The latest from our Heart and Soul

We’re seeing more and more products made from bamboo. And why not, it’s a plant that grows quickly and easily. You can get bamboo blinds, bamboo furniture, even the floor in our kitchen is made from bamboo. But it’s not just hard surface products using bamboo. You can get clothing too.

Miik is one such clothing line, designed and made in Canada. Michael Gaughan, the man behind Miik, designed the clothes using bamboo because of it’s one of nature’s fastest growing renewable resources. But the main reason is because fabric made from bamboo is comfortable to wear and drapes over any body shape nicely. To prove it, Michael dropped off a few samples for me to try.

I tried two pieces: The Palazzo wide legged pants and The Alexa medium length cardigan. Only two items but when Michael handed them over to me, folded in a bag, they were weighty.

I was worried the items, especially the cardigan, would feel heavy, pulling me down, but they were just the opposite. The sleeves for the cardigan fit snug, like a long glove. The whole cardigan was pretty light to wear. I liked that I could wear it open or wrap it closed with a belt. I found myself wearing the cardigan even when I was just hanging around the house; it was that comfortable.

The Pants reminded me a lot of yoga pants. After having three kids I have a few bumps and rolls that yoga pants seem to accentuate so I tend not to wear them often. The Palazzo pants are wide legged, which I love, and felt comfortable like yoga pants, but the cut ensured that every detail on me wasn’t on display. This was especially important when it comes to that posterior muscle. The pants seemed to hang down or rather drape nicely.

The Miik line is designed to mix together and the individual pieces are very versatile. The pants have an extra 4inch band at the waist that could be worn folded down over the hips to add an interesting layer or folded up over the midsection. The cardigan too could be worn different ways. It was designed with extra material all along the outer edge, up the front and around the neck. This enabled me to wrap it and wear as a top or just a wrapped sweater, plus it could be warn open like a standard cardigan. This meant that with just two pieces I ended up with a few different outfits. It also added versitilty and a new look when combined with my existing wardrobe.

I’m somewhat modest so a number of the dress designs wouldn’t be something I would wear as a dress, but over leggings, pants or skirts they are transformed into long shirts for a layered look.

I was surprised at how comfortable the Miik clothes felt and when in a crowded room I found the clothes felt cool, never making me feel over-heated.

Miik is priced similarly to items from Banana Republic and the sizing is true sizing not some sort of model sizing.

You can see more designs from the Miik Look Book. A new website is due in the Spring but in the meantime you can sign-up to receive email updates or contact the people at Miik about your own interest.