Native Youth Winter Clothing Review

The ubiquity of rain plays a pivotal role in the Pacific Northwest’s unique climate. Consequently, if you live here, the overabundance of rain requires you to find ways to keep the wet out. And let’s not forget that staying warm is equally important. When it comes to outerwear, there are many options on the market that offer all sorts of features that are both practical and stylish. Recently, Native Youth granted me the opportunity to test out an assortment of garments from outerwear to clothing for the indoors or sunnier days (albeit rare, but Western Washington does have them).

Ripstop Festival Jacket

One very special aspect of the Ripstop Festival Jacket is its hood. The edge of the hood hangs over my face creating an awning-like effect when the rain comes down. Being a bespectacled person, it is no mystery that the rain doesn’t play nice with your prescription glasses. This jacket is also very lightweight so it lends itself to wear a t-shirt or sweater underneath. I preferred wearing a sweater, and I didn’t overheat. Currently, we’re experiencing the gelid winter rain so piling on the layers is the way to go. The Ripstop Festival Jacket would be equally useful in a warmer rainstorm, however, I would suggest wearing thermals or a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath instead. The jacket repelled water noticeably well, has many useful pockets, and was comfortable.

The Cut & Sew Gradient Knit sweater is pretty awesome. I already own several sweaters, and this one certainly did not disappoint. I initially wore this sweater in conjunction with the Ripstop jacket and later on by itself. In both cases I felt sufficiently warm. The Gradient Knit sweater is colored in a few shades of grey. When I wore it to the office, my coworker was admiring the sweater and called it ombré. I thought she had said “Hombre” to which I replied. Yes, it is for men. All confusion aside, this stylish sweater is absolutely appropriate for the office environment. I fully intend to wear it to work for many years to come.

On a recent sunny day in Portland, I took the Long Sleeve Jersey Stripe T out for a spin. I felt snazzy as I walked around taking in the sights. I also appreciated the fact that I didn’t have to sunscreen my arms, because they were being protected by Native Youth. I cannot confirm or claim that it repelled UV rays, but I’d like to think it slowed them down some. This unique shirt is comprised of many panels that create a jersey-style shirt. I feel this shirt is great for casual events or the office (if they have a casual dress code).

For those not in the know, Chino cloth refers to a cotton-twill fabric. In general, Chino pants are unisex, but are delineated by their gender-specific cuts. The Enzyme Wash Chino Trouser I tested out has a useful drawstring and button fly. The drawstring could be used to tighten and loosen, but in my case they were purely cosmetic. I enjoyed the look of the Chino Trousers, and the material was very soft. The pant legs were skinnier at the bottom almost creating a hybrid of skinny jeans and traditional Chino pants. I feel this pants are great for casual use, but I wouldn’t try anything that required a massive amount of movement like kickboxing or trying to do the splits (as if that were even possible for me). These pants would bode well on hike in the woods or everyday walking, but if the legs get wet while you’re wearing them, it might be a chore to extract your legs from them. So plan accordingly.

When testing out the Cut & Sew Chambray Shirt, I found you can wear it buttoned up or hanging open. Although this is based on personal preference, I feel an undershirt is a must. This opinion is purely from a chafing-prevention standpoint. This shirt is appropriate for boating, kayaking, hiking, or many other outdoor activities. Since this shirt is equipped with long sleeves, it can keep your arms covered from the outside elements. The material feels light and airy, so if you wanted to wear it in the summertime, I doubt you would feel overheated. I wore this shirt on a hike on a milder day, and I felt it kept me appropriately warm.

• All garments are stylish and practical


• The rain jacket is terrific for the Pacific Northwest and similar climes


• Long-sleeved clothing great for covering up from sun exposure


• The cloth on the pants are very soft

All products featured are available by Native Youth.

All photos by Anthony Frohlich

Note: Native Youth provided me with product samples for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by the company.