Patagonia

Patagonia and the environment

Since 1985 Patagonia has been dedicating 1% of its annual income to the conservation and restoration of the environment. To date, the brand has awarded more than $89 million in cash and in-kind donations to NGOs and national and international environmental associations that fight for an equitable environment.

Yvon Chouinard, creator of Patagonia, joined forces in 2002 with Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Files, to launch the the network « 1% for the Planet ». It is a non-profit corporation whose objective is to to encourage other companies wishing to join an eco-responsible approach (concerned about the environmental) to also devote 1% of their annual revenues to environmental protection such as Patagonia.

Companies that adhere to this concept have understood that their profits and losses are closely linked to the health of their employees. our planet. That's why the industry's environmental and social impacts are at the heart of their concerns.

The « 1% for the Planet network » aims to build an inclusive, equitable and sustainable environment. As a result, it does not provide funding to environmental associations that accentuate discrimination and Prejudice based on race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, nationality, disability status or veteran, etc.

To show that its outfits are environmentally friendly, the company uses different logos :

• Logo ridge pocket
• Patagonia p logo
• Pocket responsibili tee

Patagonia is also developing a policy « that is never at the dump ». The latter encourages the users to mend their clothes rather than throw them away. The brand also proposes to recover the totally irreparable items. Think about it when you get rid of your blue Patagonia smolder or your Patagonia techface jacket.

Who is Yvon Chouinard, the creator of Patagonia ?

Chouinard is born November 9, 1938 in Maine (Lewiston) in the United States. He is initiated to climbing at At the age of 14 (1953). In 1957, Yvon Chouinard, the creator of Patagonia became a true climbing enthusiast, but judged the material used not enough solid. So he decides to make his own equipment in the backyard of the family home.

There he designs reusable steel carabiners and hooks that he later sells for a living. He joined forces in 1965 with Tom Frost, an aeronautical engineer who was also passionate about climbing. With his help, the production Chouinard opens its very first store in the seaside town of Ventura, the Great Pacific Iron Works

Five years later, the company becomes the N°1 supplier of climbing equipment in the United States. It invented in 1972 the principle of "clean climbing" by replacing its pitons with aluminum wedges, because the the first ones damaged the rock.

Also in 1972, the Great Pacific Iron Works launched « Patagonia outdoor clothing », a brand of products including :

• The Patagonia down sweater ;
• A pair of hats that are « schizo » reversible ;
• .
• boiled wool mittens and gloves ;
• Patagonia jackets and polyurethane-coated rain anoraks ;
• bivouac bags, etc.

In 1973 the company was renamed Patagonia.

Patagonia and product innovation

In 1993, Patagonia jackets were the first to be made from recycled polyester, itself made with plastic soda bottles. It is one of the materials most used by the company Patagonia in its product innovation.

Indeed, at least 84% of it is found in some of its articles such as the Patagonia TechFace jacket, the Patagonia down sweater or the smolder blue Patagonia jacket.

The company also uses recycled cotton in the manufacture of its clothing. This allows the company to reduce by 70%. % its CO2 emission rate compared to conventional cotton. To create solid fibers, the brand blends the polyester and recycled cotton. For example, the men's t-shirts in the logo ridge pocket or pocket responsibili tee line are made from 100% recycled materials, including 4.8 plastic bottles per item.

In 2008, Patagonia started manufacturing surf suits. However, the brand called "concerned about the environmental" considers neoprene too harmful and decides to incorporate a natural guayule derivative into its products. She thus becomes in 2016 the precursor of surf suits without neoprene. It replaces this material by Yulex, a natural rubber produced by the rubber tree.

Patagonia has also designed the Iron Forge Hemp&trade canvas, a canvas made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and recycled cotton. and lyocell TENCEL™. The All Seasons Hemp is a lighter version created for the Patagonia outdoor clothing that allow you to work in hot weather.

Following the example of organic or recycled cotton, nylon, hemp and polyester, the company uses for the manufacture of its products sportswear or other clothing made of recycled down, wool (recycled or not), recycled cashmere, etc.

Patagonia size scales

If the Patagonia brand manufactures most of its materials itself, it does not have a factory where they are sewn for make clothes out of it. His outdoor sportswear collections are in fact cut in Sri Lanka or China, this is the reason why he has been working in the field for many years. which in no way affects their quality.

It is important to understand how Patagonia sizing system works before making up your mind. Patagonia clothes are cut to be comfortable. This is the case for example of the Hampi rock pants.

Sewn in a stretchy and breathable material, these pants of stopover has a preformed cut and a crotch in bellows that optimizes the climber's freedom of movement. It is also equipped with a zippered fly as well as the OppoSet system allows an optimal adjustment.

It is also the case of the Patagonia black hole or the Ultralight black hole which is designed in 100% recycled nylon. Versatile and weather resistant, this bag has a large number of pockets to hold your business. It is also equipped with two water bottle pockets and comfortable, adjustable mesh straps. By Elsewhere, it can be worn on the back as well as on the hand.

It should be noted that Patagonia is one of the founding members of the Fair Labor Association , an association which aims to to improve the living conditions of the workers. As a result, for each item bearing the Fair Trade Certified label (by example the Patagonia micro puff), it pays a bonus to the employees.

Today, Patagonia can boast of being the brand that provides the most Fair Trade Certified apparel. Also, by buying a Patagonia black hole or Ultralight black hole, a Hampi rock pants or a Patagonia micro puff, you contribute to improve the living conditions of workers.