Patagonia Fashion Story

In the early 1970’s Yvon Chouinard accidently stumbled across an idea that would revolutionise the clothing industry. A holiday from California, USA to Scotland would lead to Yvon building a clothing empire. In 1953 a 14-year-old Yvon began climbing. The sport wasn’t as well-known in America at the time. Yvon saw an opportunity to excel, and he took it. Yvon joined a local Falconry club in Southern California. The excitement and intensity of rappelling down the sides of sheer cliffs meant that Yvon was instantly hooked. This passion soon turned into a business. To keep up with growing demand Yvon ordered jerseys from Umbro in England. They sold out. Yvon then began ordering from New Zealand and Argentina. As the clothing side to their company grew they decided it needed its own unique name. In 1973 Patagonia was born. A name they described as one that brings to mind “romantic visions of glaciers tumbling into fjords, jagged windswept peaks, gauchos and condors”.