Yvon Chouinard, creator and owner of the sportswear giant Patagonia, which devotes much of its profit and energy to environmental causes, and sees the greening of capitalism as a core element of its mission.
Yvon Chouinard is remarkable blend of passionate environmentalist and reluctant businessman whose passion for rock climbing led him to create a number of products and techniques that are today standard practice in the sport. Chouinard, 74, is the founder of Patagonia—a sporting gear and clothing company committed to environmentally responsible business practices. Despite his success, Chouinard is a trenchant critic of capitalism who has at times rejected profits and “business sense” in favour of environmentally sound choices.
Chouinard was born in 1938 in Maine, and grew up in Southern California.
