The Journal

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

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. To help encourage others to join the movement, we’ve curated a list of our 10 favorite items we carry every day replacing the need for single-use plastics. Onyx Stainless Steel Straws Sometimes we just want a straw and adults should have fun straws, too. We love this set of 10 polished steel straws from Onyx. Available on Food52. Byta Travel Cup A double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel bottle made to take with you wherever you go. Comes in a variety of sizes and we’re obsessed with the chrome collection. Shop MyByta. Swell Water Bottle A bottle this aesthetically pleasing is a nice accessory to have. Lots of fun prints to choose from and the new sports cap is very convenient —no need to unscrew the lid to sip on your favorite beverage. Shop Swell Bottle. Beeswax Roots Wrap  A sustainable, natural alternative to plastic wrap for food storage. Use the warmth of your hands to soften the wrap, create a seal, and once cooled, the wrap holds its shape. Shop Roots Wrap on Etsy.   Bamboo Cutlery Kit  Stylish, lightweight, and totally natural, the perfect kit for those on the go. Our partners at Renewal Workshop put these together as a special gift last December for a few team members, but you can find something similar here: Bamboo Cutlery Kits on Etsy. Dot Menstrual Cup Save time and money, preserve trees and protect panties, all while empowering a girl in need. For every cup you buy, they also give one to a person who needs it. Shop Dot. Lush Naked These Lush inventions are formulated with little to no water, so they don’t need any synthetic preservatives and make it easy to do away with plastic. They have solid shampoo bars, conditioners, soaps, scrubs, massage bars, bath oils and more. Shop Lush Naked. Aesop Hand Balm A blend of fragrant botanicals and skin-softening emollients that delivers rich hydration to labor-wearied hands and cuticles. Ditch the plastic for an aluminum tube that can be recycled. Shop Aesop. Baggu Reusable Bag The perfect size to keep in your purse. Comes in a wide assortment of patterns, colors, and sizes. Shop Baggu. Biodegradable Bogobrush Compostable Bogobrush handles are made from a bio-composite material with flax particles, hemp, cotton, or coffee. You can toss the handle into your backyard compost pile, or into your curbside compost bin, just as with any other organic matter. Shop Biodegradable Bogobrush. Primecut Hobo Bag If we’ve learned anything, when it comes to going plastic-free you need to carry a really big purse! We love this handmade bag from Portland, OR. Shop Primecut Hobo Bag on Etsy.  

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. 

This season we are proud to feature a collaborative capsule for spring/summer ’19 that features the first cooperative work between Nau’s design teams in Portland, Oregon, and Seoul, Korea. We’ve teamed up with a handful of influencers with unique styles and savvy social skills to give us a new lens on the Capsule Collection—or at least a new way to style it. The Capsule Collection tastefully fuses the expressive and artistic Seoul street fashion genre with Nau’s versatile, urban performance styling. It features a variety of linen styles that suit Korea’s hot, humid summers while retaining anywhere—urban appeal, and outerwear that pays homage to Seoul’s use of experimental fabrics with a new coated linen. The result is East meets West collaboration that is a nod to the future of international, sustainable fashion. Shop the Capsule Collection.

