Patagonia has just opened a new shop in Bristol, with the 280 sqm space at 81 Park Street designed to be both a retail store and a hub for activist and outdoor sports communities in the city.
As well as carrying Patagonia’s range of apparel for outdoor sports including climbing, snowsports, surfing and trail running, it will host regular community events such as film screenings and public talks and will feature works from local Bristol artists.
Patagonia is well known for being at the forefront of efforts to find solutions to the environmental crisis, a continuation of the work it started when the company was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973. The California outdoor brand changed its mission statement in 2018 to, “We’re in business to save our home planet,” to reflect the urgency of the planetary crisis. Still independently owned today and a certified B Corporation, the company is recognised internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism — and its contributions of more than $110 million in grants and in-kind donations to grassroots environmental groups.
Patagonia has 10 existing retail stores across Europe and is stocked in over 1,200 multi-brand stores. This latest edition will join the existing Manchester store as the company’s second mono-brand destination in the UK. Ryan Gellert, General Manager, EMEA, Patagonia, comments: “At Patagonia, over the course of our company’s history, we have brought a strong commitment to environmental advocacy to every action we take, from switching to organic cotton and recycled polyester in the 1990s to launching Patagonia Action Works, in Europe, in 2019. Opening our new home in Bristol gives us the opportunity to strengthen relationships with our community of passionate outdoorspeople and local activists and NGOs in this dynamic, progressive city.”
A programme of environmental and sports events will take place throughout the spring, with launch highlights including:
- 12 March: Local NGO and 1% for the Planet grantee Coal Action Network will host an evening on coal mining in the UK
- 19 March: Protect Our Winters UK general manager Lauren MacCallum hosts an evening of Snow Activism
- 26 March: Big Bang movie screening with British climber Emma Twyford and filmmaker David Petts
- 2-4 April: grand opening weekend (launch party on 2 April)
There will also be events around Patagonia Action Works and 1% for the Planet, the mechanism by which Patagonia donates 1% of all sales to grassroots organisations working towards the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
More info at: www.patagonia.com