The Journal

Warmth is not the only determining factor when choosing insulated jackets —you also have to factor in weight, resistance to water and compression, and style.

Unisex clothing has taken the world by storm more than once before, but this time it’s more than a matter of style. It is being used as a way not only to challenge traditional norms for male/female gender roles but to do so for all genders and anti-genders too. It’s a statement made about being oneself as opposed to playing quietly by the rules of others. It Makes Everything Normal Unisex clothing has something for everyone, and that’s the beauty of it. With gender-neutral and normcore clothing, you can wear whatever the hell you like, and people can deal with it. It’s a form of passive protest that trickles into the very fabric of our society. It Slows Down Fashion Cycles Fast fashion is one of the largest contributing factors that is quickly leading to the destruction of our planet. So, anything that slows down rotating trends is better for everyone. With unisex clothing, there’s less need for adaptation; helping slow the turnover and give the earth a somewhat of a break. “Sustainable” clothing isn’t just a buzzword; it’s literally what we need to wear to be able to promote our actual survival. And sustainability is just one mitigating piece in a larger puzzle. It is, however, an extremely influential piece. It’s One for The Ages Perhaps one of the biggest wins for gender-neutral clothing is how it’s helping children understand their personalities and express themselves more freely at a young age. Girls who like cars and superheroes are at more liberty to ditch the dresses if they want to. Similarly, boys who like to wear dresses are leading the way for others to do the same. Unisex clothing is breaking the glass ceiling of gender-associated stereotypes by starting at the beginning of the human lifecycle. It Advocates Gender Neutrality Modern unisex clothing is all about gender neutrality. When the term “unisex clothing” was first coined in the 1960s, it was partially about giving power back to women. More recently, it can mean that the wearer has adopted or is supportive of a nonbinary lifestyle–no matter what gender they identify with. It’s more about donning what you like to wear than wearing what the fashion industry wants you to wear. It’s a courageous push in the right direction. It Promotes Gender Equality Unisex clothing promotes equality by stripping away gender ideals. By making the same clothes available to both genders, it manifests the radical concept of true self-awareness. Although this train of thought is taking a while to catch up, self-awareness can also lead to gender equality. If you can wear the same clothes, then why not get the same pay, the same opportunities, and the same recognition.    Shop our New Unisex Fleece Collection. 

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.

It's Zero Waste Week and a reminder to rethink what we buy and how we dispose of it. Practicing a "Zero Waste" lifestyle supports a circular economy that makes the most sustainable use out of our resources. Zero Waste discourages using natural resources to make new products and by doing so it creates far less pollution, helps to mitigate climate change, reduces water usage, prevents the creation of toxins, and stops ecosystem destruction. 5 Day Zero Waste Week Challenge We'd like to challenge you to go zero waste this week and to make it easy, we've put together a 5-day guide. Meatless Monday  Shifting to more plant-based foods is essential to combatting climate change, soil, air and water pollution, ocean dead zones, and a myriad of other problems caused by industrial livestock production. If we decide to eat fewer meals with meat or dairy each week, we can have a huge impact on our collective health and the health of the planet. Just by cutting meat out of your diet for 1 single day can save 1,100 gallons of water, 45 lbs of grain, 30 square feet of forested land, and 20 lbs CO2 equivalent. That's insane and one incredibly easy way to help the planet.  Disposable Tuesday Look around your house and start replacing items that are disposable with a reusable alternative. We've put together a list of our favorite Ten Single-Use Plastic Replacements.   Go Outside Wednesday Spending time outside is a great reminder why you're trying to save the planet. Go for a walk to your favorite coffee shop, the farmers market, a book store...etc. Walk your dog, explore your town, get on a bike, enjoy mother earth. Repair not Replace Thursday Eventually, the stuff you own is going to break or wear out. When that happens, it’s easy to throw the old item in the trash and simply replace it with a new one. After all, we live in a toss-and-replace culture —however, it wasn’t always that way.  Instead of tossing an item, look for a way to repair it. Depending on the item, manufactures will repair worn or damaged items. Paying someone to repair broken items may not be as common as it once was, you can still find people who will happily restore your stuff to like-new condition if you're unable to do it yourself. Recycle Friday  That stuff you're parting with might not be trash. Deciding to recycle items is just the first step, you also want to make sure the items are recycled correctly. Republic Services shows you everything you need to know to be a good recycler, click HERE to learn more.  Looking for a longer challenge? Click HERE for the 30 Day Zero Waste Challenge via the Zero Waste Nerd. 

