The Journal

In ten years, we've done a lot of heavy lifting in fabric innovation. When we learned about the potential negative impact of PFCs, on people and the environment, our path was clear: find an effective PFC-Free DWR solution.  What Are PFCs? A perfluorinated compound per - or polyfluoroalkyl chemical are all completely man-made chemicals commonly used in DWR (durable water repellent) coatings and waterproof membranes. These fluorochemicals have been used for some time to give clothing water and stain-resistant properties. There are many sources of PFCs within the clothing sector but over half of the most hazardous PFC chemicals are used for weatherproof clothing. Many of our down jackets are treated with PFC-Free DWR.  Why is PFC-Free Important? Once released into the environment PFCs break down very slowly; they can remain in the environment for many years after their release and are dispersed over the entire globe. They can affect both the wearer of the garment and the environment when it washes or rubs off jackets. It has accumulated in measurable levels in snow, ice, and water around the world. For some PFCs there is evidence that they cause harm to reproduction, promotes the growth of tumors and affects the hormone system. PFCs are on the globally-recognized Restricted Substances Lists. Our Boiled Wool Collection is treated with PFC-Free DWR. Nau Solution When we created Nau, we knew we needed a better way to make jackets waterproof, but none existed. So we invented our own. In 2014, we were the first in the outdoor industry to transition to a C6 DWR —which is essentially DWR with reduced PFC’s (industry standard is C8). And in 2017, Nau became the first company to shift to C0 100% PFC-Free DWR treatments in the U.S. market. We use a variety of PFC-Free DWR alternatives that are bio-based and hydrocarbon polymer-based chemistries in order to achieve the best water repellency performance with the lowest impact.  All of our PFC-free DWR chemistries are screened by accredited third party organizations such as Bluesign, ZDHC, Oeko-tex Standard 100, and globally-recognized Restricted Substances Lists to ensure safety for mill and factory workers, for Nau customers, and for the environment. Through industry-standard performance testing, we’ve found that water repellency for our PFC-free DWR is comparable to traditional iterations and our PFC-free DWR has since become the industry standard for healthy, effective waterproofing. Our Introvert Collection is treated with PFC-Free DWR.  Care For PFC-Free DWR Apparel  80% of clothing's environmental impact comes from its care. So proper care is crucial. If your piece gets dirty, opt for spot treatment over washing. If you need to wash it, always use cold water and tumble dry low to reactivate the DWR. Every few seasons, reapply Nikwax to maintain water repellency.  Shop Our Entire PFC-Free DWR Collection.   

Minimalism is more of a way of life than a passing trend. It uncomplicates everything from getting dressed in the morning to the way we treat our land. It is the anthesis of a seasonal trend because it cuts all that noise out.  That’s not to say that you can’t look good while you declutter —quite the opposite. So, what part does minimalism play in clothing? Having a few key pieces can bring any look together, save time, and lend the earth a helping hand as well. As a minimalist clothing brand, we’ve found that the following items will do the trick. The Basic Tee Basis Short Sleeve T-Shirt (unisex) —100% soft organic cotton.  One incredible t-shirt in the hand is worth twenty less-decent t-shirts in the bush. A well-made tee can be the MVP in many different outfit combinations. You can wear it with your raincoat, dress it up with a blazer or just rock it on its own. As far as clothing goes, it’s the desert island staple of fundamental garb. Honestly, without tees, where would even be in life?! The Coat that Keeps the Rain Away Sequenchshell Waterproof Jackets—breathable weather protection.  If you’ve ever been on a mountainside without adequate hiking attire, you know there’s a remarkable difference between the raincoat that actually keeps the rain away and the one that doesn’t. A quality, fitted waterproof jacket can circumvent years of misery both for yourself and the planet.  That One Pair of Pants Men's Stretch Motil Pant —made for movement.  Everyone has that one pair of pants that outshines every other pair of pants they own. A great pair of pants must be both comfortable and stylish. Jeans have always been a go-to, but traditional dying methods can wreak havoc on our natural surroundings. We think that one pair of pants should be sustainable as well.  Those Minimalist Kicks You can’t argue with a pair of crisp white sneakers. They’re a statement of minimalism. They give off an air of sophistication while also rebelling against having to have the next branded thing to complete the look. Stand back fashionistas, because no-name sneaks are about to give your Choo’s a run for their money. The Transitional Jacket that Goes with Everything   Boiled Wool Jackets (coming soon in FW19) —the perfect transitional fabric.  You know the jacket, the one you try not to wear as much as you want to because it’s so versatile that it could even make your old gym shorts look amazing. If you forsake all others, you know in your heart of hearts that this one must stay. It could be a wrap, a hoodie, a blazer, a cardigan or other that makes your wardrobe come together. It’s ok to wear it whenever you want; we positively encourage it.  In conclusion, the best minimalist staples are the practical items of clothing that make you feel like yourself. Quality is key, and it often ends up costing quite a bit less over the lifespan of the garment. Sustainability is more important than ever. And, you being yourself is what the world needs right now.

