This is how the clothing brand Patagonia taught me not to buy their clothes, or any new clothes for that matter…

Listening to the NPR “How I Built This” podcast, while on a Christmas road trip through the Colorado Rockies sparked a new idea for me.

During 2017 I am not going to buy a single new clothing and apparel item; exceptions being socks, underwear, and shoes.

I was inspired to do this because of the views Patagonia owner, Yvon Chouinard, has about his own company and the clothing industry in general.

The podcast episode I listened to featured Yvon, who started the Patagonia brand in 1973 simply because he was making climbing equipment that no one else was making.

It’s his business philosophy after his initial success that really inspires me.

If you listen to the episode he talks about how as a company he told people to stop buying their stuff. Instead, Patagonia now has the largest garment repair center in North America. Yvon is committed to teaching people to not throw their things away, but repair them.

In fact, Patagonia has a garment repair truck on tour around the country that will repair any item of clothing for you, whether its Patagonia or not.

If you ever want to get rid of your Patagonia clothes, they have resources to do that too.

The main message is think twice. “Own fewer things, but really good things.”

As someone trying to live a minimalist lifestyle what he said made a lot of sense. If I am going to own a coat I want to be able to use it on a skiing trip and then also for walking to class.

I already have decent clothing, but I want to get rid of more. One way to control the amount of clothing is to simply stop buying it.

My Resolution

My new years resolution has boiled down to no new clothing with the exceptions of socks, underwear, and shoes. Work related polos or apparel might have to be an exception too.

This doesn’t mean if I see a pair of nice Nike shorts or a nice winter jacket at a thrift store I won’t buy it. It just means nothing new.

I have already laid out that thrift stores, Craigslist, and trades are allowed as long as the clothing is used. New clothing received as gifts will be either returned, re-gifted, donated, or sold.

Really what this experiment is about is looking more intentionally at what I’m buying and doing my part to limit the damage consumerism has caused not only the planet but to society as well.

As a side note, I don’t own any Patagonia clothing. I really do admire the brand now, so hopefully I can scout some out at a thrift store.

Hopefully I’ll follow up in 2018 with “fewer things, but really good things.”