Patagonia Worn Wear Program

Patagonia's Worn Wear program lets you trade in used Patagonia gear for store credit and buy refurbished pieces at 40 to 50% off retail. I just picked up a Nano Puff vest with a repaired zipper for $65 that would have cost $150 new, and the repair stitch on the zipper pull is barely visible. Extending the life of products that would otherwise sit in closets or end up in landfills is what the program does well. Refurbished section of their website is organized by size and condition with honest descriptions of any wear or damage, so I knew exactly what I was getting before it shipped. I like that Patagonia built the repair infrastructure internally rather than outsourcing it, because the quality of the repair work reflects the same standards as the original construction. Actively encouraging customers to buy less by buying used is a position that most companies would never take publicly. Store credit I received for trading in an old fleece was $22, which went toward the vest. Whole transaction felt like it rewarded me for maintaining the clothes I already own rather than punishing me for wanting something new. Built-in trade-off calculations address the contradiction at the center of every clothing brand that claims to care about the environment while also needing to sell new products.