So you do your best to wear your pieces as long as they will last before recycling them. But what if you took it a step further and upcycled it into something “new” again? In this workshop, Luz Rule from The Renewal Workshop took us through a variety of upcycling ideas and quick tips which you can also use to repair and renew your existing clothes. 

One of the most important contributions of sustainable fashion is the opportunity for you to invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that last longer and transcend trends. The result is a minimalist wardrobe that feels good every time you look into your uncluttered closet.  In our second workshop, sustainable fashion stylist and blogger, Jess Carpenter showed us how to assemble a sustainable capsule collection to transition from Summer into Fall. Shop Jess' Nau picks from the workshop HERE.  @jesswithless, Sustainable Fashion Stylist + Blogger and Vicki Vasil, Nau Brand Marketing Director.  Reasons to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Creating More Space and Time. Dressing with less you’ll have a little more time and space to figure it out. Sometimes to figure out what matters you have to get rid of everything that doesn’t. Reduce Decision Fatigue. Instead of trying on several outfits getting ready in the morning in hopes of finding the perfect thing to wear, curating a capsule wardrobe helps keep things simple. Then there are no daily decisions required.  How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Pull out all of your clothes, accessories, jewelry, and shoes—all of it. And then try everything on. Seeing what you have, how it fits and makes you feel is an important step in building a capsule wardrobe. Look at what you’ve acquired, what you’ve spent, and what you never wear. Move the clothes in piles on the floor with a ruthless first pass sort. Don’t give it too much thought, go with your first reaction. Sort items into the following piles: Love: I love these items. They fit me well and I wear them frequently. Maybe: I want to keep this but I don’t know why.  Recycle: These items don’t fit my body or my life. Or these items are in poor condition. (upcycle if possible) Make a list of your items by category. Start with the items you already use every day, and your go-to clothing items.  Once you’ve taken care of the donate and trash piles, and picked your capsule wardrobe items, you do not have to give up the maybe items remaining. Instead, box them up and hide them for a while. A little separation goes a long way. After 3 months, revisit the items you chose to box up. Either add them to a future capsule or if you feel differently about them, let them go. Missed the workshop? Catch all of Jess' recommendations in the video below. We were live streaming on Facebook during the event and posted the live video to our YouTube page as well. If you'd like to attend or learn more about our last workshop in this series, please scroll below.  —Must RSVP to Attend— Workshop 3 – New Beginnings: Upcycling Project  Date: Wednesday, August 21st, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 RSVP HERE So you do your best to wear your pieces as long as they will last before recycling them. But what if you took it a step further and upcycled it into something “new” again? In this session, The Renewal Workshop will walk you through an upcycling project that turns an old garment into something new. Don’t have one that’s ready for the upcycle? No problem, we’ve got some for you to work with, and we’ll also supply you with all the materials you’ll need to complete your project.   View this post on Instagram Recap of our 2nd workshop in the Nau Summer Workshop Series: Sustainability Beyond the Shopping Bag. Workshop 2—Creating a Capsule Wardrobe with @jesswithless. One of the most important contributions of sustainable fashion is the opportunity for you to invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that last longer and transcend trends. The result is a minimalist wardrobe that feels good every time you look into your uncluttered closet. Click on the link in our profile for the event recap + a live stream video. Join us for our last workshop on Wednesday, August 21st from 7 - 9 pm — New Beginnings: Upcycling Project with @renewalworkshop. ✂️ #SustainableFashion #LiveNau #therenewalworkshop #upcycling A post shared by Nau Clothing (@nauclothing) on Aug 12, 2019 at 9:49am PDT

