Patagonia apparel and gear

Patagonia was founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard in Ventura, California. Originally evolving from a company that made climbing tools (Chouinard Equipment), it transformed into a global leader in outdoor apparel known for high-quality jackets, base layers, and equipment. The brand is famous for pioneered corporate environmentalism and high ethical standards.

While the brand is headquartered in the United States, its manufacturing is distributed globally. The company produces its gear in multiple countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Colombia, United States, and Sri Lanka, maintaining stringent social and environmental auditing processes for all its factories.

In a historic move in 2022, the ownership structure of Patagonia was changed to focus entirely on environmental activism. The company is now owned by the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the Holdfast Collective, a non-profit organization. Every dollar not reinvested back into the business is now distributed as a dividend to protect the planet, effectively making Earth the company's only shareholder.