As you all know, dear readers, I am out doing active things every moment that I get. I spend a massive amount of my life hiking, as well as snowshoeing, running, standup paddleboarding, snowboarding and more. That means that my wardrobe consists of mainly activewear (and I sneak it in to office outfits too whenever I can!). Functionality and comfort are my top two priorities when I get dressed in the morning, and when those things can be met with pretty clothing that is environmentally-friendly, ethical and affordable, well, I am just over the moon. When I discovered Vancouver activewear company Daub + Design, and specifically, their beautiful and unique Adriana leggings, I immediately fell in love. All of my boxes were ticked. I am so excited to share with you this fabulous local business.

Note that in super cold temps, I wear a merino wool base layer underneath leggings for added warmth.

Started by Vancouverite Lexi Soukoreff in 2010, Daub + Design’s pieces are all designed and manufactured right here in our very own city of Vancouver. Every piece is hand-dyed or printed, giving them each a unique look. The high-quality fabrics are sweat-wicking, and anti-pilling so you can wear them for years to come.

One of my favourite things about this company is that they prioritize reducing the impact of environmentally harmful and often unethical fast fashion through creating items of long-lasting quality, and working with local sewers and factories here in Vancouver in a small batch production process.

As D + D elaborates, “Lexi uses a method in her dye process called “exhausting the dye bath”, which means that our clothes are made using only the correct amount of water, non-toxic dyes, and fixatives required to achieve the desired results. All the water we use is re-used as much as possible in an effort to reduce waste. Wherever possible, we’ve chosen to use fabrics made from recycled plastics in an effort to reduce existing waste. […] Aria Tanks have been made with fabrics that are made-to-order so the mills we work with aren’t creating excess stock that may not sell and end up in a landfill as a result. Our Alex Tanks and Seamless Undies’ fabrics have been sourced from factories that either were closing or had deadstock, which alternatively would have ended up in a landfill. This is why some of our fabrics are limited edition and may not be available again.“

I love my Adriana leggings because I can wear them doing any activity. Comprised of 88% Nylon and 12% Spandex, they are cozy as can be, stretchy when I need them to be climbing up our steep mountains of BC. More durable than polyester, nylon is a stronger fibre that can stand up to brushes with plants and rubs against rock without losing its integrity.

The material is thick enough I don’t have to worry about it being see-through even in the biggest of stretches, and it’s also breathable enough I can wear them for long days out on the trail.

The elastic band sits at the natural waist, and holds in place so they don’t slide down when out running. While I was initially hesitant about the thin waistband being unflattering on my soft midsection, I was pleasantly surprised to discover they don’t dig in to create a “muffin top” like many thin bands do.

The Daub + Design Adriana leggings are also great on a SUP as they are quick to dry.

For reference on fit, I’m 5’5″ and have a 27″ waist with a 31″ inseam. While size small fits, I chose a size medium because prefer the slightly looser fit.

The leggings are an awesome statement piece, giving your outfit a little pop when you feel like wearing neutral colours but still like to shine.

Find the Daub + Design Adriana leggings at https://daubanddesign.com/collections/adriana-leggings/products/adriana-leggings-in-cream-black-tiedye or in-store at one of their stockists throughout Canada. They retail for CAD $98.

Learn more about D + D by following them on Instagram and Facebook.