Contents
Yvon Chouinard
Founding Patagonia and directing its ownership towards environmental protection.
Chouinard Equipment · Clean climbing
- Born
- 9 November 1938
- Birthplace
- Lewiston, United States
More people
Yvon Chouinard
Yvon Chouinard is an American climber and businessman who built an outdoor company from equipment made for fellow climbers.
Early life
California childhood
Moved from Maine to Southern California with his family.
Falconry and climbing
Interest in birds led him to climbing and making his own tools.
Career
- 1957
Equipment making
Began selling climbing hardware.
- 1973
Patagonia
Founded the outdoor clothing company.
- 2022
Ownership transfer
Transferred the company to a purpose trust and environmental nonprofit.
Companies & projects
Chouinard Equipment
Built a climbing-equipment business with Tom Frost.
Clean climbing
Promoted removable protection that reduced damage to rock.
Let My People Go Surfing
Published his account of business and environmental values.
Beyond work
Outdoor life
Practises fly-fishing and surfing as well as climbing.
Family
Worked with his wife and children on Patagonia’s ownership transition.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Further source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Tom Frost. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
