Patagonia, Inc., originally Chouinard Equipment, is an American clothing company that markets and sells outdoor clothing. The company was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, and is based in Ventura, California.
Its mission is now not just to build the best product without causing unnecessary harm, but to be "in business to save our home planet". In 2012, Patagonia became the first registered Benefit Corporation in California.
Patagonia commits 1% of its total sales to environmental groups, through One Percent for the Planet, an organization of which Yvon Chouinard was a founding member. One Percent for the Planet encourages businesses to commit 1% of their annual net revenue to non-profit charity organizations focused on conservation and sustainability. In 2016, Patagonia took this initiative to the next level and pledged to contribute 100% of sales from Black Friday to environmental organizations, totaling $10m.
In 2018 it launched Patagonia Action Works, which connects people with grassroots activists working to find solutions to the environmental crisis. Patagonia has also stated it will begin investing more in solutions and advocacy around three key areas: agriculture, politics, and protected lands.
Furthering this mission, Patagonia launched Worn Wear, a service that keeps gear in action longer and provides an easy way to recycle Patagonia garments when they’re beyond repair. In Reno, Nevada Patagonia has the largest repair facility in North America - completing about 40,000 repairs per year.
In 2015, it started he Worn Wear Mobile Tour, during which it brought its repair technicians to cities across the country to fix gear and sell used Patagonia garments. The movement also focuses on consumer education by teaching people how to extend the life of their clothes.
