Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder, got his start as a climber in 1953 as a 14-year-old member of the Southern California Falconry Club. Within a few years, Yvon began creating and selling his own gear before launching Chouinard Equipment with Tom Frost in 1965. Today, this brand has become Patagonia, an environmentally-conscious company marked by its high-quality, durable, and colorful gear.