We're excited to announce our involvement in this year's Art in the Pearl Fine Arts & Crafts Festival this upcoming Labor Day weekend. The festival will feature over one hundred artists, a stage with a variety of live original music, an education pavilion for children, and plenty of food options. 

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. 

Being close to nature can help remedy and prevent a whole host of illnesses. Hiking, walking, gardening, or just being outside increases cognitive performance and reduces stress.  It’s ironic that being “connected” makes us disconnected from the world around us. Studies have shown that stress of being indoors and having constant digital stimulation takes its toll on our health. What if you could counter that by changing the nature of your work? Here are five examples of badass jobs that will get you closer to nature. Wildlife Rehabilitator The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association handles around 250,000 calls, regarding injured, abandoned and distressed animals, each year. Seventy-five percent of these cases are due to cars, illegal wild animal trading, hunting, poaching or some other type of human interference. The role of the wildlife rehabilitator is not only to return these injured animals to full health (and, hopefully, the wild), but also to educate the general public about the effects we have on wildlife.  According to the Animal Behavior Institute, wildlife rehabilitators can expect to spend 35% of their time caring for animals, 35% working with the public, 15% handling administrative tasks, and 15% managing the facility. So, having a way with people as well as animals goes a long way in this job.  You can learn about how to break into this field by visiting the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. Green Architect Sustainable buildings literally come in all shapes and sizes. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, the sustainable building sector is wildly outpacing overall construction growth. A yearly study by CRBE also found that 41% of commercial space across the top 30 metros is green-certified as of 2018. The rapid growth of sustainable construction has lead to an increased need for green design professionals. Contributing to sustainable building is just the tip of the iceberg for this career. Green architects also design living roofs, living walls, procedures for greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, salvaged material use and much more. Urban Growers  The city is usually the last place you’d look for a career in nature but it’s the place that needs it the most. Urban growers have been around for a long time with community vegetable plots and collectives set up to share their fruitful bounties. Recently, however, urban growing has made its way into big cities as a means for sustainable restaurants to feed their guests.  These incredible gardens can be found on the rooftops of warehouses, buildings, and apartments. As an urban grower, you can sell fruits, veggies, and products to local restaurants and farmers markets. Some urban growing companies have also expanded to helping design gardens, as well as teaching people how to design their own. Nature Photographer Sure, the average photographer makes $36k a year but don’t let that deter you. Many of those stats are based on not just fulltime photographers but also part-timers.  The www. is full of possibilities for amateurs and professionals. You can sell your photos online on the regs or just as one-offs. Of course, it helps to also showcase them on places like Unsplash, Instagram, and Pinterest to really get some eyes on your masterpieces. Also, a decent Instagram following could even have you raking it in as a micro-influencer. So, if you’re the next Ansel Adams, pick up a camera and let people see. Reforester Want to up your gardening game? Well, roll up your sleeves because reforestery is kind of like extreme gardening. The job entails a lot of manual labor as the key tasks include planting, managing, and pruning trees.  Trees have the extraordinary ability to turn harmful gases, like Carbon Monoxide, into oxygen–making this a very rewarding job. You will usually need a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry or Environmental Science. However, if you want to try it for size, and have the ability to volunteer, there are lots of reforestation programs all around the world.

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