hand. My advice to every woman wearing N3YH: you are amazing — celebrate and love yourself, always.
6. Who are the women that inspire you, both within your personal life and professionally, and how do they influence your work?
I’ve never had one specific role model — I’ve always been inspired by women in general who boldly make things happen. Women who follow their passion, take risks, and stay true to themselves really motivate me. That energy pushes me to keep going, trust my instincts, and pour authenticity into everything I do at N3YH. It’s about being brave, doing what you love, and showing up fully as yourself.
Sustainability & Ethical Fashion
7. Sustainability is central to N3YH’s identity. What does “slow fashion” mean to you personally, beyond just a business ethos?
To me, slow fashion is a mindset — it’s about being intentional, mindful, and respectful in every step of the process. It means creating pieces with purpose, using sustainable materials, and valuing quality over quantity. Personally, it’s also about slowing down in life, appreciating what you have, and making choices that feel good for both you and the planet. When it comes to fashion, buy less but take care of your garments so they last long. Invest more in timeless pieces than running after every trend.
8. How do you ensure that N3YH’s production remains eco-friendly and ethical, especially in an industry often criticised for greenwashing?
We act as sustainable as we can. We carefully select sustainable, natural fabrics like bamboo. Because we produce in small batches, we minimize waste and avoid overproduction. We source fabrics & trims locally, work only with local manufacturers that share the same values and under fair working conditions. We do everything with love & passion in a small team. Our whole supply chain is transparent and we can stand behind everything we do.
9. Your use of recycled materials and bamboo fabrics feels very intentional. Can you walk us through the process of how a N3YH garment comes to life — from concept to finished product?
We plan our future collections a year ahead, for that we are using trend databases to stay up to date whats coming and define a title for the new collection. From there, we define patterns, decide on colors and a story. Usually we change up a collection several times until we finalize it, it’s a long process and the whole team is involved. From then on we create samples, test fits, and refine details & source trims. Once everything feels just right, we produce in small, thoughtful batches — always keeping quality, comfort, and sustainability at the core.
Creative Vision & Future Aspirations
10. Your prints have a very feminine, nature-inspired aesthetic. Where do you draw inspiration from when designing new collections?
Much of our creative process is guided by intuition — inspiration often strikes while traveling, exploring nature, or simply observing colors and textures in everyday life. Once we define the theme, we dive deep into the world of details, shaping a story that brings each collection to life. We began with bold, vibrant florals, moved into a Moroccan tile-inspired range, and our upcoming collection will feature a more soothing, two-tone palette. We want every woman to feel represented — to find a pattern that resonates — while also staying connected to global influences through insights from international trend forecasts and macro-trend research.
11. Looking ahead, how do you envision N3YH growing in the next few years? Any exciting collaborations or projects in the pipeline?
We’re currently in the process of expanding into the European market, beginning with Switzerland — my home country. While we’re excited to grow internationally, our commitment to local production remains strong. Every N3YH piece will continue to be made in South Africa, as we’re passionate about supporting and uplifting the local manufacturing industry. No matter where our brand goes, our roots will always be proudly South African.
12. If you could send one message to young women aspiring to start their own sustainable brands, what would it be?
Build your brand up in your own time and don’t rush it, Rome was not build in a day. It took us a long time to get our name out there and you have to be consistent with your strategy and keep believing in your dream. Quality is everything and if you do it, do it with lots of love and passion. Success will follow. Going the sustainable way is usually more costly but long-lasting. Its amazing when you can stand behind everything you are doing. Be different, think out of the box and serve your end-product to the market with proudness.
Personal Reflection
13. What has been your proudest moment as the founder of N3YH so far?
The first two years were incredibly challenging, and I had to stay grounded in my vision and trust the process. Looking back, I’m proud that I pushed through — even during the tough moments of Covid, navigating the early years of motherhood with two babies, and learning through some missteps with manufacturers. I remained consistent and resilient, and instead of letting obstacles slow me down, they fueled my drive to keep moving forward. Those experiences shaped both me and the brand in powerful ways.
14. On tough days, what keeps you grounded and motivated to keep pushing forward with your brand’s vision?
I never had a day where I was doubting building up N3YH as I absolutely love what I am doing. My team is as passionate about the brand as I am, as well as our digital & PR agency & partners. Positive thinking people in your business help you so much to stay grounded. I am very lucky with people around me, in business and in private.
15. Lastly, how do you personally define success — not just in business, but as a woman leading with purpose?
Our brand is about self-love. You put your pretty N3YH pjs after a busy day when you unwind, just for yourself or maybe for our partner as well. You have to take care of your health, mentally and physically. If you feel great, you attract greatness. Don’t push to hard, and don’t be harsh to yourself. Everything that is supposed to happen will, in its own time and totally naturally.
