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. Patagonia's values reflect those of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, and the minimalist style they promoted. At Patagonia, they appreciate that all life on earth is under threat of extinction. They're using they resources we have—their business, their investments, their voice and their imaginations—to do something about it.