An outdoor brand based on an environmental philosophy.
1973 | CALIFORNIA, USA | Yvon Chouinard

Patagonia is an outdoor brand that places alpinism—mountain climbing as a sport—at the heart of its corporate philosophy, and deals in items used for climbing, skiing, surfing, fishing, trail running, and more.

Today, the brand boasts a large and passionate following worldwide, and its history began when its founder, Yvon Chouinard, started manufacturing climbing gear under the name Chouinard Equipment.

Chouinard's handmade and continuously refined gear was popular among his climbing friends, but one day, a colorful rugby shirt he brought back from Scotland also became popular, and he began importing and selling it, which marked the start of his clothing business. This would later become "Patagonia."

When it comes to Patagonia's signature items, jackets and snap-t-shirts made with Synchilla, a fabric developed in collaboration with Malden Mills, come to mind. Among Patagonia's distinctive color palettes, perhaps the most popular is the Classic Retro Cardigan in natural and blue, pictured here. With a pile length approximately twice that of the current Retro-X, it boasts high heat retention, and its versatility as both an inner and outer layer is another reason for its popularity.

The company has been committed to environmental activities since the 1980s, when awareness of environmental issues was still low, and has a strong policy that the materials and manufacturing processes of its products must not harm nature.

To realize this philosophy, the company has released numerous products using recycled plastic bottles for fleece, 100% organic cotton, and recycled nylon. Furthermore, its stoic approach of collecting and reusing its own products and implementing a deposit system for shopping bags is also a major reason why the company is supported by outdoor enthusiasts around the world.