Patagonia, Inc. is an American clothing company that markets and sells outdoor clothing. The company was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973 and is based in Ventura, California. They have hundreds of stores in 10+ countries across 5 continents, as well as factories in 16 countries.

How was Patagonia established?

Beginnings and Blacksmithery. Yvon Chouinard (far right), Patagonia's founder, got his start as a climber in 1953 as a 14-year-old member of the Southern California Falconry Club. ... The word spread and soon friends had to have Chouinard's chrome-molybdenum steel pitons. Before he knew it, he was in business.

What was Patagonia first product?

Yvon Chouinard, an accomplished rock climber, began selling hand-forged mountain climbing gear in 1957 through his company Chouinard Equipment.