The foundation for Patagonia's success story was laid back in 1957. The then 19-year-old Canadian Yvon Chouinard loves nature and is enthusiastic about climbing. On a multi-day climbing tour in Yosemite National Park, Chouniard is let down by his climbing equipment and so he decides to make his own climbing gear. By 1970, "Chouinard Equipment" was already the largest manufacturer of climbing hardware in the entire United States. A few years later, Chouinard also began selling outdoor wear under the name Patagonia, inspired by the South American mountainous region of Patagonia. Today, Patagonia is one of the largest manufacturers of outdoor clothing in the world. Sustainability in particular plays a central role for Patagonia. As a nature lover, Chouinard is aware of its ecological responsibility and donates one percent of its sales to nature conservation. The "One Percent for the Planet" initiative launched in 2002 by Chouinard and "Blue Ribbon Flies" founder Craig Mathews has now been joined by around 2,000 members. Patagonia's products are characterized above all by high quality and durability. The company consciously promotes the repairing, passing on and recycling of its own equipment in order to keep the environmental impact as low as possible. The product portfolio includes jackets, T-shirts, sweaters, shirts and pants, but also backpacks and bags. For Chouinard, there is no way around the use of recycled material in the production of clothing. For example, many garments are partly made from recycled plastic bottles or other waste. This doesn't just excite outdoor fans. In recent years Patagonia has also established itself as a streetwear label. The newer collections by Patagonia combine high functionality with current street style and are therefore suitable for the mountains as well as for the street. If you are looking for particularly reliable clothing with a fashionable focus and also want to take environmental awareness into account, Patagonia is the perfect choice.
