Ever since discovering them last summer, I have been so excited about the Portland-based eco-wear company Nau. (Read my first gushing post about them here.)
Well, now that I’ve had a chance to live in some Nau gear, I’ve officially become a Nau-lover! A few of Nau’s high-performance winter items have become instant favorites in my closet AND my suitcase.
The Millicent Sweater
The ultimate luxury item.
Made of 100% super fine lambswool, which the conscientious folks at Nau pull no punches about – “Animal fibers are a challenge. The good news: They are a renewable resource. The bad news: Since they grow on animals, we have animal health, grazing, land use issues and the processing of raw wool into fiber to consider. While this garment contains nothing on our thorough restricted substance list, the process of developing wool yarns that certifiably come from sustainably managed sources is still ongoing”.
I love the smooth look and feel of this gorgeous chocolate brown sweater, and wish it had gone to Peru with me last year for chilly days wandering historic Cusco, or morning walks in the fog along Lima’s cliffs. It packs down fairly compactly and stays wrinkle-free. It would be the perfect piece for a springtime jaunt through museums and streetside cafes in Europe. My only qualm is that I’ve never gotten fully used to the open, unattached armpits on this sweater. While I appreciate that it is meant to reduce underarm bulk and increase airflow (because moving through different temperature zones in a wool sweater invariably pits me out), I have to remind myself to wear an underlayer that is close to the same color.
Base2 Mock
Performance layering with a girlish twist.
For years I have been wearing the high performance R-series layers that Patagonia makes, and while I always appreciate their superior ability to both insulate, wick and breathe when needed, I’ve never felt very attractive in them. Personally, I hate feeling like I am geared up for a multi-day trek all the time when traveling. (unless, of course, I am on a multi-day trek)
This is why I love the Nau Base2 Mock – it keeps me super toasty on the chilliest of Seattle days AND it has a flattering fit and stylish details. Best part is the convertible mock that has a sweet little button to cinch up the neck. And the fact that it (like all of Nau’s line) comes in nice earthy colors like gray and blue, it can be paired endlessly with other clothes. Icing on the cake: it’s constructed of 92% recycled material in keeping with Nau’s sustainability credo. Since I get cold so easily, this is going to become a must-pack item for every trip that is not tropical in my future.
Jill A-T Pant
Carhart sensibility and functionality cut for flattering female lines.
Travel pants can be a challenge – I’ve never been a fan of the convertible zip pant look, and tend to find travel-specific pant designs a bit too fresh-out-of-the-safari for my taste. Nau has won me over again with their Jill A-T pants, which are ingeniously engineered from 100% organically grown cotton canvas. (wow!) A DWR treatment means that these legs will shed weeks of travel abuse, be it rain or coffee spills, and come out looking clean. And once again, the styling is subtly sexy – these pants don’t look like the workhorses they are!
One thing I’ve had to get used to, especially in the early days of wearing them, is the slight swishy-ness of the canvas when I move, but that seems to be fading. The other thing I must mention here as a shorter person is that I had to hem these badboys by several inches before I could hit the streets with them. Perhaps as Nau grows their eco-empire of sustainably-minded clothing they will be able to offer a petite pant length.
Springtime is nearly here and Nau is premiering their spring line this week! Check it out at www.nau.com.