Yvon Chouinard
Yvon Chouinard is the founder of Patagonia Inc. He started his
career in the outdoor business as a transient climber and surfer,
making climbing gear on a small forge and selling it from the back
of his car. In 1964, he published his first mail-order catalogue,
a one-page mimeographed sheet containing advice not to expect fast
delivery during climbing season. He has built a personal and a
corporate reputation based on his commitment to reducing our
society’s environmental impact.
Today, Chouinard’s primary motivation, aside from enjoying
himself on the water with either a fly rod or a surfboard, is to
positively affect environmental issues. He has been toying for a
long time with the idea of artificial reefs and, through the aid
of environmental grants from Patagonia, has funded important
research on the topic. His most recent initiative is the creation
of the 1% Club, of which Patagonia was the founding member. This
organization encourages corporations to give one per cent of their
gross sales to environmental causes.
