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2000
Yvon
Chouinard (United States)
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 the following years he built a reputation based on his
commitment to reducing our society’s environmental impact.
 In 1964 he published his first mail order catalog, a one
page mimeographed sheet containing advice not to expect fast delivery during climbing
season. Business grew slowly until 1972 when Yvon added rugby shirts to his catalog and
his clothing business took off.
Today Yvon’s primary motivation, aside from enjoying
himself on the water with either a fly rod or a surfboard, is to positively affect
environmental issues. Yvon has been toying for a long time with the idea of artificial
reefs and, with the aid of environmental grants from Patagonia, has funded important
research on the topic.
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