Rain is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest. Some people feel totally fine from season to season—others (like me) are more likely to feel down during the winter and early spring months. When the rainy season is in full swing, one of my favorite ways to beat the blues is to pack up the van with bikes and head south—where the sun is shining and the trails are dry. We’re part-time van dwellers—living on the road during weekends & holidays only. We rarely drive during the week, as we both prefer to get around on bicycles. Van builds are often referred to as DIY camper van conversions, and our DIY camper van has made it affordable for us to travel more often. For this adventure, our main destination was Moab, Utah—but we planned to spend time at a number of locations along the way. Salinas, California Our first stop was at Sea Otter Classic—the largest cycling event in North America. While there, we were invited to park our van at The Hacienda House—a beautiful 20-acre organic vineyard and olive orchard in Salinas, California. Jason wearing the men’s Hyperspacer Long Sleeve Crew and men’s Daytrippen Chino Pant. We really enjoyed the early morning vineyard stroll with a cup of our favorite coffee. The property is absolutely gorgeous—and the chardonnay was delicious as well. Las Vegas, Nevada The Strip dazzles, sure, but the real adventures lie outdoors. With all the sweeping desert landscape and varied terrain, Las Vegas is filled with popular mountain biking trails for all experience levels. One of my favorite trail networks is the Southwest Ridge Trails. Located less than 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip—it offers some of the best desert single track trails in the area. Inga wearing the women’s Dardariel Shirt. Jason is wearing the men’s Cascade Shirt, and men’s Stretch Motil 5 Pocket Short. I also have family in Vegas and enjoy stopping for a day to visit. The grill typically gets fired up and we hang out poolside. Always one of the best pit stops on our road trips. St. George, Utah St. George, Utah is often overshadowed by the mountain bike trails in nearby Hurricane, but skipping it would mean missing out on some amazing terrain. The Green Valley Trails start at the edge of a neighborhood and is a popular spot for motorized recreation as well as cycling. There’s also some free camping at this site and with all the short loops accessible from one location, it’s a great spot to meet up with fellow travelers. Moab, Utah Moab, Utah has become one of the top mountain biking destinations in North America—and it’s hard not to see why. Mountain bike trails like Captain Ahab and Porcupine Rim are just a couple of reasons—the exposure and views of Jackson Hole and Canyonlands are outstanding. We also came across the Scott M. Matheson Preserve—875-acre wetland area on the outskirts of Moab. Walking the trails and boardwalks early in the morning with a cup of coffee was a great way to ease into the day. We saw several Yellow-breasted Chat, Great-tailed Grackle, and Indigo Bunting birds. Jason is wearing the men’s Hyperspacer Long Sleeve Crew and men’s Stretch Motil 5 Pocket Short. Inga is wearing the women’s Introvert Crop Jacket. After 3 days in Moab, we packed our gear up and headed back north to Portland, Oregon. To break up the long trek home, we stopped in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boise, Idaho to visit a couple of urban bike parks. This trip was just what we need to reboot and revitalize our spirits. Looking forward to many more van adventures in the near future. Follow the #LiveNau Adventures on Instagram.

Technology has many benefits, but too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing. For many people, the difficulty of disconnecting from work is a chronic stressor. These days, it’s no longer just your boss leaning in and asking you to do the TPS reports over your weekend – it’s that they can ask you to do them while you’re on a plane, in a movie theatre, on the back of a motorcycle, etc. We’ve included 5 helpful tips on ways to unplug when you leave the office – and let your boss and others down gently. Build Your Digital Boundaries We’re always available, so it’s easy to answer just one quick text here and another Tweet there. The problem is that while you’re busy doing that you’re also busy ignoring your favorite people and/or activities. If you put boundaries in place, it should help you and whoever is at the receiving end of your impending breakdown. By not answering work texts, emails, carrier pigeons, etc. between certain hours, people will quickly get the picture (or you’ll get fired, but who wants to work for that boss anyway). If the problem persists, just talk to whomever the offenders are and tell them clearly which times they can and which times they cannot contact you. Take a Break from Social Media “This Instagram post will make or break my life”–said no one in the history of social media. That post will be there and gone in a flash. If you find yourself navigating back towards your Facebook account, even after promising yourself you wouldn’t, programs like Self Control and Freedom allow you to take breaks. If you’re a heavy user, you will get withdrawal symptoms, but it’ll feel so powerful to come out as the victor over the lifesuck that is social media. Get Out of Town The next time someone you know complains about the lack of internet connectivity somewhere, ask them where it was and jot it down. Going to places where people can’t contact you is really the best way to get away from it all. Being constantly connected may be a major reason why events like Burning Man are growing at an exponential rate. It’s widely understood that you won’t be answering your phone while there, and that’s for a multitude of reasons. It’s an unspoken “don’t ask, don’t text” kind of agreement. Not even your mother can get ahold of you there. It’s just glorious. Meditate Meditation is kinda like going to the gym, for many of us, it takes a while to pluck up the courage and actually do it. Studies show that meditation makes people feel happier. Just 2 mins a day can make a significant difference. Apps like Headspace offer free meditations to get you started. Turn off your phone This is a bold move. We haven’t tried this, but we’re hoping to get there one day. In this case, the power button could be seen as a life switch; turn it off and real life is suddenly on. It’s the moment when Will Smith finally disables the main computer in iRobot, it’s the crowning moment where you beat the digital world at its game, it’s the revenge of real life.    

