Roughly 9 months ago I wrote in a post titled, The Disposable World,
Of late I’ve been taking stock of a lot of things that all seem to be tied together. I know that seems vague and classically introspective, as if I’m trying to sound deep. I’m not. I promise. To sum it up, I think we live in a very disposable world – our mindset is always on short term, rarely on long term.
I’m not a tree hugging sort of fellow, but I do believe in not purchasing unnecessarily. I don’t do trinkets, nick-nacks or tchotchkies. When I buy something, I usually am willing to “over pay” for quality…something that’s timeless and will last. It’s the reason I’d gladly pay the seemingly outrageous price of a Burberry Trench that will last me more than a decade (I’m currently at 7 years) than several Michael Kors knockoff versions over the same time period. Generally what you pay is what you get. It’s what makes me shake my head at all the people who buy and wear Tory Burch shoes, Marc Jacobs bags or cheap sunglasses. I’d rather have a few items that will last than 100s that I’ll “go through” every season or year.
I think that’s why this new ad from Patagonia resonates so much to me:
I’ve never owned a single thing from Patagonia. I was always more of a Nike or a Columbia guy. That is, until this weekend. After seeing the ad, I did some digging to learn more about their Common Threads philosophy and their Ironclad Guarantee. I encourage you to read both…they’re over the top impressive and set a bar for every retailer. Well after doing some homework I looked at my coat closet and decided it was time to donate a Nike jacket I had that was similar to the Patagonia R3. I purchased an R3 and couldn’t happier. Next up is a thicker, warmer jacket for the winter that will protect from the wind and elements. That will replace a Columbia jacket that I’ve had for over 10 years.
I recognize that this campaign from Patagonia could all be marketing and not authentic. Either way, it’s working on me. I’ve bought in and I plan on getting others to do the same. Smart.
Global Head of Digital Marketing & Social Media at Campbell Soup Co. Running a marathon at a sprinter's pace. Love ironing and my
