Patagonia is an amazing company! We got to see this first-hand last week when they sent their Worn Wear Crew to Pacific City to fix damaged wetsuits and clothing. They didn’t charge people for the repairs and they fixed any brand of wetsuit or manufacturer of clothing. I also saw them repair an old beach chair and bring back to life a couple pieces of luggage!
Over the two days, 47 wetsuits were repaired, 28 pieces of clothing, 4 pairs of boots and 4 gloves. The total money Patagonia made for being here: $0. So, why would they invest the money to drive a truck with 7 people here for no return? According to their website: “The single best thing we can do for the planet is keep our gear in use longer and cut down on consumption.”
Patagonia takes the environmental footprint they leave on the planet very seriously. I’ve listened to their owner Yvon Chouinard talk about the importance of protecting the environment over profits. If there has ever been a businessman who puts his money where his mouth is, it’s him. He could be a far wealthier man, but chooses to forgo profit to protect what he loves, nature. He has passed that ethos on to his business. “One of the most responsible things we can do as a company is to make high-quality stuff that lasts for years and can be repaired, so you don’t have to buy more of it.”
We couldn’t be more stoked to work with such a high quality and environmentally forward thinking company like Patagonia. Not only do we sell their clothes and wetsuits, but also their surfboards which are shaped by Yvon’s son Fletcher, under the brand name FCD Surfboards (Fletcher Chouinard Designs). He has followed in his father’s footsteps by creating a company that is leading the charge in developing a more environmentally friendly and less waist producing surfboard. With riders such as the Malloy Brothers and Kohl Christensen, he is producing boards that push the envelope of performance while staying true to his goal of protecting the environment.
Well done Patagonia, well done in deed!
Photos by: Kern Ducote