Anniversaries have a way of inviting reflection. They’re a chance to page back through the journals, crack open the photo album (or maybe scroll back up through the Instagram feed) and reflect on experiences, relationships, and travels. It’s been a full decade since Nau introduced our first collection: a good time to take stock of this small but passionate experiment in how to create a more sustainable world. For ten years, we’ve worked on—and sometimes over—the bleeding edge of what’s possible, building a business around the philosophy that business can be a force for positive change. So naturally, we’re looking back, celebrating those ten trips around the sun—oh, and throwing a party. It all began with a coffee shop and a codename. Working from the Daily Grind in Portland, Oregon, a dedicated crew of industry veterans set out to build a company, placing sustainability and philanthropy at its center. “To really use business for a positive change and allow sustainability and philanthropy to really take a center stage—that was Nau’s founding concept,” says Mark Galbriath, Nau’s general manager and a member of the founding team. They codenamed the project “UTW”—short for Unfuck the World and began rethinking every aspect of the outdoor apparel business, from product design to fabric development, store design to philanthropic partnerships. Those were exciting early years. There was no roadmap for how to create an entire collection of sustainable apparel, or a business that placed as much importance on positive change as on profits. B Corps hadn’t been invented yet, (Nau was one of the first) and 1% of sales was the gold standard for corporate giving—with most companies giving just tenths or hundredths of a percent. Nau set out to make an entire line—not just one or two pieces—from recycled, organic and natural fibers, and give five percent of every sale to our partner for change. Nau designed a disruptive business from the ground up. It opted out of the industry norm at nearly every turn–from the invention of its own fabrics to the reinvention of its relationship with consumers. —Fast Company The team adopted the Nau name in 2006, inspired by the Maori greeting “Nau mai! Haere mai!”, meaning “Welcome! Come In!” and created the ambigram logomark, which reads the same whether read right-side-up or upside-down. “It has this beautiful graphical quality of two vessels that are filling and emptying at the same time,” says Peter Kallen, Nau’s design director. (Read more about Peter’s sources of design inspiration in his Nau Team Highlight) In 2007, Nau unveiled our first apparel collection, a line of sophisticated layers including iconic pieces like the Men’s Riding Jacket and the Women’s Urbane Jacket. “Versatility in product,” says Mark, “is a far better design criterion than any narrow, high-tech sport-specific use.” (Read more about Mark in his Nau Team Highlight).  Featuring modern silhouettes tailored from high-performance fabrics, the line established the qualities of aesthetic versatility and environmental responsibility which define the brand to this day. Nau also launched our first stores, called “Webfronts” in 2007. Ten years ago, the concept of a showroom that enabled online ordering was unheard of; today it’s a trend. But those first stores were about more than the future of retail: they featured a Giving Wall that educated visitors on Nau’s Partners for Change. At checkout, customers were invited to donate part of the purchase price to one of those partners. In the years that followed, Nau introduced iconic products like the Shroud of Purrin, Cocoon Trench and Transporter Blazer. And each season brought the introduction of innovative fabrics, from sustainable synthetics to novel natural blends. In 2009, the Randygoat collection introduced a versatile blend of merino wool and synthetic fleece. In 2012, Nau created the first collection of waxed organic cotton canvas. And in 2016, Nau became the first apparel brand to introduce a 100% recycled collection of down insulation. In the last few years, the tumult of those early startup seasons has settled a little, but we remain passionate about doing business unusual. In 2013, Nau found a global partner in Black Yak, the South Korean mountaineering brand that shares our commitment to high-quality product and global vision. Their support enabled us to open the Nau Store in Portland, Oregon and to share our sustainable design ethos with an international audience. On November 2, we’re inviting all of Nau’s friends and family to join us at the PDX store to celebrate the last decade and look ahead to the next ten years of Nau. We hope you’ll join us for the party, and in shaping the future of this experiment in positive change.