Annette Dale-Kramek pioneered the first collection in yogawear in 1997. Today, her Ancient Language Collection reflects her expertise in activewear design as well as her dedication to the healing wisdom of yoga and meditation. The result is a winning combination of ancient art and sleek styling.

Meditation and yoga helped Annette recover from the traumatic physical effects of surgery to remove a rare form of brain tumor in 1992. Spending three months in silence while her vocal cords were temporarily paralyzed started Annette on a powerful inner journey that led her to a daily practice of meditation and Iyenger yoga. She credits these practices with bringing her back to whole and radiant health.

This life-changing experience inspired Annette to bring together two of her greatest passions: yoga and design. She was among the very first designers to launch a yogawear line, just as yoga was moving into the mainstream in the late 1990s.

Descended from a long line of seamstresses and milliners, Annette learned to sew as a young girl—by age 8, she was making her own dresses. After graduating from U.C. San Diego in her native California, Annette attended the Fashion Institute in Los Angeles, and went on to a successful career in activewear design. An avid skier and sportswoman, she designed skiwear and activewear lines for some of the best-known labels in the business, including Body Glove, Guess, White Stag, Descente, Sun Ice, Icelandia Sweaters, Mountain Goat, and Spyder.

Annette relocated to the Berkshires in 1999 to study yoga intensively at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, and continued to develop her yogawear designs. Right away, it was clear that she had caught a wave—the yogawear line she designed for Gaiam made a quarter of a million dollars in its first year. Her own line continued to evolve; her current client base includes Canyon Ranch, Kripalu, Jivamukti Yoga School, Mii Amo Spa, and Club Med, among many others. Her skill in listening to and serving her customers’ unique needs is the key to her success.

The warm and elegant Ancient Language boutique, which Annette opened in September 2009 at 137 North St. in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, serves as a combined retail shop, showroom, and design studio. The collection and boutique are expressions of Annette’s creativity, positivity, and discerning eye. From spiraling text graphics (like that on the iconic T-shirt she designed for Haven Café and Bakery in Lenox) to whimsical appliqués, Annette’s designs are fresh and classy while communicating a deeper message in words and images. She chooses fine hip fabrications for top-selling tees and sustainable material of the highest quality, including organic cotton and bamboo blends for her yoga lifestyle clothing. She stays hands-on by creating her own graphics and clothing designs.

Annette’s mission is to create beautiful, functional clothing that inspires both teachers and practitioners as they seek healing, wisdom, and growth.