Patagonia Shelter Stone: World's First Recyclable Nylon Jacket

While current eco-trends make companies quick to boast about theiruse of biodegradable glues and materials, Patagonia has been quietly pioneering greener methods for years , oftentimesinventing the new technologies. Their newest innovation is theworld's first recyclable nylon jacket, the Shelter Stone, which canbe processed through their Common Threads Recycling Program . Making no compromises, Patagonia engineered the fabric so that thelook, feel and performance is like any other traditionalthree-layer nylon shell. Surprisingly breathable for a waterproofshell, the Shelter Stone has reinforced high impact areas such asthe shoulders, arms, sides and waist. Small details, like ahelmet-compatible, three-way adjustable hood and Nylon Coated zipperswith garages to prevent from freezing, also make it technicallysound. I love the two handwarmer pockets and soft fleece liningplaced in especially abrasive areas such as inside the collar andaround the chin. Cuff tabs and strategically placed drawcords atthe hem ensure a snug fit and keep out the elements. Unlike their competitors that buy fabric, Patagonia frequentlydevelops them in-house, engineering garments up to their standardsand trail-blazing new territories for recyclable clothing. TheShelter Stone is a prime example of their dedication to sport butmore importantly the environment. Purchase it this fall at Patagonia for $350. Matching Shelter Stone Pants will also be available for$300. I spoke with Star Heorauf, Patagonia designer of the Shelter Stone,to get her thoughts on the jacket. What is one thing you require all coats have as a designer? Most important things are fit and good pocket placement—hoodfit in particular. I also design to avoid four seam intersections.I focus a lot of attention to contact points with the body too, forexample inside collar details. What purpose did you have in mind when designing this coat? The jacket is intended for all-around mountain activities. Highlydurable and mid weight, this jacket is intended for working in amountain environment—whether it be slogging on the glacierroped in with a pack or guiding. Any specific inspiration you followed when designing it? The jacket is a balance of form and function. Fabric reinforcementsand pocket openings are strategically placed for use with a pack.The inspiration for this design came from being roped in,traversing a glacier on a lovely sunny August afternoon—whichwithin minutes turned into driving frozen rain and hail. We're there any design compensations you had to make for this typeof recyclable nylon? No, the recyclable Nylon performs as well as its non-recyclablecounterpart. And the trim, is that recyclable too? What was used? By trim, I assume you mean zippers, cord locks, etc. We don'tsource anything special for the trim package because, frankly,there isn't really much available at this point. That said, we'vebeen working really hard on sourcing an eco-friendlier trimpackage, which we're hoping to include in future lines. The realityis the more people that jump on board, the greater the demand willbe, which will increase availability and reduce cost.