the vest were blasted around the world, cementing him—and at New York Fashion Wanywhere—whether it’s a rally, his friend Prabal Gurung’s show the Black Lives Mhis outerwear of choice—as the most recognizable member of Mearlier on a trip to New York City. Soon, images of MColbertichael Brown, he threw on a blue vest he’d bought five years —without his signature item. “I continue to wear it be-set out to drive from his home in Mt all started because DeRay M2014, when the school administrator–turned–activist Ferguson, Matter movement. These days, he never goes issouri, to protest the police shooting of eek, even The Late Show Wckesson was cold. In inneapolis to ith Stephen ckesson in
prominent activists of our time is no accident. Corporations are cause it reminds me that everything we went through in the to the brand because it “has always lived its commitment to the style, Mlauded by the wider world for it. Mits website retails for around $125).street was real,” he explains. And while designers like Brunello Cucinelli and Mnot people, but if they were, Patagonia might be Bernie Sanders: authentic and committed from the start, but only more recently IThe confluence of the outdoor brand and one of the most ckesson’s is a humble Patagonia (a similar vest on oncler are known for their status versions of ckesson says he was drawn
pathbreaking outdoor giant has been doing this since loBrands are becomLEARNWHATing activists, and everyone wants to be m^ FRO CANM^ (thus the “Patagucci” coinage), Patagonia has been walking the peaks and those scaling the social ladder of Fashion Wthe environment.” Now equally beloved by those scaling icy walk since the ’70s. The rest of the fashion world is only now PATAGONIA^ FAng before it was cool. By Véronique ore sustainable than thou. But the SHION^ Hyland?eek
early on: For example, when some Patagonia employees met a nipping at its Tevas. 1% for the Planet, a program that has donated more than $110 alfalfa-powered weirdness that created the In 1985, Patagonia formalized its commitment to advocacy with development, they gave him office space to run his campaign. alogyoung man who was working to save a nearby riverside from million from the company’s sales to environmental grassroots Yvon Chouinard in 1973. Chouinard and his merry band of outdoorspeople allied themselves with environmental activism Forged in the same California crucible of optimism and and Moon Juice, Patagonia was founded by rock climber Whole Earth Cat-^
groups. The company’s Ventura headquarters is the kind of place where you can go surfing on your lunch hour. It’s also the kind of place where you might get some side-eye if you show up to a meeting carrying a single-use coffee cup, says Lisa Wever said the words “Republicans buy sneakers, too,” but that illiams, the brand’s chief product officer. There’s a healthy debate about whether Michael JordanAMBASSADOR FROM PLACES TO CHARGE.PATCH WILSON, A PATAGONIA SURF ENGLAND, HIKES TO FIND SECRETU/RFER:^ AL^ MACKINNONSPATAGONIA.^ MEDOFF:^AAUREN^ ROSS/PATAGONIL;^ BUSQUETS:^ NEVA^ AN
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