THE PATAGONIA FLEECE

Green Garb

Patagonia’s number-one priority has long been the environment—at times to the detriment of its bottom line. Back in the early 1970s, the company stopped making rock climbing pitons because they were damaging rock faces. And in 1996, Patagonia switched its entire product line to 100 percent organic cotton. The must-have item of any green traveler’s wardrobe has long been a Patagonia fleece, but the latest version is made of Synchilla, a polyester sourced from used garments and recycled soda bottles. These jackets can take a lot of wear and tear, but if you ever get tired of the color, you can complete the cycle by returning it to the company’s Common Threads recycling program.