The Bite:
Get them a gift from
Nau, the sustainable outdoor clothing brand that donates 5% of the purchase price to a nonprofit organization (customers get to choose where donations go during checkout). It's a win-win: Better the world by bettering your better half's wardrobe.
Company Background:
Nau opened its doors in March 2007 under the premise that each piece it creates must be functional, beautiful, and sustainable. Through its Partners for Change program, it's also setting an example for other businesses by donating a portion of its profits to - and raising awareness about - organizations such as Conservation International and Mercy Corps that are working to solve environmental and social issues. You can even follow the program's progress, and your part in it, online. Designwise, Nau's clothes are edgy and multipurpose. Chief Sustainability Officer Jil Zilligen, says "We're urban dwellers who love the outdoors, so we make clothing that keeps us moving between the two." The fall line includes sleek, recycled-poly jackets and sexy, eco-merino dresses, so you can look stylin' for your hike and your coffee date without needing to change in between (just remember your aluminum-free deodorant).
Keeping it real:
Nau produces most of its line overseas. It's necessary to stay competitive, says Zilligen, but "it's also very much because that's where the technical expertise exists." A third-party audit ensures that labor requirements are met. Also, its rainproof gear uses a finish that isn't very eco-friendly, so Nau's working hard to find an alternative.
