I have a confession to make. I really like Patagonia clothes. They fit well. They give me that “outdoor chic” vibe I’m going for. They work for exercise, leisure, and, sometimes even, casual business. They’re durable. And if an item is damaged, Patagonia will repair it.
Add to that, Patagonia is a value driven company. Surely you’ve come across some of their actions and campaigns. Here are some of my favorites:
- In April 2021, Patagonia pledged $1,000,000 to voter-rights organizations in the state of Georgia, USA.
- In September 2020, the company added a call to “Vote the assholes out” to the label on select shorts.
- And, the big one. In September 2022, the founder gave the company away to a trust stating, “Earth is now our only shareholder.”
They can do no wrong, right? Wrong.
Even with their values and with thoughtful design and innovation in clothing production, Patagonia clothing is still harming the planet. Simply by producing new clothing, Patagonia is adding to the problem. No clothing is waste and pollutant free. Patagonia does not shy away from this fact. They even took out an ad in the New York Times in the lead-up to Black Friday in 2011 with a picture of a jacket and the copy: “Do Not Buy This Jacket” acknowledging that every product produced takes something away from the planet that cannot be replaced (though sales did rise 30% following this campaign).
So what’s the alternative? Don’t buy new.
I’ve recently started asking myself a few questions before acquiring clothing, shoes, or gear (note, I don’t say “before buying new clothing, shoes, or gear” because the goal is to avoid buying and to avoid new):
- Do I need it? Often, I can stop my analysis right here.
- If I need it, do I own something similar that would work? Most of the time, the answer is yes. It may not be perfect, but usually it’s good enough.
- Is the answer to the above, “Yes, but it’s broken/has a hole in it”? If so, then can you repair it or do you know someone who can? Often, a quick needle and thread will do the trick. I have to give a shout-out to my friend Darren who has tackled running shoe repairs with his Pair Ups – including some how-to guides for DIYers.
- If I don’t own it, can I borrow it? I recently ran an ultra-marathon through the night. The required gear list was longer than this blog post for both me and my crew. There were some items on the list that I knew I would need for this race but wouldn’t need going forward – an emergency bivy (not to be confused with the 2 emergency blankets that I already own and that were already on the list) and a second reflective vest for my crew. These items are very inexpensive. It would have been easiest for me to go to amazon.com and order them. But then what? They’d sit unused in a closet. So instead, I texted friends. I was able to borrow a spare reflective vest and an emergency bivy from two different friends and not accumulate more stuff.
- If I don’t own it, can I rent it? This space is still in its infancy, but it is growing. We rented our children’s jackets through a rental company when we lived in Europe and it was fantastic. Other companies are experimenting with rentals directly from the company such as Houdini in Sweden and Rab in the EU. While athletic clothing rentals may take longer to catch on (there is a real ick factor with running clothes), it’s a great option for things like outerwear and gear.
- If I need to own it or I can’t find a way to borrow or rent it, can I find it secondhand? The options here are almost endless. Online retailers – ThredUp, Ebay, and Poshmark – provide limitless options, and consignment and thrift shops are abundant. It may take a little more effort, but it can be a fun scavenger hunt to find the item you’re looking for. And if you really want Patagonia, then check out their Worn Wear line!
- If all else fails and you have to buy new, consider what you are buying and the brand you are buying from. This piece is not supposed to be an ad for Patagonia. They are one of many companies trying to find a better way forward. They just happen to be the most well known (at least here in the US) and the one that is often referenced. Houdini (mentioned above) is another favorite of mine and I rely heavily on its merino wool shirts for winter running. And in the shoe department, companies such as Icebug, NNormal, and Hylo are each doing their part and trying to make the industry better. But in any case, no matter the company, buying new should remain a last resort (hence not including links to websites for the companies I mention!).
The Green Ostrich 