So you’re spending the time to make well-considered, sustainable apparel purchases. But how do you ensure long lives for those pieces? How do you implement responsible washing/drying care?  In our first workshop, we discussed basic clothing care that saves water and energy, as well as your wardrobe. We covered rejuvenating the waterproofing on your outerwear with the least harm to the environment, quick repairs you can do at home, warrantying an item, and recycling opportunities.  Lead Presenters: Taylor Hill, Nau Wholesale Sales + Marketing Coordinator and Michelle Flores, The Renewal Workshop Director of Sales + Merchandising.  We were live streaming on Facebook during the event and posted the live video to our YouTube page as well.   Highlights to skip to: 11:00 stain removal. 4:19 washing tips. 11:00 stain removal. 20:03 alterations, down, and DWR treatments. 38:40 pilling and repair.  48:08 The Renewal Workshop + recycling and donating.  Click HERE for our infographic handout from the workshop.    We also wanted to follow up with a couple of product suggestions that help reduce microplastic waste:  Cora Microfiber Catching Laundry Ball.  Guppyfriend Washing Bag.  If you'd like to attend or learn more about upcoming workshops 2 & 3, please scroll below.  —Must RSVP to Attend— Workshop 2 – Creating a Capsule Wardrobe Date: Wednesday, August 7th, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 RSVP HERE One of the most important contributions of sustainable fashion is the opportunity for you to invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that last longer and transcend trends. The result is a minimalist wardrobe that feels good every time you look into your uncluttered closet. In this workshop, sustainable fashion stylist Jess Carpenter @jesswithless will show you how to assemble your own sustainable capsule collection to transition from Summer into Fall, complete with accessories and footwear. We’ll supply you with a recycled notebook to jot down all the tips and provide you with an in-event special flash sale to kick off your wardrobe with a fresh key style. Workshop 3 – New Beginnings: Upcycling Project  Date: Wednesday, August 21st, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 RSVP HERE So you do your best to wear your pieces as long as they will last before recycling them. But what if you took it a step further and upcycled it into something “new” again? In this session, The Renewal Workshop will walk you through an upcycling project that turns an old garment into something new. Don’t have one that’s ready for the upcycle? No problem, we’ve got some for you to work with, and we’ll also supply you with all the materials you’ll need to complete your project.   View this post on Instagram Recap of our 1st workshop in the Nau Summer Workshop Series: Sustainability Beyond the Shopping Bag. Workshop 1 —Extending the Life: Care and Repair. You’re spending the time to make well-considered, sustainable apparel purchases. But how do you ensure long lives for those pieces? How do you implement responsible washing/drying care? Click on the link in our profile for the event recap + a live stream video. Join us for our next workshop on Wednesday, August 7th from 7 - 9 pm — Creating a Capsule Wardrobe with @jesswithless. #SustainableFashion #LiveNau #therenewalworkshop A post shared by Nau Clothing (@nauclothing) on Aug 1, 2019 at 6:15pm PDT

When we were founded, we may have been ahead of our time. But our vision to inspire consumers and other brands to live a sustainable existence didn’t go unheard. And we’re still small. But we’re okay with that because we are still pushing innovation in the apparel space, and it allows us to never have to make a difficult choice. 12 years in the business has also made us really savvy. There are so many brands out there talking about “sustainable this” and “ethical that.” Fair Trade, certified organic. We know you’re confused by all the hype out there. The good news is, it’s not all hype, but we can help you cut through the noise. What most brands don’t tell you is that sustainability isn’t just about the source and production of your garment. It’s about choosing quality pieces that last longer. Responsible care of your wardrobe without wasting resources. Delivering your pieces at the end of their practical lifetime into the circular economy and not into the landfill. We don’t want you to buy our stuff, we want you to become part of a movement. Join Nau and The Renewal Workshop for this three-part Workshop Series on Sustainability Beyond the Shopping Bag. Learn how to sustainably extend the life of your garments, create a transitional capsule collection, and upcycle your garments into something “new”. —Must RSVP to Attend— Workshop 1 – Extending the Life: Care and Repair Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 Click HERE for the Recap.  You’re spending the time to make well-considered, sustainable apparel purchases. But how do you ensure long lives for those pieces? How do you implement responsible washing/drying care? In this workshop, we’ll go over basic clothing care that saves water and energy, as well as your wardrobe. You’ll learn how to rejuvenate the waterproofing on your outerwear with the least harm to the environment. We’ll show you quick repairs you can do at home, and let you know when it’s worth warrantying an item, or when that favorite jacket is simply past its practical lifetime. Finally, we’ll go over some legitimate donation and recycling opportunities so you can feel confident your clothing isn’t ending up in the landfill. Workshop 2 – Creating a Capsule Wardrobe Date: Wednesday, August 7th, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 Click HERE for the Recap.  One of the most important contributions of sustainable fashion is the opportunity for you to invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that last longer and transcend trends. The result is a minimalist wardrobe that feels good every time you look into your uncluttered closet. In this workshop, sustainable fashion stylist Jess Carpenter @jesswithless will show you how to assemble your own sustainable capsule collection to transition from Summer into Fall, complete with accessories and footwear. We’ll supply you with a recycled notebook to jot down all the tips and provide you with an in-event special flash sale to kick off your wardrobe with a fresh key style. Workshop 3 – New Beginnings: Upcycling Project  Date: Wednesday, August 21st, 2019Time: 7 pm – 9 pmLocation: Nau Portland Store 304 NW 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 Click HERE for the Recap.  So you do your best to wear your pieces as long as they will last before recycling them. But what if you took it a step further and upcycled it into something “new” again? In this session, The Renewal Workshop will walk you through an upcycling project that turns an old garment into something new. Don’t have one that’s ready for the upcycle? No problem, we’ve got some for you to work with, and we’ll also supply you with all the materials you’ll need to complete your project.  

