Patagonia is changing the surf industry

A complete collection of Fair Trade certified surf suits and a European tour to encourage people to repair and reuse clothes

In 2018, Patagonia took an important step to bring about a change in the surfing industry, making its own line of Fair Trade certified wetsuits. By investing in Fair Trade certification for the world’s largest wetsuit factory, Sheico, Patagonia has encouraged other companies to join the cause and support employees working on product development.

This development followed the launch of the world’s first neoprene-free wetsuit in autumn 2016 and created with natural Yulex rubber, from certified Forest Council sources by Rainforest Alliance.

Patagonia wetsuits have been redesigned to be not only the most environmentally friendly on the planet, but also those with the highest social responsibility. Working with Sheico and partner for the supply of natural rubber Yulex, Patagonia now produces surf suits exclusively with this innovative material, without neoprene, lighter, more comfortable and with a better fit. To this is added the use of external fabrics dyed in mass and water-based glue to further reduce the environmental impact.
The production of the first surf wetsuits Fair Trade certified also allows people working on the production of products to be treated with the respect they deserve. For each manufactured wetsuit, workers receive a premium that can be used as a social investment for the community or to improve their standard of living. The certification also ensures that the factory complies with the US Fair Trade standards for safe working conditions. Already in spring 2017 the entire line of Patagonia sea shorts and bikinis was Fair Trade certified: currently, in fact, the company boasts the largest number of articles with this certification compared to any other brand.

As Sheico achieves most of the surf suits on the market, helping her to become Fair Trade raises the profile of certification in the surfing industry and also allows other brands to join the project easily, if they want to.

Dave Rastovich, surfer and global activist from Patagonia: “The companies we lean on are not only full of machinery, they are also full of people with families, stories and a future that has been neglected by the industry for too long. Fair trade extends a sense of value, recognition and respect to those family members who are often pushed to the margins”.

Belinda Baggs, surfer and global activist from Patagonia: “Surfers are linked to nature through in a special way, if they are sensitized to topics that have never been discussed in the surfing world, I think they will increasingly demand a change in the products they use. For example, we know the consequences of the pollution created by the production of neoprene. Now that high-performance alternatives such as the Yulex are available, I see a movement growing and requiring new materials and improved production methods”.

In addition to realizing high quality wetsuits designed for a long time duration, for the 2019 summer season Patagonia will be active in different surf location with its Worn Wear Tour.

Designed in 2013, the worn wear campaign was created to encourage people to take care of their garments, repairing them to make them last as long as possible. Repairing the equipment and using it for many seasons, rather than re-buying it every year, is one of the most important actions we can make to reduce the overall environmental impact and protect our planet.

In Hossegor, Lahinch and other European spots, you can have your suits and equipment repaired free of charge by the Worn Team.