MAINE PUBLIC • November 9, 2020
American rock climber, environmentalist, and outdoor industry entrepreneur Yvon Chouinard, was born in Lewiston on November 9, 1938. Chouinard is most known for founding the clothing and gear company, Patagonia. In 1970 on a trip to Scotland, he purchased some rugby shirts and sold them with great success. From this small start, the Patagonia company developed a wide selection of rugged technical clothing. In 2002, Yvon Chouinard helped launch 1% for the Planet and Patagonia became the first business to commit 1% of annual sales to the environment. He is the author of "Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman," which outlines Patagonia's business philosophy of encouraging creativity and healthy lifestyles among its employees.