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Feb 2025
42m 13s

🏔️ Patagonia Fleece: The Billion Dollar...

Wondery
About this episode

Designed to keep climbers snug on El Capitan, the Patagonia fleece became the unofficial uniform of venture capitalists and finance bros (earning the nickname Patagucci). But thrill-seeking Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard never aimed for a high-end market. In fact, he built a $3 billion brand while trying not to be a businessman. Yvon's a self-described existential dirtbag (baby) whose idea of a good time is disappearing into the mountains for weeks while surviving on tins of cat food. Despite his dropout tendencies, Yvon revolutionized outdoor gear, and forged a brand (literally — he has an anvil!) built on anti-consumerism. Find out how a toilet seat cover inspired a fleece revolution, how the most anti-corporate CEO risked it all to fight climate change, and why the Patagonia Fleece is the best idea yet.

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