Patagonia is one of my favorite brands to wear – not only because they are great quality and design, but also due to their notoriety for being one of the most socially responsible companies on the market. One look at mission statement and it becomes clear that they put ethics at their forefront. For their 50th anniversary, they have renewed their core values and issued the following statement: “we’re looking forward, not back, to life on Earth. Together, we can prioritize purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home.”

The products are long-lasting, repairable, and recyclable. They source sustainable materials and hold their suppliers to the highest environmental and social standards in the industry. 86% of their products are Fair Trade Certified sewn and they are a a founding and accredited member of the Fair Labor Association. Here are some of the programs they have founded and/or are involved with:

• Regenerative Organic Certified: Initiative to grow food and fiber on farms using high organic standards that aim to rehabilitate soil, respect animal welfare, and improve lives of farmers.
• Migrant Workers: Establishes standards for supply chain and employment of workers that are over seas. Ensures that no one is paying to work with or for Patagonia.
• Working With Factories, Farms, and Mills: Promotes fair labor practices and good working conditions in factories, leads efforts to reduce environmental and social impact of farming.
• Living Wage: Supports Global Living Wage Coalition allowing for workers to afford a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.
• Responsible Purchasing Practices: Company wide initiative that focuses on ethical purchasing that is mutually benefits both the brand and supplier.
• Environmental Responsibility Programs: 89% of their fabrics this season are made with preferred materials, 100% of their down is responsibly sourced, 100% of the virgin cotton in their clothes is grown organically.

Lastly, in September of last year the owner of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, gave away the company in a move that made headlines. Valued at about $3 billion, Patagonia’s ownership was transferred to a specially designed trust and non profit organization that ensures its profits will be used to combat climate change and protect underdeveloped land around the globe. Their owner, the leader of the company, made ethics and sustainability a priority in his actions and example.

Of course, all of the above are data points from their corporate office so I thought it would be best to share a real world experience I had with the brand. This previous holiday season, I had stopped by the Patagonia shop in SoHo to purchase a winter coat for my father. As I was checking out, the employee went out of their way to show me how to fix any potential snags/rips that may happen with the jacket. He gave me some special tape for spot fixes and encouraged me to bring the coat back to the store for any major repairs. Their commitment to repairable and recyclable clothing is much more sustainable than cheap fast fashion and their willingness and proactiveness to assist with repairs shows that they stand by their core values. On my way out, the employee also reminded me that they would be closed from December 25th to January 1st to give their employees a much needed paid break. This practice is a RARITY in today’s retail world, but here they are staying true by their words of providing a standard and healthy work balance for their employees.

In truth, I do not have any recommendations on how the company could be more ethical, socially responsible, or sustainable for I feel they are the epitome of all those things. Their initiatives and programs have been leading example for retailers alike and they have proven that despite all these “expensive” measures, they can still be profitable!