Patagonia travel the globe in search of the best materials for their clothing, accessories and luggage. When the best isn't good enough to meet their needs, they work closely with suppliers to develop outstanding new fabrics. These joint developments have over the years created Synchilla fleece, Capilene base layers and Regulator insulation.

Sometimes a fabric needs nothing new, but something less. Take the case of cotton, a natural fibre whose cultivation has for the past sixty years entailed massive use of toxic chemicals. Over ten years ago, Patagonia said goodbye to the chemicals and switched exclusively to organic cotton.