Outdoor Gear with Mother Nature in Mind

Nau, a Portland, Oregon outdoor apparel company is so driven regarding ‘green’ principles that they have applied sustainability criteria to each and every stage including design, materials, production, distribution, and customer care. They are very forward thinking in just about every aspect of their business model. They recently figured out how to develop a 3 layer waterproof breathable fabric made from recycled polyester and are working on ways to remove solvents from the lamination process. More on their philosophies HERE

Nau’s Asylum Jacket

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Another company thinking about Mother Nature is Finisterreuk, a Cornwall, England based Eco-Technical Surfwear Company. These guys are also pioneers in many alternative waterproofing techniques and recycling. For example, they have introduced beeswax impregnated poly-cotton fabrics, garments of traceable merino wool, and embraced recycled polyester fabrics, while simultaneously dropping laminated waterproofs in favor of what they see as a biometric alternative. Biometric waterproofs use a fiber pile worn away from the body and then waterproofed similar to an animals fur. Besides this maximizing the waterproofness it keeps weight to a minimum. Further, the garments can be recycled because there is no use of lamination or solvents in any of the manufacturing – just 100% polyester. Polyester is currently one of the easiest textiles to recycle. While the biometric jackets are made from virgin polyester the fiber can be reclaimed and recycled at the end of its life time.

Finisterre’s Humboldt Jacket