Yvon Chouinard Gives Away His Company, Patagonia.

I am a cheap bastard. I bought Patagonia stuff because it lasted long enough that I could be attired in a style that would offend and perplex the fashionistas of this world. 70's in the 90's kind of durable.
And the policy of taking the old stuff and remanufacturing it into serviceable products was awesome in my view.
 
nwbobber said:
I am a cheap bastard. I bought Patagonia stuff because it lasted long enough that I could be attired in a style that would offend and perplex the fashionistas of this world. 70's in the 90's kind of durable.
And the policy of taking the old stuff and remanufacturing it into serviceable products was awesome in my view.
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Its funny how the most expensive gear in the 90's became the cheapest over time.... I was lucky and lived near an outlet that did 50% off outlet prices twice a year. I still wear fleece pants I bought 30 years ago.
 
Yard Sale said:
Its funny how the most expensive gear in the 90's became the cheapest over time.... I was lucky and lived near an outlet that did 50% off outlet prices twice a year. I still wear fleece pants I bought 30 years ago.
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Me also. (SLC) His ethic was to always make quality gear that would last instead of landfill fodder. Great man, great company...
 
I think I know what Yvon bought with his 'retirement funds.'
 
KUDOs to Patagonia!

Many companies start out with a goal of being bought out by a LLC/VC to make their money. Patagonia did not!! They started out as a small business to make a quality product at a reasonable price. They succeeded at that and then some... They grew without selling off their shares and grew responsibly within their means. They continued to grow and keep their 'charter' of providing quality products at a reasonable price. How many companies can you name that did that? Competitive startups entered the market realizing they could not compete in that market - as they should. They decided to bring out better 'technical' products but to a smaller niche market. They succeeded. Any bets that those companies will be around in 50 years without being bought up by LCC's/VC's?

The world has changed a lot since he originally started his company. The founder/owner of Patagonia realized he could make a difference in the world - something he did not envision when he originally started out. He followed through with his vision of making the earth a better place to live. And here we are ---> Patagonia contributing to the better good for us all. How many can say that? Not many. I believe Bill Gates is one. He is just at a larger scale IMHO. But each of those that make a commitment to join that commitment to mankind should be relished and commended for that.

Way to go Patagonia! I hope others will follow...
 
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I love this and think more companies who endlessly promote their virtues around climate change should follow suit. It is much better than the Federal Gov't wasting hundreds of billions of dollars we don't have and driving up inflation.

And the marketing is brilliant. Sell $700 ski coats that are made in factories controlled by communists, to white, upper class Americans with the sole intent to fight climate change.

Well played.
 
In the spirit of the thread, I want to do something nice. I have 4 lightly used Patagonia hoodies that I’d like to give away. They are size medium but run large.

One per person and want to recognize your handle. No lurkers. My haters will also get preferred treatment.

I’ll even include the shipping and you could have as soon as tomorrow.

Who’s interested?A9880A85-85F6-47D8-A77D-C6A0D408AEF1.jpeg
 
swimmy said:
In the spirit of the thread, I want to do something nice. I have 4 lightly used Patagonia hoodies that I’d like to give away. They are size medium but run large.

One per person and want to recognize your handle. No lurkers. My haters will also get preferred treatment.

I’ll even include the shipping and you could have as soon as tomorrow.

Who’s interested?View attachment 32220
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That's nice of you. I'd totally take you up on this, but the fit would be a bit unsightly...

tommy-boy-comedy.gif
 
O' Clarkii Stomias said:
Chouinard would do more for the environment by shuttering Patagonia than this current marketing stunt.
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Well, true enough. We'd all do better for the environment by just slitting our own throats and bleeding out on the ground.
But unless there's an ironclad worldwide agreement to do so, I'd prefer the good guys stay around, because the bitter, cynical, greedy a**holes are the ones who end up running everything when decent folks quit.
He seems to be doing his best to ensure that the significant segment of that market that Patagonia holds stays true to his values when he's gone. If they shutter, it would without fail get filled by worse environmental actors.
My children and I thank him for his efforts.
 
swimmy said:
In the spirit of the thread, I want to do something nice. I have 4 lightly used Patagonia hoodies that I’d like to give away. They are size medium but run large.

One per person and want to recognize your handle. No lurkers. My haters will also get preferred treatment.

I’ll even include the shipping and you could have as soon as tomorrow.

Who’s interested?View attachment 32220
Click to expand...
sent message, generous offer, thx
 
Jokes/debate about patagonia/patagucci/fratagonia and where it's made and who it's for aside...

One of the best things any of us can do for the environment (and our wallets) is to keep things out of the landfill and avoid buying new things unless we really need to. Buy used when you can, "mend and make do" when you can repair something to get a few more years out of it, and sell/give-away your old gear to someone who will use it whenever possible. Of course, it's not always possible. You can only plug up leaks in your waders so many times. I wouldn't buy a used climbing harness or inflatable pfd. But it's possible a lot more than folks in the USA tend to think it is. We're a very wasteful nation in that regard.

Doesn't matter if someone is doing it because they disagree with what how a company portrays themselves, doesn't like the style of gear, or is just done with those particular items. The gear stays out of the landfill and keeps someone else from buying something new.

In that spirit, kudos to @swimmy for passing along his old stuff. And for that matter, kudos to anyone who posts in the "Free Stuff" thread in the Classifieds.
 
I own a decent amount of Patagonia stuff. Political drivel aside, I buy it because:

1. It’s quality. Give me Patagonia waders and duffels over Simms ANY day of the week. The last 3 pair of Simms waders I have purchased leaked within 6 months, the last pair within 3. I prefer Simms boots though.
2. It’s very functional
3. Service is top notch, repairs are done quickly when needed and they are more than fair…sometimes too fair with their warranty. I assume a big part of the cost of their items.

In the end, I commend trying a different approach but this move will play no part in my decision to my to buy more or less Patagonia gear. If he decided to sell the company for a billion and buy a 110 million dollar penthouse in Manhattan and a pj, it would not play into my Patagonia purchase decisions either.
 
Also, I have patagucci waders. They're great. I only got it because I had $200 credit from some older leaky waders that they gave me a warranty boon.
 
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