The Enduring Appeal of the Patagonia Fleece

Feeling For | The Enduring Appeal of the Patagonia Fleece

By DAVID HELLQVIST

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013, 7:00 AM

Illustrations by Konstantin Kakanias

The more Patagonia remains the same, the more cool it becomes.

Patagonia — the Southern California-based sportswear brand once relegated to the world of steel pitons and bivouac sacks — has become the outdoorsy label of choice for the stylish set, with vintage versions of the classic Retro-X fleece today as likely to be worn by hipsters as they are by hippies. While Patrik Ervell and Marc Jacobs showed Patagonia-inspired jackets and sweatshirts in their fall collections, the trend seems to have originated with the Japanese, who have recently revived other earthy items like Tevas and Birkenstocks — accessorized, of course, with ragg wool socks. “It’s a style that becomes shorthand for a certain kind of lifestyle,” Ervell says about the durable fleece, which he argues is as archetypal a garment as the biker jacket or the trench. “Simple and utilitarian: it’s a very California ethos.”

-From The New York Times Magazine

Patagonia Introduces Legacy Collection

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, Patagonia is creating a Legacy Collection of retro-inspired pieces that hearken back to their early beginnings.  These items will be as cool as your dad's old jacket, just not as smelly.  The collection will include old-school sweaters, jackets and pants.  A few of our personal favorites are the Post Foamback Cagoule, the All-Wear Down Jacket, the Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover and the Stand-Up Pants.  You can see the whole line in the Patagonia Legacy Lookbook

Be sure to scroll to the end of the page to see a cool video explaining the Legacy Collection and to see pictures of the entire line.

These pieces will be made to the exact specifications that were made forty years ago-right down to the vintage logo.  The Legacy Collection will be extremely limited and we were only able to get our hands on a few items.  However, you'll be able to snag the Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover in Gray from the shop, pictured below.

Be sure to check up with us often to make sure you don't miss out before we sell out!

                               

Patagonia's "20 Million and Change"

Patagonia has just launched it's newest initiative, "20 Million and Change" a fund to help start-ups who follow the Patagonia philosophy of using business to benefit the planet.  They have decided to reach beyond the framework of apparel and the outdoor industry.  By providing funding to other start-up companies, Patagonia will be able to reach more people and help the environment even more.

Being environmentally conscious is an important ideal for them.  Patagonia was one of the founding members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, along with some of the other biggest names in apparel.   The Coalition's goal is to have "an apparel industry that produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive impact on the people and communities associated with its activities".

For 30 years, Patagonia has donated 1% of it's sales to grassroots environmental organizations. Since the program began, they have given over $49 million in grants and in-kind donations to more than 1,000 organizations.  We're happy to hear that they've taken it one step further with "20 Million and Change" and can't wait to hear about the new start-ups they fund!