Patagonia Set to Open Its First Canadian Retail Store in Toronto
Outdoor Outfitter's 28th Location Slated for Historic Gurney Stove Building on King Street West; Company Requesting Help From Customers to Nominate First Environmental Grant </pre> <p><span class="xn-location">TORONTO</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 1, 2010</span> /CNW/ -- Outdoor clothing manufacturer and lifestyle outfitter Patagonia announced today that it will open its first Canadian retail store in <span class="xn-location">Toronto</span> in the historic Gurney Stove Works building at 500 <span class="xn-person">King Street West</span>. The retail store will open for business on <span class="xn-chron">December 15, 2010</span>.</p> <pre> Historic Recycling </pre> <p>Constructed in 1872 by Jamieson and Carroll, the former Gurney Stove building sits in the heart of Toronto's historic district in the one-time bustling industrial center.</p> <p/> <p>The building is yet another in a long line of historic structures that Patagonia has chosen for its retail locations, leveraging historic and cultural value of reclaimed structures and providing an opportunity for adaptive reuse that aligns with the company's emphasis on preservation and sustainable development. As part of this commitment, the company has become well-known for its environmental preservation efforts, including its garment recycling program and financial support for environmental causes whereby it has donated 1 percent of its sales to environmental groups every year since 1985.</p> <p/> <p>"We selected <span class="xn-location">Toronto</span> for our first Canadian store because of the large community of outdoor enthusiasts, their passion for outdoor sports and the environmental consciousness of area residents," said <span class="xn-person">Robert Cohen</span>, vice president of Patagonia's Global Retail Division. "We're looking forward to introducing Torontonians to the Patagonia brand through this bricks-and-mortar presence."</p> <p/> <p>Patagonia will occupy the first floor of the facility, offering a wide selection of its own line of outdoor clothing, technical apparel, footwear and children's clothing, including cold-weather layering systems, rock climbing and skiing gear, as well as fly fishing and paddling equipment.</p> <pre> Green Pioneer </pre> <p>Since 1985, Patagonia has given away in excess of <span class="xn-money">$38 million</span> to more than 1,200 environmental organizations. Each Patagonia store also has its own grant budget in the form of money and product, to help environmental groups in their backyard.</p> <p/> <p>As part of the store's environmental mission, and in celebration of the first store in <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, Patagonia <span class="xn-location">Toronto</span> will be accepting nominations from customers for local environmental organizations to be considered for the store's first environmental grant. Forms and further information will be available at the store, and store employees will select the group based on the company's environmental guidelines. Group selection will be announced in February, 2011.</p> <p/> <p>Patagonia's signature cotton items are made from 100% organic cotton and, for more than 17 years, the company has manufactured its own line of fleece products made from post-consumer recycled plastic soda bottles. Patagonia is the first and only clothing manufacturer to recycle competitors' garments, as well as its own, through a program that accepts worn-out fleece, organic cotton t-shirts and Capilene® (long underwear) products. The donated garments are recycled into new fibers to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <pre> About Patagonia </pre> <p>Patagonia, with sales last year of over <span class="xn-money">$330M</span>, is noted internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism. Incorporating environmental responsibility into product development, the company has, since 1996, used only organically grown cotton in its clothing line. With its most recent launch of synthetic fiber-to-fiber recycling, Patagonia is taking back worn-out polyester and nylon clothing and reincarnating it as new products, forever capturing the raw materials used in making virgin fiber. The company also advocates corporate transparency through its interactive website, The Footprint Chronicles, which outlines the environmental and social footprint of individual products. Patagonia was featured as The Coolest Company on the Planet on Fortune Magazine's <span class="xn-chron">April 2007</span> cover. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.Patagonia.com">www.Patagonia.com</a>.</p> <pre>
For further information: Kristin Miller of SS|PR, +1-719-634-8292, [email protected], for Patagonia; or Vickie Achee of Patagonia, +1-805-667-4630, [email protected] Web Site: http://www.Patagonia.com
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