Patagonia's story began with climbing. In the late 1950s, Californian climber Yvon Chouinard taught himself blacksmithing and began making climbing equipment, selling it from the back of his car as he travelled between climbing and surfing trips. In 1973, that business gave rise to Patagonia, named after the remote South American region and the sense of wilderness it represented.
That outdoor heritage still shapes the brand. Patagonia makes practical clothing for climbing, surfing, skiing and life outdoors, with durability and repairability given unusual importance. It has also been a pioneer of more responsible manufacturing, from switching to organic cotton to developing its Worn Wear repair and reuse programme.
In 2022, Chouinard and his family transferred ownership of Patagonia to structures designed to protect its values and direct profits not reinvested in the business towards environmental causes. It's an unconventional conclusion to an unconventional founder story – make useful outdoor equipment, make it last, and recognise the impact involved in making it at all.
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