Nau Introduces Tencel—An Environmentally-Friendly, Shocking Soft Fabric Made from Eucalyptus

We’re always on the lookout for all-natural fabrics that are sustainable, skin-friendly, and not infused with chemicals. And while Nau never fails to wow us with their sleek, sophisticated, active-meets-haute designs, their new Tencel fabric gets a standing ovation. Made from the pulp of sustainably grown eucalyptus trees, Tencel has a smooth-fiber structure that’s softer than silk, easily washable, and durable. Nau selected this new fabric because to its “neutral electric properties,” which basically means your muscles aren’t affected by the material (in contrast to many synthetic yarns that feel itchy or clingy). The fabric was tested with electromyography, a method developed by orthopedic physicians to detect the excitability of muscles under the skin. In addition to not sticking to your skin, Tencel has excellent wicking properties, helping to regulate your temperature by absorbing sweat before it can get caught between your skin and shirt, keeping you cool in hot temperatures and warmer when you’re sweating on cold days. The regenerating fiber is manufactured using a closed-loop system, which uses a non-toxic organic solvent solution. A full 98 percent of the materials used to make Tencil is recovered and reused, making it one of the most eco-friendly regenerating fibers available.

Products with Tencel, like the men’s Arye T-Shirt and women’s Variant and Stratum dresses are now available at Nau’s online store.

Starts at $32

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Crumpler Complete Seed Bag

www.crumpler.com, 2.4 pounds
Upgrading a piece of gear always comes with guilt. “The earlier version really is perfectly fine in every way,” our loyal heart tells us, while our lustful side just wants to play with something new. Happily, in the case of Crumpler’s Complete Seed, the urge is no fickle fascination. This model elevates the older classic (one that a loyal tester has used for nearly a decade) in almost every way: A commuter-friendly patch of reflective fabric now lines the lower section of the pack bag, and the internal organization has been reconfigured. The main zipper pouch has been moved up to the front, with two big Velcro-closures on either side. Two side pockets flank the inner pouch, perfect for sunglasses and various electronics, while two outer side pockets secure the excess shoulder strap and quick-grab items without overtaking the bag’s inner storage. What hasn’t changed is the pack’s generous 1,400-cubic-inch storage capacity, the bomber-proof, fully-weatherproof 1000D fabric, and a 300D interior fabric, which shrugs off wear and tear better than a first-round draft pick. Three big Velcro patches secure the main flap. The shoulder strap pad and cross-body stabilization strap both are removable, and the shoulder strap itself is long enough to accommodate any kind of fit, from the body-hugging bike messenger to the let-it-hang hippy look. Wear it high and tight, and the pack weight distributes evenly across your shoulders. Loosening the strap is easy, thanks the easy-to-use, oversized pressure buckle—at least it was after we moved the small plastic loop further down the strap (move that piece of plastic too close to the quick-release flap and on-the-fly-adjustments become laborious). Otherwise, the Complete Seed is the bee’s knees—provided Crumpler doesn’t come up with a way to improve on this pack again. And yes, the old model is still in full use.

$140

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Isis Dash Dress

www.isisforwomen.com, fiveounces
On hot summer days at the pool or beach, it’s hard to look beyond your bikini. But then kids need popsicles, a towel was left in the car, or you spy your potential new boss strolling past the lifeguard stand. Scrunched into your beach bag, taking up less room than a can of Red Bull is your Dash Dress. The whisper-soft fabric glides on over a wet bathing suit to add modesty and sophistication to any waterside scenario. But this dress is ideally suited to handle any warm-weather outing. From shoulder to hem, the dress measures 36 inches—short enough for a hot summer day, but long enough that you could wear it to church. The V-neck front is secured with three snaps for extra venting, and we love the minimal pocket design, with one small chest pocket perfect to secure an iPod shuffle, and a flat, hand-sized hip pocket that shields a small zippered security pocket just big enough for I.D., credit card, key, or cash. The fabric is a light, frothy polyester and spandex blend that resists stains and snags while providing UPF 30+ sun protection. The tight weave naturally repels water (if you get splashed, water beads off)—but if you sweat or your suit soaks through, testers report that the dry time is less than five minutes in the sun.

$79

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Wildfire Tees

www.wildfiretees.com
Given our limitless affection for all things outdoors, it’s only natural that Colorado’s tragic wildfires cuts close to the bone. The displacement and devastation is almost too much to bear, but Wildfire Tees is making it a little bit easier. Composed of a group of Colorado-based designers, marketers, and printers, 100% of the profits for every t-shirt sold goes to the victims of the Colorado wildfires. The limited-run screenprint t-shirts boast bold, creative designs, both retro and modern, and speak to the passion of the people who live (or just love) the state. The high-quality t-shirts are printed on 100% pre-shrunk, soft-to-the-touch cotton. The shirt we ordered was printed on a Hanes nano-T and runs slightly larger than true-to-size; one tester found the large size to be a bit longer than he typically likes (but that just means this guy—a native of the Rocky Mountain State—will likely just buy another shirt). To keep things transparent and on the up-and-up, all profits are funneled into a fund with the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. Current designs include the two pictured above (as well as seen other designs). Special-edition silkscreen and letter-press prints, kid’s shirts, and onesies are also for sale. You can also lobby to get retired designs re-released, and submit your own designs for future runs.

$20

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Rapha La Doyenne Classique Cap

www.rapha.cc
When we say we love the cycling aesthetic, it doesn’t mean we yearn to constantly wear body-hugging polyester adorned with Tour racing graphics. We know that there’s a time and a place for everything. But we also must admit that the British cycling apparel company Rapha makes us wish that tight-fitting jerseys were a bit more socially accepted. Thankfully, appropriateness is less of a question when it comes to their new, limited-edition La Doyenne Classique Cap. This black, all-cotton, three-panel cycling cap boasts classical peloton styling, with a dark green strip racing down the center, a La Doyenne Classique crest on each side panel, and “Rapha” written in subtle cursive under the narrow brim. It fits snugly under your helmet, adding another layer of protection from the sun and rain. And it looks cool—which is sometimes all that we ask of our gear. It comes in one size only–and fits like a cycling cap should; don’t expect a flat-billed baseball hat.

$12

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