Common Threads for a Better Future
Patagonia was founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard. It has been long known for its environmental stewardship, in part, co-founding 1% for the Planet (Yvon Chouinard). Chouinard’s company is continually forcing customers to expand the way they think about consumerism. In 2005, Patagonia started the Common Threads Partnership, a partnership between Patagonia and its consumers.
Upon the purchase of a Patagonia product, they hope that customers will join and help in their mission of environmental and social responsibility. With progressive marketing campaigns urging potential customers not to buy their product, Patagonia is provoking a new approach to consumerism. Along with this, Patagonia’s repair warranty strengthens their encouragement of reusing their products by helping to extend the life in order to limit landfill waste. Coupled with the Common Threads Partnership is Patagonia’s Worn Wear line. By allowing past users of Patagonia garments to share part of the story of the gear they pass on, Patagonia builds a connected community to their products. This type of business is generating much more than just a profit at the end of the year, they are inspiring and challenging people to think about their lives differently in order to secure a better future.