Packing for a getaway always comes with a slew of decision-making. Adding dresses to your warm-weather travel capsule collection is a great option, especially for those looking for a no-fuss solution. Flaxible Short Sleeve Mod Dress in Terracotta. There’s nothing like a simple, modern dress to give you effortless travel style. Our dresses are style sustainable and comfortable —especially in the summer heat —provide versatility for layering and making multiple outfits, and have pockets. Flaxible Collection Our Flaxible dresses get an added nod to performance with the addition of polyester to the classic TENCEL® and linen blend. It keeps its beautiful, club-textured drape and cool hand feel, while the added polyester provides a natural wrinkle resistance, improved moisture management, and increased strength and durability. Flaxible Tank Dress in Vapor. Astir Collection Our Astir dresses merge timeless lines with a soft, jersey-knit blend of UPF-50 organic cotton and TENCEL® Sun, offering effortless comfort plus permanent, mineral-based UV protection, and pockets, of course. Astir Stripe Tank Dress in Lagoon. Kanab Collection Our Kanab dress is the perfect casual dress for warm weather that wears like a well-worn tee, the scoop-necked Kanab Capsleeve Dress blends the comfort and breathability of hemp and organic cotton into a vision of casual sophistication. Shop the Kanab Capsleeve Dress. Ready to pick dresses for traveling to your next destination? Here are all of our season’s picks for warm-weather traveling.

One of the nicest things about the internet generation is that we have a way of bringing old, dusty industries to their knees. Armed with fashion-forward knowledge, you too can help push a large pair of cutting shears across the fabric of non-sustainable practices. Read on for a few truth bombs about your closet. Fast Fashion Is Quickly Dying Fast fashion was born in the 1800s as a side effect of the Industrial Revolution, but the real progression of seasonal trends didn’t start strutting the catwalk until the 1960s. Unfortunately, these new and exciting threads came at a very real cost to humanity. Now, with hotter and longer summers, the lines between seasons have been blurred—making purchasing heavy winter gear much less appealing. With studies showing a profit loss of $572M more in the winter season of 2015 vs. 2014, fast-fashion conglomerates have been getting pretty concerned about their future. To make a change, we all need to take sustainable fashion seriously. Here’s a shopping list of 22 sustainable clothing companies that made the cut on Highsnobiety magazine. Green Is The New Black The fashion industry is made up of all of the world’s largest polluters; electricity and heat for production, storage, and sales; agriculture for leather and wool; carbon emissions from transportation; petroleum is used to make polyester. As we consume more and more information like this, it becomes abundantly clear that fast fashion is a major driving force towards the destruction of our planet and the people who live on it. “Slow fashion” is a movement currently gaining traction in its fight to opt for quality over quantity.  You can get involved by shopping with sustainable companies, advocating for basic human rights, and standing up for our planet.  Looking Trashy Will Be “In” With unpredictable weather patterns, textiles like cotton are harder to grow en masse and manmade fibers are just accelerating the problem. As a solution, eco-friendly companies have been using everything from recycled plastic water bottles to rubber tires to make their fabrics. Check out Nau’s line of sustainable fabrics to see what you’re really wearing.  Your Clothing Could Be Grown In A Lab The jeans industry rakes in an annual profit of $8.5 billion while also polluting waterways that factory workers use as drinking, cooking and bathing water.  Artist and researcher, Ali Schneider, is exploring the uses of bioengineering to ‘grow’ clothing. In addition to growing fabric in a lab, Ali’s newest project, Vivorium, aims to use bacteria to produce indigo blue jean dye color. She told interviewers at Refinery29 “Imagining what biotechnology could mean for indigo—what it could mean for the future of denim—pushed me to think about how we could reshape fashion production in a really inventive way.” Fashion Will Follow Function It’s the age-old conundrum; does function follow form or does form follow function? Well, we predict that fashion will have to evolve into a function-first industry. With seasons quickly merging, your wardrobe will need to be able to weather the storm and deal with hot days too. Transitional wear is bridging the gap between seasons–while also crafting the phrase “so last season” into a compliment.