Naataq Gear was founded in Nome, a rural community in Northwest Alaska, one of the most remote parts of the world. For thousands of years this unique and beautiful landscape has been home to three distinct groups of Indigenous people, Inupiaq, Central Yupik, and St. Lawrence Island Yupik.
Alice Bioff, founder of Naataq Gear, is Inupiaq. She has lived in Nome with her family since 1999. Alice was working as a tour guide when the Crystal Serenity made its first voyage up and over the arctic circle. One day at sea, a tall passenger with a white cowboy hat admired Alice’s traditional Alaskan garment called a Kuspuk. The man asked if the Kuspuk was waterproof. This sparked Alice’s vision for Naataq and her idea to create a water-resistant jacket inspired by the traditional Kuspuk to share with visitors that came to the region via cruise ships. To her surprise, not only did the visitors love her garment, so did her fellow Alaskans!
Today, Naataq Gear offers quality products that are not only functional and beautiful, but share a story and a culture that has been in existence for over 10,000 years.
Our Inspiration
Kuspuks
The Kuspuk is a traditional Alaskan garment. It is a hooded overshirt with a large front pocket. Before modern fabrics and designs, Kuspuks were carefully handcrafted with local resources to provide protection from Alaska’s harsh climate. Seal intestine was used to make kuspuks water-resistant, and the garments were worn over fur parkas to keep the parkas clean and dry.
As western culture made its way north and barges brought in supplies, Alaskan women started utilizing imported materials, such as cloth from flour sacks that came off the barges, to create kuspuks.
As time passed, distinct designs were developed that made it so people’s’ genders and home villages could be easily identified from a distance based on the type of kuspuks they were wearing.
The kuspuk has a rich history that continues today with new designs and materials. At Naataq Gear, we offer our own version - a breathable, hardshell, water-resistant jacket with the traditional pocket design, trim patterns, and Alaskan spirit.
Our Commitment to the Environment
Naataq Gear is a business that is founded on two Inupiaq values: Humility and Respect. Sustainability is the Inupiaq way of life. We are taught from an early age how to subsist and gather foods and resources. We believe we are interconnected with the environment, and we are humbled by the amazing resources and beauty it provides us. Our highest priority is treating our community and our planet with the utmost respect. These values have sustained our culture for thousands of years and we continue to carry them with us into the future.
We understand that we are living in changing times. Change is inevitable. We see that in our climate and our interaction with western culture. Just as our ancestors utilized the cloth flour sacks imported on barges to make Kuspuks, today at Naataq, we are focused on innovative fabrics and methods of production to continue to make beautiful garments that carry our traditions and culture. Our mission is to be part of positive change by offering innovative and sustainable products that our elders will be proud of.