Reducing impact with, or without, Patagonia
I remember the first time I saw the Patagonia advertisement that requested that you "don't buy this jacket". I loved it, and still do. Now love is a strong word, but it really hit me on a lot of levels.. and honestly I felt guilty for still wanting to buy the new jacket, but I didn't end up going for it. My jacket had seen better days, but it still had some life left.Another season passed and more seams started blowing out, I had them fixed which lasted a little while at least, but snowboarding every day is hard on gear and perhaps the seamstress at the mall didn't know what her seams were up against. I decided to go for the duct tape route which held up really well, but I retired the jacket when the zipper went.
Now I'm in the market for a new jacket, but should I be? After reading this article this morning I'm left feeling a similar dilemma. I happen to have an old "guide" jacket that I was given to save my own gear while pulling wrenches on snow cats in inclement weather which I rode in for the last weeks of the season after the old zipper blew out. While the grease and oil stains don't bother me much, it's the companies logos and the word "guide" embroidered on the breast that made me feel a little awkward while standing in the lift line at the resort.
For now, I'll put up with the logos and the word guide has been covered with a piece of duct tape, but the next season is just around the corner and I will no doubt feel the pressure to buy something new. If the right deal comes along, maybe I will, but hopefully I'll remember that every piece of gear has it's own story, and the best stories are long. After all, there are great deals every year, and if I can get a season or two out of this jacket why shouldn't I?
To learn about about how Patagonia is taking steps to help reduce consumption and make your gear last longer, watch the video below and read this article written by Lisa Richardson (the same that was linked to above). You can also check out their Worn Wear web site here.