I’ve always been a fan of NAU’s hip, urban-dweller aesthetic. Their trench coats—a personal favorite—are not only lightweight, but also easy to store and available at a moment’s notice.
Adding to this cachet is the brand’s commitment to making a sustainable difference. They use green materials such as recycled fabric or organic cotton to assemble their clothes. They also support fair labor practices and donate a portion of your purchase to one of their five charitable partners.
For fall, NAU has teamed up with Snow Peak, an outdoor goods company based in Portland, Oregon, to produce an apparel and gear capsule collection that marries each individual company’s aesthetic.
Drawing on Japan’s penchant for precision and impeccability, the men’s and women’s collections feature sharp lines and structured silhouettes. The gear component of this collaboration showcases the must-have tools that every on-the-go individual should have.
I caught up with Mark Galbraith, NAU’s general manager, to hear his thoughts on this venture, its inspirations and his advice on being green:
Myron Mariano: First, congratulations on the collaboration, the pieces look wonderful! How did the collaboration come about?
Mark Galbraith: We have been long-time fans and users of their products. We’ve done a few small-scale collaborations on hard goods in the past, so we all knew each other and have been exploring additional concepts for several years. We finally decided to get serious and see what we could design for fall 2014 from an essentials point of view.
MM: NAU is a fashion lifestyle brand with a sustainable eye; Snow Peak is an outdoor company with a modern edge. How did you approach the melding of these two styles for the collection?
MG: At NAU, we believe the fusion of style, performance and sustainability is the future. A modern, minimal design approach is the best space to accomplish that and was the context for the collection. Together we wanted to create a take on a modern lifestyle where mobility and spontaneity demand versatile performance.
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MM: Were you inspired by other elements outside of the respective brands’ core sensibilities?
MG: The collaboration is rooted in a Tokyo-meets-Portland concept and the travel essentials between cultures. We looked at activities in both landscapes from commuting on bikes to the aesthetic of its urban creative class to the beauty in natural fabrics and technical design.
MM: Do you have a personal favorite among the men’s items?
MG: The Hokkaido Blazer. I love having a functional, three-layer waterproof wool blazer that moves with me through any weather condition and dressing occasion.
MM: As a final takeaway for our readers, what’s the one eco or green habit that you would like them to practice on a regular basis?
MG: For me, the core of any thoughtful action starts with connection. Tell someone every day how much you love and appreciate them. The rest flows from that.
The NAU x Snow Peak collection is available now from nau.com.
Connect with Myron @myron_m