Last September, Patagonia launched its Worn Wear website, which is an online shop where lightly-used and mended Patagonia gear is sold with a big price cut. The idea behind Worn Wear — that outdoor equipment should be repaired, not replaced — isn’t a new one for the brand. Patagonia has long been known for its dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint as much as a billion dollar company can, and making its products as nondisposable as possible is paramount to that goal.
That ethos is written plainly in Patagonia’s mission statement: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” It starts with product for a reason — if a product is good, its quality and longevity will inevitably keep consumers from replacing it as often as they might with something cheaper, in both price and quality.
On Black Friday, 2011 Patagonia doubled-down on this solemn undertaking with a full-page ad in the New York Times with a blaring command: “Don’t Buy This Jacket.” In the ad copy that followed, Patagonia admitted sincerely its understanding that each jacket or backpack it makes takes a heavy toll on the environment and its resources, but it also encouraged consumers to repair, reuse and recycle worn-out gear.
Worn Wear is the evolution of that declaration. Patagonia’s repair program — it promises to replace or fix-up any faulty or damaged merchandise — is an assurance that helps consumers justify buying gear that’s often more expensive than similar items from competitors. It also keeps them loyal long-term. At the same time that Patagonia launched the Worn Wear website, it also announced a trade-in program in which customers can drop off used clothing in exchange for store credit that can be used on new products.
The trade-ins are washed and repaired by Patagonia’s experts and entered into the Worn Wear database. The site is now brimming with jackets, shirts, pants, board shorts and more. It’s like walking into a Goodwill stocked exclusively with awesome outdoor gear, and as such, sizes are limited, but there are also some once-in-a-lifetime scores. And remember, anything you buy can be traded in for store credit again later. Here are our seven favorite items currently in the Worn Wear store.
Fjord Flannel Shirt (size M, L) $35
Windsweep Down Hoody (size S, M, L) $135
Synchilla Snap-T Fleece (size M) $70
Duck Pants (size 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38) $35-$40
Nano Puff Pullover (size M, L) $90
Duck Shorts (size 30, 32, 33) $35-$40
Regular Fit Jeans (size 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40) $40
Patagonia invented the concept of layering when it created its original Capilene baselayers in the 1980s. Now, more than 30 years later, the company reimagines the next-to-skin layer with the light and seamless Capilene Air. Read the Story
