I’ve enjoyed KAVU products for some time now, especially their wallets. I’ve known them more for their accessories, like their bags, hats, and belts, but I wasn’t too familiar with their women’s clothing line. Since they’re my neighbors-we both are based in Seattle-I figured I would see how KAVU clothes fair on the road. I packed some KAVU clothes in my suitcase to Vietnam and Burma last March and put the goods to the test.
KAVU is known for using bright colors in its’ designs and their clothes are no different. I like bright colors, and I fell in love with their shades purple and blue. Here I am wearing the Swingsway Skirt and Grand Bam Shirt with my group in Halong Bay, Vietnam. The Grand Bam Shirt is 95% tencel, a material that feels like silk against your skin. The other 5% is spandex. The shirt breathed well in hot weather and was good for both hiking during the day and wearing in the bar enjoying a drink at night. It did seem to stretch a bit, not particularly good for washing in the sink in the hotel bathroom.
The Swingsway Skirt was bright purple, same color as the Mystic Zip long sleeve shirt. Needless to say I never wore them together, as that would’ve been purple overload. Being knee length, it was perfect for visits to temples. I love skirts but hate the fact that oftentimes they don’t have pockets. This skirt had two large front pockets which came in handy yet weren’t too bulky. I found it good for travel and so I brought with me to Cuba with me this past July. Here I am in the skirt with a Cocotaxi in Havana.
The Me Soy Pretty Dress was a bit too revealing for Burma, but it has gotten its’ wear here in Seattle on warm summer evenings. I like the built-in bra and the fact that you can unbutton the shoulder straps and cross them to give the dress a different look and fit. It’s made of a mix of soy and cotton, hence Me Soy Pretty. Clever KAVU.
Also made of a blend of cotton and soy, the Mystic Zip is a KAVU bestseller. Just as soft as the dress, I liked the design of the pockets and the hood area. The fabric style is to bunch in these areas. Much as I enjoyed this zip-up top, I found it was more of a style piece than a functional piece while traveling. I wear it while in the city, but would hesitate about packing it for my next trip abroad if I was tight on space.
KAVU gets two thumbs up for their stylish designs, bright colors and choice of fabric (specifically silky tencel and soy). While I’ll definitely be wearing all of these pieces around Seattle, the Swingsway Skirt and the Grand Bam Shirt are the only regulars in my travel wardrobe. All links on this page take you to the Amazon links to these specific KAVU products.