Patagonia
⭐ Öko-Score 9.6/10A pioneer in sustainable apparel, famous for fair trade production, recycled materials, and their Worn Wear second-hand initiative.
Key Specifications
A pioneer in sustainable apparel, famous for fair trade production, recycled materials, and their Worn Wear second-hand initiative.
Circular Initiatives
Worn Wear offers repair guides, self-repair patches, and free repair services at regional hubs.
Accepts used Patagonia items in exchange for store credit, sorting garments for cleaning, resale, or fiber recycling.
Detailed Merchant Portrait: Patagonia
TL;DR
Patagonia was founded in California in 1973 by climber Yvon Chouinard. In 2022, he transferred the entire company (valued at roughly $3 billion) to a trust and a non-profit organization — all future profits now fund environmental protection projects. Patagonia has donated 1% of sales via "1% for the Planet" since 1985 and has used 100% organic cotton since the 1990s.
Company History
Yvon Chouinard began making climbing gear for himself and his friends in 1957 — this passion eventually led to the founding of Patagonia in Ventura, California, in 1973. The name is a conscious nod to the remote, rugged region in South America, designed to evoke a spirit of adventure. The most radical step in the company's history came in 2022: Chouinard transferred 100% of the company's shares — valued at approximately $3 billion at the time — to the Patagonia Purpose Trust (2%, holding the voting rights) and the non-profit Holdfast Collective (98%, receiving all non-reinvested profits). His reasoning: "Earth is now our only shareholder." Following Chouinard's stepping down from operational control, Ryan Gellert leads the company as CEO.
Sustainability Certifications
Patagonia was a founding member of "1% for the Planet" in 1985 and has since donated 1% of its sales annually to environmental groups. In 1996, the company transitioned its entire cotton line to organic cotton within 18 months, after Chouinard directly witnessed the impact of conventional cotton farming on soil and workers. In 2013, it launched the "Worn Wear" program: customers can return used Patagonia items, have them repaired, or buy pre-owned pieces. According to Patagonia, approximately 85% of its apparel line is Fair Trade Certified, benefiting around 66,000 workers.
Warranty and Returns Overview
With its "Ironclad Guarantee," Patagonia offers a highly flexible lifetime guarantee, but the core focus is an active repair culture: through Worn Wear, items can be repaired instead of replaced, supported by over 100 publicly accessible repair guides on the Patagonia website. How to evaluate second-hand clothing and what to look for regarding condition is explained in our second-hand fashion buying guide.
Who is Patagonia suitable for?
Patagonia is ideal if durable, repairable outdoor apparel is more important to you than seasonal trends — and if a company's ownership structure (here: fully non-profit aligned) is a key factor in your purchasing decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any active Patagonia discount codes?
Yes, we list active circular offers and promotions for Patagonia on ReCircle Market. Scroll down to the 'Coupons & Deals' section to see if there are any active discount codes at the moment.
Does Patagonia really belong to no one?
Since 2022, the company's shares have been held entirely by a trust (Patagonia Purpose Trust) and a non-profit organization (Holdfast Collective) — there are no private shareholders profiting from earnings.
What happens to Patagonia's profits?
All profits not reinvested into the business flow entirely into environmental protection projects via the Holdfast Collective since 2022.
What is the Worn Wear program?
A program launched in 2013 that allows customers to have Patagonia items repaired, trade them in, or buy pre-owned gear.
Since when has Patagonia used organic cotton?
Since 1996, when the company transitioned its entire cotton apparel production line within 18 months.
Catalog from Patagonia
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