Published by Vanessa Brunner under Designers, Green Living

If you haven’t heard about Portland based Nau, you should definitely take a peek at their line.

A few items from Nau's women's line

This NW brand has been doing green long before it became cool.  Their clothes are so fantastic, Nau has converted a lot of people to “the green side”  just because of the incredible style and quality of their clothes.

This year, Nau sponsored it’s first annual $10,000 Grant for Change. The idea was to support people who have started and created lasting and positive change in the world around them.

Nau's Grant For Change Program

This summer, Nau invited the public to nominate people they knew who were working hard to make a positive change in their community. Nau was searching for people who were working in the spirit of the Nau Collective—people challenging the norm, searching for better solutions, and encouraging positive movement in those around them.

Eventually, through public vote, 294 nominees were announced, ten finalists were decided, and one winner was chosen.

Yesterday, Nau granted $10,000 and a trip to NYC to Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele, for their documentary project: Facing Climate Change. (For more on their project, click here)

(A couple photos from their project):

Courtesy of Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele

Courtesy of Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele

I love Nau not only for their fabulous fashion, but because of their support for programs like this. Nau is one of those companies that doesn’t just sell green fashion to try and make a difference, they are actively reaching out and using their resources to change the world around them for the better. They’re passionately driven in many ways.

Nau has kept all of the information from the original 294 Grant For Change nominees on their site, and encourages fans to support all of their nominees. Each and every person is making an effort to better the lives of others, and the more publicity and support they can get–the better it’ll be for everyone.