- Patagonia is limiting the number of new customers it is branding its apparel for, choosing to work only with companies that align with environmentally-conscious values.
- A Patagonia spokesperson said while the company has recently shifted its focus to target companies that prioritize the planet, current customers of all industries will be able to continue to work with them.
Business bros be warned: A key part your workplace attire is in jeopardy of going extinct.
Patagonia, which has become a staple of the "Midtown Uniform" (slacks, a dress shirt and a fleece vest), is no longer in the business of branding Wall Street.
The American clothing company recently decided a requirement of new companies it works with will be that they align with Patagonia's values of being environmentally conscious and prioritizing the planet.
The company's decision came to light Monday when Binna Kim, president of public relations company Vested, tweeted that Patagonia had informed her it was no longer producing branded vests for financial services companies.
Kim told Business Insider she had reached out to a certified reseller of Patagonia apparel making branded clothing for a client. The reseller, which is required to get approval from Patagonia, told Kim it couldn't fulfill the order because Patagonia was focusing on co-branding with "a small collection of like-minded and brand aligned areas".
"Due to their environmental activism, they are reluctant to co-brand with oil, drilling, mining, dam construction, etc. companies that they view to be ecologically damaging," the reseller told Kim via email, which she posted to Twitter. "This also includes any religious group/Churches, food groups, political affiliated companies/groups, financial institutions, and more."
The end of the #fintech uniform?! Farewell #patagonia vests. pic.twitter.com/3PpykELkZb
- Binna Kim (@binnaskim) April 1, 2019
A spokesperson from Patagonia told Business Insider via email the corporate sales program recently shifted its focus to work with "more mission-driven companies that prioritize the planet." The change of focus only impacts new customers, as existing clients would not be impacted, the spokesperson added.
Fleece zip-up vests have become staple of the corporate world in recent years. The outfit has become so popular it spawned its own Instagram account - dubbed Midtown Uniform - that has over 112,000 followers.
